ADHD and Mental Health Stigma

Recently finding out about my ADHD diagnosis is a bittersweet kind of moment. A mixture of happiness with finally having an explanation that makes so much sense as to why i am the way that i am. Grief because I mourn for the person that I could have been if only I found out sooner.

It is a very personal, sensitive and vulnerable topic for me which can be a potential subject to alot of criticisms, shaming, bullying and ridicule but I decide to let it out in the open mainly to combat such.

Mental health is still considered taboo for most people. Though society has been becoming progressive and has been slowly becoming more accepting, there’s still alot of stigma around it.

ADHD is one good example and one of the main culprit is poor and misleading mainstream media representation which causes alot of misconceptions and misunderstandings.

Photo by: @carlmacky (instagram)

Though I am not a mental health professional or expert. I would like to speak about it through my own personal experiences as individual and within the society as someone diagnosed at a later time in life. I am slowly learning alot of new things about it that I would like to share.

I would like to spread awareness and end the stigma in order to create a better society that is ADHD-friendly. Having ADHD can be very isolating especially when the people around you are not very accepting about it.

ADHD researchers estimate that by age 12, children with ADHD get 20,000 more negative messages about themselves than other kids their age.

The disorder itself is already disabling but it’s the society that not just disables us but also dehumanizes and devalues us.

I hope to create a safe space for fellow ADHDers who are struggling the same things. To make them feel that they are not alone. To let someone know that, “hey, you’re not weird!”. Your brain is just wired differently compared to most typical brains and that’s okay!

That It’s also okay to do things differently and to know that being different doesn’t make you less of a person. That there’s nothing wrong with you being you. That’s a huge thing for us ADHDers.

The ADHD-friendly support system I wish I had growing up. Even if I had none, it doesn’t mean it’s too late to build one now!

Lastly I would like to empower fellow ADHDers. Yes we are at a disadvantaged in alot of ways. Our executive dysfunction, emotional and attention dysregulation, hyperactivity, impulsivity, RSD or rejection sensitivity dysphoria and crippling anxiety and depression are like walls that prevent us from doing tasks on our daily livee.

But on the brighter side, our ADHD can be a superpower too. We are the most creative, passionate, emphatic, intuitive, we can hyperfocus on things that spark our interest, we are forgetful but we are also fast-learners, and our impulsivity makes us fearless. we are risk-takers because we think outside the box, and we always struggle but we persevere. We are persistent and resilient.

Light bulbs were first invented by Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein is known for his great contribution in Physics (based on research), Bill Gates in the Tech world, Michael Phelps in Sports, Adam Levine in Pop Music, Leonardo Da Vinci in Art (based on research), and Emma Watson (YES!) in the Film Industry. ADHDers have so many great contributions in our world throughout the history and until now in our modern times. There are many ADHDers that transcended in each of their chosen fields.

Media has always talk about how ADHD hinders one’s success. Statistics show that ADHDers have high rates of vehicular accidents, substance abuse, divorce and s u i c 1d e but it’s ironic how media doesn’t include the part which shows that when ADHD is managed, accepted and accommodated well , ADHDers can thrive.

This is why early diagnosis, and intervention is very crucial..

So help us thrive by making this world ADHD-friendly. 🙂