I wasn't diagnosed with ADHD until much later in life either, and for years I carried around explanations that sounded a lot like the ones you listed. Not disciplined enough. Not organized enough. Not trying hard enough.
The hardest part wasn't the symptoms themselves; it was the story I built around them.
When you're intelligent enough to understand what needs to be done, but struggle to consistently begin, it creates a kind of invisible shame that other people rarely see. They see capability. You see the gap between intention and action.
I really liked your storm metaphor because that's exactly what it feels like. People judge themselves for how they're moving without realizing they're walking into a headwind nobody else can see.
"The problem wasn't intelligence. The problem was trying to navigate a storm without knowing you were in one."
That line hit home. Thank you for putting words to something so many of us have spent years misunderstanding about ourselves.
Thank-you Robes this really means a lot, and you describe it perfectly, i spent so many years ‘hiding my stupidity’ when actually, i was never stupid in the first place. It’s take a very long time to admit that as well, to try and shake the the story we created for ourselves, and honestly i think part of it will never go, i will always feel awkward when complimented, because i struggle to believe the compliment. The biggest part of learning was accepting who i am, and i have found because of this anything is possible 🫶
This resonated deeply with me.
I wasn't diagnosed with ADHD until much later in life either, and for years I carried around explanations that sounded a lot like the ones you listed. Not disciplined enough. Not organized enough. Not trying hard enough.
The hardest part wasn't the symptoms themselves; it was the story I built around them.
When you're intelligent enough to understand what needs to be done, but struggle to consistently begin, it creates a kind of invisible shame that other people rarely see. They see capability. You see the gap between intention and action.
I really liked your storm metaphor because that's exactly what it feels like. People judge themselves for how they're moving without realizing they're walking into a headwind nobody else can see.
"The problem wasn't intelligence. The problem was trying to navigate a storm without knowing you were in one."
That line hit home. Thank you for putting words to something so many of us have spent years misunderstanding about ourselves.
Stay entangled, my friend.
—The Bathrobe Guy
Thank-you Robes this really means a lot, and you describe it perfectly, i spent so many years ‘hiding my stupidity’ when actually, i was never stupid in the first place. It’s take a very long time to admit that as well, to try and shake the the story we created for ourselves, and honestly i think part of it will never go, i will always feel awkward when complimented, because i struggle to believe the compliment. The biggest part of learning was accepting who i am, and i have found because of this anything is possible 🫶
I really do admire your tenacity in pushing forward through the storm in your life. It shows in your writing. 💚💛
Oh thank-you so much Yolanda, i am very stubborn and i think this is a positive in some circumstances haha 🫶🧡