There is so much stigma about AD(H)D and it needs to stop. As a person who has ADD people often ask me, what is it like to have AD(H)D? AD(H)D or ADD also known as Attention Deficit (Hyperactive) Disorder impacts about 1 in every 10 people. Most people do not realize that there are 3 types of AD(H)D. 1. The Inattentive Type, 2. The Hyperactive Type, and the Combined Type. Having ADD or ADHD is more than just not being able to sit still it has to do with thought process as well. Here is why I often compare my AD(H)D to a bike at the gym that will not stop moving.

Imagine yourself trying to get on your bike. Normally it takes a minute or two to get the momentum however for a person AD(H)D it might take them four or five minutes. This is just like a person with AD(H)D when it comes to assignments. It might take them awhile to start or understand the assignment, but once they are in the zone there is no stopping them.

Now for the pedaling. When you pedal your feet are going in circles. You can think of this in two ways for AD(H)D. A person with this disorder always has something on their mind and often times it is a repetitive thought, just like the circle. You can also think of this as a person with AD(H)D only focusing on one concept when they need to know ten. It can be very hard for them to transition from one idea or task to the next especially if it is something they are passionate about.

When you are on a bike, your feet are also going up and down. These motions are like the emotions that a person with ADD or ADHD has. Some medications can make people with ADD or ADHD moody. When their stress level is high they are more likely to be extremely emotional and when they are having a bad day, you will be able to tell. For people with the disease, there is often nothing in between.

Now for the speed of the bike. If you do not change the speed of your pedaling or the resistance every time you workout it is not a workout. People with AD(H)D like routine and most of them do not like change. They know what works for them and one little change can throw them into a tailspin. Or sometimes we have so many assignments that we rush through them and make careless mistakes.

Now imagine yourself trying to get off the bike.... except it will not stop moving. This is how people with this disorder might feel on their medication. In other words, we might feel like our medication is controlling us because it is the only way we will be able to function and get work done. You can also think of this uncontrollable bike as how a person with ADHD feels at night, No matter what we try to do to fall asleep we often have a repetitive thought that we cannot get out of our head and it keeps us up. Or we might be thinking about all the other tests and activities that we have coming up. It is almost as if we do not have the on/off switch like a bike does

For more info on ADHD, click here: https://add.org/adhd-facts/