Living in a society that is constantly changing and moving and multitasking is so typical for the average person, and something that most people don't even question. It almost seems that the days grow shorter and the list of things grow longer and everyone is "busy". It's a time of moving forward and not looking back. This is a society that I wish I could live in. As someone who has dealt with ADD ever since I was in 5th grade, I don't fit in with the hustle bustle of the everyday norm. A lot of people when they hear the word "ADD", they just think of "oh, they're hyperactive and crazy". It's so easy to put this title on some people but being fitted with this "stereotype" hurts. I'm not crazy. Yeah, I get overwhelmed when my brain goes into overdrive, but I'm not crazy. Don't get ADD and ADHD mixed up. We lived in a world where doing everyday tasks and communicating with people is an everyday struggle. If we're trying to listen to someone talk and there is a stinkbug in the room (from personal experience) then you lost me, that stinkbug has won my attention. Or if you are multitasking and trying to communicate with me, you've lost me, I'm distracted by what you're doing. Communicating in your world is ten times harder for us, which can be a real struggle being a college student, which can affect our grades. We can miss half of a lecture without even realizing it. We are able to handle things, don't get me wrong, but throw a million tasks at us, then we become forgetful and things only get half done. We're not asking for you to give us slack, we're asking you to work with us just in a few simple steps:
1. Eye contact. It shows us you're giving us your full attention, and we won't get distracted.
2. Give us your full attention. Kind've like the 1st step, we will be able to communicate with you best if you give us your full attention.
2. Don't multitask while communicating with us. We will get distracted
3. Give us one task at a time. We will become forgetful and things will only get things half done.
4. Keep us engaged. Think is aimed at mainly teachers, professors, etc. Ask us questions, use examples, tone in voice. It will really make a difference.
5. Be understanding. It's a real mental disability. We're not as crazy as you think.
