Those who have ever had a conversation with me know that I change the subject multiple times within a 10-minute span. My mind will jump from thinking about what I want to eat for dinner to planning my whole wedding, right down to the amount of Mason jars. I grew up becoming distracted easily or becoming overwhelmingly obsessed with a specific activity. I did not realize I had ADHD.
I didn't learn about ADHD until I was in late elementary school, and didn't know the repercussions of it until I was a high schooler. ADHD is more than being distracted and losing track of something, it can result in angry outbursts, hyperfocus, or restlessness. Learning this changed my view on ADHD, which helped me learn a lot more about myself.
Statistically, over six million children in America have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD. That's just between the ages of four and 17, which doesn't include adults who've been diagnosed with ADHD. Many children have gone undiagnosed due to the view of mental health in society today. Many of the older generation believe having a mental illness is something you can just walk off and get over. Over the last eight years alone, there has been a 42-percent increase in diagnoses of ADHD. Generations before us did not suffer from ADHD as much as our current generation. Many individuals assume their kids are "just being kids" when they get hyper and can't sit still, but the problem here is that they aren't getting the proper treatment for ADHD because it isn't being addressed.
Coming to terms with yourself is one of the most difficult aspects in life. Learning that the things that you think are bad about yourself only excel you further in life is a big step in growing up. When I accepted the fact I had ADHD, I understood why I would be angry sometimes, why I couldn't focus in school, and why I became obsessed with really obscure objects.
ADHD is not something that hinders people. Rather, it allows for the person to look at things from a different perspective and explore new possibilities. So plan your whole wedding in one night, explore every corner of the world, focus on something you love and make it brilliant, and then do it all again. And most importantly, go forth and do not falter.
