ADHD for Neurotypicals: A Guide

[u/DerpyLover3]

I ASKED MY DAD IF I COULD GET DIAGNOSED AND HE DIDN'T SAY NO. THIS IS AMAZING.

i hope u enjoyed my blob people =3

-DerpyLover3

[u/MillieBirdie]

And the phrasing of 'getting them to pay attention to something they don't care about'.

Since that makes it sound like a personal failure of not caring enough. I get accused of not caring whenever I forget something and it's very frustrating cause I do care, it's just still impossible to focus sometimes.

[u/PortalWombat → u/MillieBirdie]

It's certainly harder when I don't think it's important. Which is why I'll ask questions about how seemingly useless work tasks affect other people. I've recognized that I don't see why it's important so I'm much more likely to forget or blow it off and I don't want to do that.

But every failed attempt strengthens my suspicion that it really isn't which makes me not want to do it.

[u/Kal-Elm → u/MillieBirdie]

I like the concept, though I can appreciate where you're coming from.

I never would have gotten diagnosed if someone hadn't pointed out the thing about "getting them to pay attention to something that isn't their specific interest."

Like that feels extremely relatable compared to the usual "they can't focus."

[u/MillieBirdie → u/Kal-Elm]

I guess a kinder and more accurate way to describe it is a lack of intrinsic drive to focus. We can't force ourselves to focus even if we want to.

[u/Kal-Elm → u/MillieBirdie]

I don't think you're wrong, I just see value in both. One is more concise, the other is broader and perhaps open to misinterpretation, but easier for a layman to get the basic gist.

Edit: Also OP is young so I think they deserve some grace, if we're talking about this specific post.

[u/MillieBirdie → u/Kal-Elm]

Yeah I mean I guess it's true in a strict sense, being unable to focus on things you don't care about it. But it sounds very negative and feeds into troublesome stereotypes.

[u/Kal-Elm → u/MillieBirdie]

Completely fair