This has been playing on my mind for a while as I often see things online (social media or MN) about ADHD and really relate to them. If it's relevant, my brother has diagnosed ADHD (he was diagnosed as a child and is on medication for it).
Things that make me think I may have ADHD:
- I become seriously obsessed with things – like crazily obsessed – and then lose interest. I have cupboards full of things I've taken up at one point or another: pottery, beading, gel nails, etching, crochet, knitting, sewing, language books etc... When I take something up, I go all in – I buy everything I need (spending money I can't really afford to spend on tools, books, apps, classes, materials etc), prioritise doing the new hobby over other things like work, house chores, meeting up with friends, or even having lunch / showering; and spend hours at a time completely focused on doing that thing. Then I just suddenly lose interest and move onto the next thing. I'm really aware that this is something I do but it doesn't stop me from doing it. Friends often joke about what my latest obsession / hobby will be – although I don't think anyone realises the extent that I get obsessed. I don't know if it's relevant but I often pick these things up and become good at them quite quickly, and then just as quickly lose interest.
- Similarly, I find it really difficult to switch off and go to sleep even if I'm tired or have an important day the next day. I'll find myself reading or looking up something online in bed at 10pm and then before I know it it's 1am.
- I find it very difficult to focus on something like watching TV or a film without doing something with my hands. I took up knitting a few years ago (one of the few things I've stuck with!) and I always have 5 or 6 projects on the go. I find it really helpful to knit when I'm trying to focus on something else.
- I can be quite forgetful unless I force myself to be organised. E.g. I have a list of household chores that I have written down for each day of the week and I have to tick them off. If I don't do this, then they just pile up as I forget to do them or don't realise how long it's been since I've done them.
- I know I have a problem with impulsive shopping. It makes it really difficult to manage my finances.
Of course, these could all just be things that are totally unrelated to ADHD – but I do increasingly feel like I relate to the symptoms people describe (but then that could just be because more people are posting about it and so I'm more exposed to reading about it). I don't actually know what would change if I did know I had ADHD or what (if any) kind of treatment I would need/want? I guess I would hope to be able to be a bit more on top of general day-to-day things in life, or even just learn a bit more about it.
My AIBU – to think this is something I should maybe explore further, or is it just using something that is increasingly talked about online to try to explain neurotypical behaviours?
Any thoughts would be appreciated, either way!