Can someone explain how my ADHD isn't just actually stupidity?

[CazedAndDonfused]

I mean no offence to anyone else with this diagnosis. But when applied to myself I just can't help thinking - how do I know for sure it's not me being stupid?

Part of my diagnostic report says a "sluggish cognitive tempo" surely that's just what was unkindly called "slow" when I was a child? Ie my brain really struggles to learn new things?

I sailed through school with good marks without studying until A level which I fucked up and since then everything has been hard. Basically anything requiring focus and concentration is very difficult. I could either pick up new skills in a lightening flash with no effort, or just cannot do it at all.

But once you get out of childhood and start to struggle with learning at adult level - does that not just mean I'm a stupid adult?

I cannot remember the last time I was good at anything. Probably at school. So does that not essentially just make me stupid?

Sorry I just don't get it and I've read articles online, I'm really overwhelmed and anxious right now and my fucking brain WILL NOT WORK.

You sound just like me, I could have written exactly the same thing.....
How did you go about getting diagnosed?
And is there a chance that medication could help?
I'm genuinely interested
Thanks

The referral process took almost two years, now waiting on another appointment about medication. The team diagnosing were very nice. I think they would have prescribed medication sooner only there's a question mark over whether it's safe so I have to wait for another appointment to make sure.

I'd recommend asking for a referral, they take a long time but better late than never.

Liz, Nice published guidelines last year about the best practice for treatment & DX. It's a bit patchy tho.

I'm glad you're getting help.

Have you seen this playlist of talks? I'd start with this one where he debunks the sybtypes of ADHD, it then goes into a comparison of ADHD and SCT, with some pointers about potential medication. May be useful for seeing the difference/working out if you have possibly been misdiagnosed.

Because our brains are wired to respond differently. That's not the same as intelligence or stupidity.

I have ADHD. I also have an iq at genius level. I just CANNOT (not through lack of trying!), apply it to life. I have zero concentration span, zero motivation and just get bored after 2 mins of doing anything.

This is my curse lol. I have a very high IQ yet it doesn't help me at all because my ADHD means I can't organise effectively.

OP, everything you have said could have been written about me. I excelled academically (without ever doing any work) until college. My degree was a real mixed bag. I come across as intelligent and articulate and have good ideas (I think) but completely fail at working to deadlines and become panicky and can’t actually manage to do the work. I have been told over and over again that I am suffering with anxiety (and now postnatal depression) but I honestly think it’s more to do with how my brain works than the brain chemistry. I have thought about getting a diagnosis but don’t know if it’s worth jumping through hoops for. I’m waiting for counselling at the moment so maybe I will discuss with them.

OP
It's okay, you don't have to repeat that awful phrase, it's apparently been renamed
www.additudemag.com/concentration-deficit-disorder/

The Additude site is full of info on coping strategies, have a browse.

Also search for info on Executive Function, that's about planning tasks etc.

Is there a disability officer at your Uni?
You need to see them and ask what help is available for you.
www.ucas.com/finance/additional-funding/disabled-students-allowances-dsas

But it's not actually officially been renamed, that's just a suggestion made by Barkley. The fact a website is using it isn't helpful to somebody needing to communicate with medical professionals who will use the clinically recognised term. That's an issue for many areas of medicine (women who suffer repeated miscarriage are referred to as "habitual aborters" officially, for example, which is horrific). It does help to bear more sensitive names in mind personally of course but unfortnately we do need to stay aware of the often insensitive officially recognised terms.

Executive Function isn't relevant in cases of SCT which is closer to Narcolepsy (without actual falling asleep) than ADHD. However if OP recognises herself in descriptions of poor executive function, the SCT might be a mistake, she might have inattentive ADHD instead.

ADDitude used to be good but is wishy washy on facts these days, so be careful with it as a source.

No one would be called stupid. There are thousands of much more official sounding titles for it.

I don't believe anyone is stupid. Some people find things harder but stupid is an unhelpful way to describe that.

As above, what does stupid mean? Surely if we looked closely at every person labelled as «stupid» or «useless» we would find a reason for why they are outwith the norm. The brain is a very complex organ: labelling someone as «stupid» because their brain works in a different way is pretty, well, «stupid» ;-)

You're not stupid, you're beating yourself up. Yes, maybe it was called 'slow' in the old days, but so was dyslexia. There is more understanding now of how the brain works now and of how different types of brains operate. We're not all the same. And traditional academia is not the only measure of intelligence. Perhaps look into successful people with ADHD (there are many - like Richard Branson!) and learn about the strengths of having ADHD - perhaps focus on things you can excel in, rather than things you find a struggle.

My main struggle is with executive function. The diagnosis is inattentive ADHD or what would have been ADD years ago. Sluggish cognitive tempo is a part of the report. For me it feels very much like part of exec function.
It's like when you have too many tabs open on a computer and eventually the computer just starts to run very slowly. You click on something, and instead of immediate action you have to count to five before the computer can do it, and the more frustrated you get and more you click the more the cursor disappears and opens random pages haphazardly. That's what happens my brain, that's what I thought sluggish cog tempo was but maybe I've misunderstood.

I'm confused as to what sluggish cognitive tempo is if it has nothing to do with executive function?

I should watch some of the links when I have time.

Hmm perhaps it's just down to different clinicians' understanding of the model? I am going by what Barkley says in the talk I liked to. He says SCT is not ADHD and is a separate disorder which doesn't have the executive function problems etc, so if you have executive function problems it's ADHD (PI) not SCT. You sound like me, I have the inattentive subtype too and majorly struggle with EF stuff and have definitely felt this "brain fog" and slowness but SCT has never been mentioned to me, I wouldn't have heard of it except for that lecture.

But it might be that the person who diagnosed you is using it as a shorthand for this "brain fog" feeling. Or it might be that Barkley is wrong and/or the research has moved on.

I definitely think there is some talking at cross purposes here and I think I've contributed to that, so I'm sorry.

I know this post is really old but I’m looking for any support out there for sluggish cognitive tempo (now called cognitive disengagement syndrome). Any help or support much appreciated 🙏

Ah sorry I don't really have any further info except to say to look at Russell Barkley's youtube page where he has done some newer videos. I didn't really look into it any further than what I wrote there a few years back.