I don’t know about you, but I’ve got an internal monologue going on in my head. I think we all do.  And we all get those negative intrusive thoughts, or stories, that aren’t in our control; but there is something distinctively different in neurodivergent brains.  Our Default Mode System, which is the system in the brain that is in charge of wakeful rest mode, has a very negative voice in the brains of many people with ADHD. It is the voice that tells us we suck, are too much but not enough, and can’t do it. It is very convincing and exhausting because it makes rest time a time for rumination. It is something, that for us with spicy brains, is a saboteur of our self-confidence. The bad news is that it is a cult leader convincing. The good news is that, once you are aware, you can change it. Did I mention that I have ADHD? Well, I do.

#adhd #adhdlife #hamstereheelradio #adhdbrain #defaultmode #iamadhd #thehamstermightbedead

If you have ADHD then you probably get frustrated very easily. Very frustrated very easily.  So that means there will be times when you are overwhelmed or overstimulated while trying to complete a task, and the result could be turmoil. If you have to wait in line at the store, or someone doesn’t get to the point of their story quickly enough then it can turn that minor inconvenience into a all hands on deck ready the nuclear launch codes drill; one that could quickly result in emotional annihilation.  If that is the case then you are dealing with frustration intolerance, an ADHD symptom that is rarely talked about. The good news is that it can be explained, it’s our brains, and I’ll talk about it in this episode. I have ADHD, did I mention that? 

Mr. Toad was my first hero. Confused? Let me explain. Fictional characters are more than entertaining; they are a reflection of us. They are a mirror of society, its culture, and the individuals who comprise it. Whether you're LGBTQ, a minority, or someone with a disability or just struggling with life, the fact that we can see those traits and relate means we matter and resonate. For me, at least, having those fictional characters has helped me feel like l am not alone. As a kid, I knew I had ADHD but no one told me how my brain worked, I just knew the symptoms. When I saw characters like Mr. Toad from The Wind in the Willows, who was just like me, that meant that I wasn't the only weird one out there. I wasn't alone. That matters.

Hey, I have ADHD. Welcome to the first episode of my ADHD podcast,  Hamster Wheel Radio, where the wheel is turning, but the Hamster might be dead, maybe. This is a podcast meant to discuss, and bring to light all the stuff about ADHD that I don’t believe we are talking about. Things like feeling like a disappointment no matter what, 

The idea that you're too much but not enough. The loneliness that comes with the stigma of not being understood. 

I decided to start this project with one of the most misunderstood aspects of ADHD, procrastination. It is fitting that I start there because I waited (procrastinated) on starting this project. I have ADHD by the way. Did I mention that?