| In our society high intelligence is often perceived | | | | horribly boring. Intelligent ADHD adults have so |
| as a positive characteristic in a person; and that | | | | many ideas, creativity, and mental energy that |
| which leads to greater successes in life. However, | | | | without the ability to prioritize, plan, organize, and |
| for an intelligent/gifted adult with ADHD (gaining | | | | complete task based off of perceived boredom, |
| recognition as more the norm) that positive | | | | those great ideas and goals turn into frustration, |
| characteristic can actually be a weakness when | | | | failure, lack of self-esteem and lack of confidence. |
| the ADHD is not treated. | | | | I have lived with undiagnosed ADHD for 33 years |
| High intelligence in an ADHD adult can be | | | | and I still get emotional when I hear high |
| frustrating, depressing, and sometimes debilitating. | | | | intelligence is what likely enabled me to hide my |
| Our minds are used to racing with continual deep | | | | ADHD, and in the end, prolonged my diagnoses. I |
| thoughts, constant distractions, inability to prioritize | | | | know how undiagnosed ADHD has affected my |
| even when of importance, and just plain too | | | | life negatively. Intelligence does not compensate |
| much to think about with no way to organize our | | | | for poor interpersonal relationships, educational |
| thoughts. | | | | difficulties, and my constant feeling of "Is this it, is |
| Why does this happen to intelligent ADHD adults? | | | | this all life has to offer?" I always had a constant |
| Because, regardless of intelligence our cognitive | | | | need to achieve in life for it to feel interesting, |
| abilities have such difficulty attending to a task | | | | with of course, the expected endless failures and |
| which is perceived as boring, that we will put | | | | setbacks. Getting diagnosed and finding the right |
| everything and anything before that uninteresting | | | | medication has made a world of difference in how |
| task if it prevents us from experiencing boredom. | | | | I view life, how I function, and how I view myself. |
| In my experience, it appears that the more | | | | Everyday I am learning new behaviors and skills |
| intelligent an ADHD adult, the standard for what | | | | to better myself and improve my life. Intelligence |
| they deem interesting also increases. In ADHD | | | | is a positive characteristic; but it is not enough. |
| adults every experience and situation is | | | | Intelligence is having the ability to ask for help, |
| subconsciously, and sometimes consciously, | | | | which results in, bettering your life. |
| assessed by that individual to be interesting or | | | | |