We Are Not Here to Devalue One Another

I have been writing for a while and those who pop in on my work, whether it is my poetry, an essay, a political piece, or something about mental health or the ADHD experience may be able to tell that I have had a hard time with my mental health.

After enduring the insurance runaround for months I finally was able to see a doctor that put me on ADHD and depression/anxiety medicine immediately. The medication is still building up in my system, but I’d say my life already has made a 120-degree turnaround. There is still work to do, but I am hopeful. I really like feeling hopeful. But I have my moments, especially if I am triggered.

This morning I was triggered. It has been hours and I am still angry about an article I read on Medium. Most of the article was fine, but one line claimed that ADHD, a condition that needs to be confirmed through extensive testing and has been proven to result in an alternative brain structure, was “created” by pharmaceutical companies.

I promise you, no drug caused my ADHD. In and of itself it is not a mental illness, however, there are challenges in mainstream society, both in school and the workplace. It is neurodiversity where the brain operates with more of a hunter-gatherer mindset rather than a farmer one. Our minds prefer to move rather than settle. We are defensive against perceived threats, like someone claiming that we were invented by rich people trying to make a buck. It devalues anyone that has ADHD. It dehumanizes them. It is wrong. It promotes negative stigma and can potentially cause people to doubt their own truth.

It is these kinds of statements that shake the mental stability of a group of people who are marginalized because of the way they were born. It is why so many with ADHD are cursed with what I call “The Trifecta” — ADHD, Depression, and Anxiety. It is not a fun cocktail. Meds help. At least they do for me. Thank God. Therapy and coaching help too. And setting timers and reminders. And crafting a life where I am not a slave to a traditional schedule.

I am here to remind people who find themselves kicked in the teeth by ignorant statements made by…

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