Those of us with ADHD know that it’s difficult to live with on a daily basis, right? Children with ADHD may not have an awareness that they have but it still impacts their day-to-day life. The one thing nobody seems to talk about is, teenagers with ADHD. They are light in the between that everyone seems to forget about.
I remember my teenage years and they were no walk in the park, well unless you count Jurassic Park I suppose. I barely recognise who I was back then, probably because years of bullying had beaten down my confidence to zero. I think things improved a lot when I was able to get my first proper full-time job and gain real life experience. It was also around the time my confidence started to build back up as I found I was good at something.
“You couldn’t pay me enough to revisit my teenage years. I just couldn’t do it!”
ADHD gIRL
Let’s be honest, I think most people struggle in their teenage years to a certain extent because of things like peer pressure, developing more complex relationships, acne and let’s not forget the all-important hormones which twist the mind and emotions as well. So, navigating having ADHD when you’re a teenager is a very scary concept, while it only lasts a grand total of seven years, the scars it can live with you sometimes last for life.
I wish I could give teens with ADHD words of wisdom for navigating those years, but the fact is they are just incredibly difficult and nothing much I can say or offer will make them that much easier, not without weekly intervention. I think the biggest thing I can say on it is this; people will appreciate your ADHD as an adult, a lot more than they do when you’re a teenager so hang on in there.
To hear more about teenagers with ADHD you can check out January’s podcast episode here. Catch you in two weeks ADHDers and allies when I talk about my sudden craving for ADHD meds.
