#ADHD & memory

[toomuchdivergentformyneuro]

can we talk about the shame that comes along with having ADHD?

the shame that hits you when you walk around your messy, cluttered room, knowing you don’t yet have the motivation or hyperfocus to clean it, even though you want to.

the shame that hits you when you retell a story for the thousandth time and the person you’re talking to gets bored or annoyed or confused by it, cuz you couldn’t remember you had told it before.

the shame that hits you when you ask someone to repeat what they’re saying multiple times because you keep forgetting or you just can’t hear them.

the shame that hits you when you forget something super important after you leave for a trip, and you ask to go back for it.

the shame that hits you when you know you’re overanalyzing something someone said to you, but it still hurts.

the shame that hits you when you snap at people who are just talking to you while you’re hyperfocused.

the shame that hits you when you realize you don’t remember jackshit about your life, you don’t have any memories, and you wonder what it was all like.

the shame that hits you when someone asks you to just shut up or sit still after you were just expressing your emotions, your happiness even, but were just a little too loud about it.

all the shame. over everything. we should talk about that all more.

[laestoicatrastornada]

[thatadhdmood]

adhd is hunting desperately for ur earbuds then suddenly remembering you put them in your hat when u sat down hours ago for "safe keeping" and then realising ur wearing ur hat and ur earbuds r under ur hat on top of ur damn head

[mrs-prentiss]

I love my ADHD because my memories so bad that when i go back and “reread” fanfictions i’m just as surprised by the fanfic the second or third time around because i forgot it all it’s like a constant new update

[icantthink-ofagoodname]

Doctors: ADHD medication needs to be taken around the same time every day to avoid bad side effects.

Meanwhile

My dad: Have you been taking your meds?

Me: What meds???

[ihategeometryandtuna]

I didn't post much during my time on Reddit, mostly only a few memes about having ADHD. I'll just leave them here ^_^

[laestoicatrastornada]

[bbybearcubbs]

"But that's not how it happened" you said, disbelief in your tone

"Tell me how it happened then." they reply

"I can't remember how it happened but I know it wasn't like that" you chuckle dryly. They're doing it again

"Oh so you conveniently can't remember now?" They cross their arms, disbelief on their face

"I don't forget things on purpose." You cross yours. Shit not again...please not again...

"Just like you don't choose to forget doing all the important things you need to do to make my life easier right?" They step closer. Raising their voice louder.

You hated when they raised their voice.

"I don't choose to forget!" You shout in desperation that they'll listen.

"Don't raise your voice at me. Fix your face, you're acting like I told you something wrong-"

"But you're not listening to me!" You say stronger this time, trying not to shout.

"No you're not listening to me! You actively forgot to-"

"I didn't forget on purpose!" You plead "I don't do it on purpose! I just forget sometimes! Maybe to often but it's not my fault! I don't do it on purpose!" Your eyes are tearful but no water was spilled yet. Why couldn't you defend yourself without crying?

"Why are you crying? You have no reason to be crying right now" They crossed their arms again. Looking at you dead in your face.

You take a deep breath in and then a deep breath you. Clenching and unclenching your fists. You blink back the tears and try to swallow the lump in your throat that seems to have grown bigger since last time. Don't fight it. It always ends the same so why do you even try? Just accept it. If they say you did it on purpose maybe you did. Maybe you just convinced yourself you didn't.

"Fine...you're right, whatever. I forgot on purpose 'cause I didn't wanna do it in the first place" You mumble. Your head hangs low at first but you raise it and look at them straight in the face. Deadpanned. No anger, no sadness. You just look at them.

"I don't know why you make us go through this every single time..." They begin to rant.

You've gotten used to drowning them out. You watch them pace up and down. Mixing the words they speak with the voices in your head. You try your best to make them as quiet as possible and pick out a random quote from one of your comfort people amidst the hurricane in your head. You feel your lips twitch as you stop yourself from smiling. This is what you've come too. But it's okay. You can hold out just a little bit longer.

They finally shut up. They say to go. Just leave. So you do. You go to your room, climb onto your bed and pull out your phone. Your plan was to watch your favorite people do silly things and the things they love online but before you can even unlock your phone you realize you're smiling. They won't help you right now. Any emotion you try to feel is going to feel like it's squeezing at your heart. Your chest already hurts. Maybe you should just sleep. The emptiness will be gone when you wake up and you'll be okay again. Probably. Like usual.

[witch-of-the-writing-desk]

This has actually happened to me before I put something down and I actually remembered where I put it and it disappeared. When this started happening I thought I was haunted by my papaw who used to play tricks on me.

[miggymagic]

The amount of times I���ve entered a room with an objective in mind and just…forgot it instantaneously…it’s astounding. 😅

[farads]

Had someone insult my poor memory today :/

Allg tho bc I saw a post about httyd2 and it reminded me of that one time my friend spoiled Stoick's death before I could watch it but by the time I went to the cinema I'd forgotten so I could watch it spoiler free and didn't lose the experience

[icantthink-ofagoodname]

Me tryna figure out if my memory issues are because of ADHD, the amount of weed I smoke, or some other thing I should be worried about

[popfishjr]

Snuck out of my house because it was raining and I felt like it and I came back soaking wet but extremely happy and i blowdried all my clothes with a hairdryer and then i couldn't find my glasses that I'm pretty sure I had a few seconds ago then now I'm freaking out because I can't watch Supernatural on my TV without my glasses and I searched everywhere but they're nowhere and I feel so sleepy because everythung's blurry and WHERR THE FUCK ARE MY GLASSES

[v0lumnius]

For the longest time I didn't understand why I was so bad at remembering things. It wasn't until I really started learning about what ADHD really is (vs the way it was understood in the 90's/early aughts) that I had a moment of "oh. OH. SHIT, I think this is me!"

And now, knowing why it happens, I can take preventative measures to help reduce the amount that this happens. And when I DO still forget stuff it's so much easier because I'm not beating myself up about it

October is ADHD awareness month! 🎉

The memory issues ADHD causes are some of the scarier and more frustrating parts of living with it - so here’s a set of reaction doodles that all my fellow ADHD peeps are welcome to use whenever anybody decides to comment on your forgetfulness ^ 

[dont-lick-my-foot]

can’t decide if i should overall feel proud of myself for how consistent i’ve been with taking my meds lately or annoyed with myself because of how messed up my sleep schedule has been.

perhaps…i could be both?

i now declare myself proudly annoyed!

[audhdnight]

Me, adhd as fuck: I’ll definitely remember to take my meds tomorrow

My partner, also adhd as fuck: if you forget I’ll remind you