Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
User submission
41.4K
People Are Getting Convinced They Might Have ADHD After Seeing This Illustration About 6 ADHD Moods
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders affecting children, and it affects many adults too. However, society knows very little about what it actually means to live with this condition and how to care for the people who have it.
Moreover, Len Adler, M.D., one of the leading researchers in adult ADHD and a professor of psychiatry at New York University, believes that at least 75 percent of adults who have ADHD do not know that they have it. Adults with undiagnosed ADHD get fired from their jobs more frequently, or they impulsively quit, or they underachieve, slowly losing self-esteem, confidence, drive, and joy in life, resigning themselves to a life with less happiness than it could have been if they were diagnosed and treated.
So, to raise awareness of ADHD, a 26-year-old artist from the UK, who has been diagnosed with it, has created a comic series, titled ADHD Couple, where she shares both medical information and her own personal experiences.
Recently, one of her strips has been going viral all over the Internet, and people have been thanking her for opening their eyes to what’s happening to them.
Image credits: adhd_couple
“I’ve got diagnosed with ADHD last year, and honestly, the diagnosis was life-changing,” Ingri told Bored Panda. “It helped me to accept myself, knowing why my brain works a certain way, has helped me to look at my struggles with more compassion. Also, getting the right treatment, helped with many uncomfortable ADHD symptoms, and made life more manageable.”
The artist said that living with undiagnosed ADHD is very hard. “I’ve constantly felt out of place, like there was something wrong and I’m somehow different from everyone else. I constantly felt overwhelmed and emotionally drained. For many people, undiagnosed ADHD can bring comorbidities like anxiety and depression, therefore it is especially important to get the right treatment as soon as possible. Also finding the community of people going through the same things really really helps! It made me feel less alone.”
Image credits: adhd_couple
Image credits: adhd_couple
Image credits: adhd_couple
Ingri thinks that one of the biggest misconceptions the public has about ADHD is that only children have it. “The truth is that most people with ADHD continue to have symptoms as adults too. However, many adults are shamed and not taken seriously for the symptoms they experience. I know for myself, it was quite hard to accept the fact that I have ADHD because all I knew about this condition were the misconceptions and stigma surrounding it. I didn’t fit the ‘hyperactive boy’ image, therefore it was hard to understand this diagnosis for myself, as well as explain it to others.”
Another big myth is that everyone with ADHD is visibly hyperactive. The artist said there are three types of ADHD, and one of them is ‘the inattentive type’ (which she also happens to have)—it doesn’t have an impact on activity levels. “Many girls and women tend to have this type of ADHD, therefore they are usually diagnosed later in life, as the ones who get noticed first are hyperactive boys.”
Image credits: adhd_couple
Image credits: adhd_couple
Image credits: adhd_couple
Ingri has based the characters we see in this and other ADHD Couple comics on herself and her boyfriend Jay. “I’ve started this Instagram account with the comics from our daily life portraying the struggles that ADHD brings into our relationship with a bit of humor (like our kitchen being constantly messy, or me waking him up every night because I can’t sleep, or us constantly forgetting things and ruining our date nights).”
“If anyone who reads this article recognizes these symptoms in themselves… you’re not alone!” Ingri added. “There’s a whole community of us going through similar things, we understand and support each other! Connecting with others and learning as much as you can about ADHD is key.”
If you want to learn more about ADHD, fire up this article by the American Psychiatric Association.
RELATED:
People think the comic is super accurate
41Kviews
Share on Facebook
What do you think ?
Uncommon Boston 3 years ago (edited)
This is a partial list, there are many more symptoms, such as hyper awareness of small sounds, getting distracted by things everyone else isn't see or hear. Soft repetitive sounds. In high school, 1970's, I knew something was wrong. I would get everything ready to start my homework, then was unable to do the work. Try harder wasn't the answer, it quickly into headaches and physical ailments preventing me from accomplishing anything. At times I cant read because I can't remember the sentence before, which made things like homework more difficult. There was no way other people had so much trouble. This is minor, full blown ADHD is much worse. Adderal calms me, gives me patience, the ability to focus and I don't get angry easily. It isn't an upper.
anxiousPansexualnightmare 3 years ago
i have really awful a.d.d. and that is totally correct. especially with small sounds. all of what you've just described is exactly what i am going through right now. my mother won't let me get meds for it though
Load More Replies...
Foxxy (The Original) 3 years ago (edited)
There is more to ADHD than what is depicted and it also varies in severeness. Yes everyone has these traits but they are usually mild and don’t significantly effect your daily life. ADHD often negatively effects the person day in and day out and can significantly effect your education, employment, relationships, and have high risk of mental health issues. etc.
maya P.K 3 years ago
i have a high risk of mental health issues? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Load More Replies... Foxxy (The Original) 3 years ago (edited)
I just want to give you an example of how ADHD can affect someone whilst reading a book. My almost 7yo son takes approx 30 mins to read a 5 page book with 3 words on each page. 15 words in total, that is like one word every 2 minutes. Do you know why? Well, for a few reasons. He cannot sit still and I mean literally. He will swing his legs, sit down stand up, rock back and forth, flick his hands, stand up and jump etc. We have tried everything we and the OT can think of including some therapy equipment, without success. He is also easily distracted. He would be half way through a word and then suddenly ask a completely random question, or sees something more interesting and focuses on that, or all of a sudden start chatting about something completely irrelevant. And he is extremely forgetful so if there is a sentence that says "sit, Sam, sit" he would say the first word but forget it by the last word which is the exact same word. I hope that makes sense. I know he can't help it but it can sure test ones patience. And I will admit I have lost my s**t on more than one occasion. Not my finest moments and I have no excuses. But I am trying my best, I am human and I am not perfect.
tangy chip 3 years ago
i have been diagnosed with adhd. i cant read this! its too long and i got distracted...
Load More Replies...
Uncommon Boston 3 years ago (edited)
This is a partial list, there are many more symptoms, such as hyper awareness of small sounds, getting distracted by things everyone else isn't see or hear. Soft repetitive sounds. In high school, 1970's, I knew something was wrong. I would get everything ready to start my homework, then was unable to do the work. Try harder wasn't the answer, it quickly into headaches and physical ailments preventing me from accomplishing anything. At times I cant read because I can't remember the sentence before, which made things like homework more difficult. There was no way other people had so much trouble. This is minor, full blown ADHD is much worse. Adderal calms me, gives me patience, the ability to focus and I don't get angry easily. It isn't an upper.
anxiousPansexualnightmare 3 years ago
i have really awful a.d.d. and that is totally correct. especially with small sounds. all of what you've just described is exactly what i am going through right now. my mother won't let me get meds for it though
Load More Replies... Foxxy (The Original) 3 years ago (edited)
There is more to ADHD than what is depicted and it also varies in severeness. Yes everyone has these traits but they are usually mild and don’t significantly effect your daily life. ADHD often negatively effects the person day in and day out and can significantly effect your education, employment, relationships, and have high risk of mental health issues. etc.
maya P.K 3 years ago
i have a high risk of mental health issues? AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Load More Replies... Foxxy (The Original) 3 years ago (edited)
I just want to give you an example of how ADHD can affect someone whilst reading a book. My almost 7yo son takes approx 30 mins to read a 5 page book with 3 words on each page. 15 words in total, that is like one word every 2 minutes. Do you know why? Well, for a few reasons. He cannot sit still and I mean literally. He will swing his legs, sit down stand up, rock back and forth, flick his hands, stand up and jump etc. We have tried everything we and the OT can think of including some therapy equipment, without success. He is also easily distracted. He would be half way through a word and then suddenly ask a completely random question, or sees something more interesting and focuses on that, or all of a sudden start chatting about something completely irrelevant. And he is extremely forgetful so if there is a sentence that says "sit, Sam, sit" he would say the first word but forget it by the last word which is the exact same word. I hope that makes sense. I know he can't help it but it can sure test ones patience. And I will admit I have lost my s**t on more than one occasion. Not my finest moments and I have no excuses. But I am trying my best, I am human and I am not perfect.
tangy chip 3 years ago
i have been diagnosed with adhd. i cant read this! its too long and i got distracted...
Load More Replies...
Related on Bored Panda
161
143