Guest blog by Chetna Khatri

What is ADHD really?

ADHD, on the face of it, seems pretty simple: Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder. In reality, it’s far more than just attention deficit. We struggle with regulating our attention. To paint a picture for you, imagine having multiple tabs open in your mind and cycling through them all at once. That’s where the struggle lies: maintaining focus across all those tabs simultaneously. To an outsider, this may look like we’re moving from one topic to another abruptly, like a butterfly continuously moving from one flower to another.

We tend to get bored with tasks very easily. As a result, we constantly seek novelty. When it comes to a task, it needs to be stimulating enough to catch our attention, but not too stimulating. When we’re under a lot of pressure, we can end up feeling overstimulated. Speaking from personal experience, this overstimulation has led to a state of paralysis on various occasions.

Since our minds continuously process a lot of information at once, it impacts our working memory. Hence, we frequently lose the train of our thought or forget sentences midway while speaking. It’s hard to keep track of things with such forgetfulness. We often come off as rude because we tend to cut people off while speaking; to us, it’s just voicing our thoughts before we lose them. We avoid eye contact while talking to others, as we can’t maintain eye contact while maintaining our attention on the conversation; this is commonly misinterpreted as a lack of interest.

Misconceptions of ADHD

There is a common misconception that people with ADHD have a special ability to be hyperfocused. A hyperfocused state can be described as intense concentration with cognitive abilities at their peak, where we are unbothered by our surrounding environment. While we do tend to have hyperfocused states now and then, they are not within our control. As much as we wish it were the case, we can’t command our minds to enter hyperfocus mode as and when we please.

Inactivity is also a very common trait of ADHD, where we struggle to keep up with daily functions. This can look like forgetting to eat meals, skipping showers, struggling with organisation, or even simple tasks like getting out of bed. This is commonly misinterpreted as laziness or lack of motivation.

We often face difficulties when it comes to starting tasks, a challenge known as task initiation. Additionally, hyperfixation on specific details and repetitive overthinking are common traits we experience.

Strengths, challenges and what matters most

Yet, ADHD comes with its challenges and its strengths. We are often highly creative and can think outside the box when solving problems. We also tend to notice details that others might miss. With the right support, we can truly reach our full potential.

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the traits and struggles we commonly experience. Each case of ADHD is unique, and every one of us experiences it differently. ADHD affects not just one but all aspects of our lives, including our social connections. Our brains are wired differently, and this is normal.

But here’s what matters most: we already have a hard time navigating through it all. A lack of awareness about ADHD only makes the journey more isolating. Understanding begins with listening, with recognising that different doesn’t mean deficient. When judgment is replaced with curiosity and stigma with support, we create a world where neurodivergent minds don’t just survive but thrive.

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At Mindset, we provide neurodiversity-affirming training and coaching for leaders, HR teams and neurodivergent colleagues, creating workplaces where people feel understood and supported. If you’d like guidance, a safe space to explore your needs, or help building confidence in supporting others, please get in touch!