An Introvert’s Hustle

I’m an Introvert, and ADHD is my Superpower!

If you were to ask me about my childhood, I would consider my upbringing pretty normal, and I thought I was “normal” as a kid.  But the older I got, I began to notice my differences.  I was quiet and shy on the surface.  If you were a part of my small inner circle of friends, you might say I was funny, creative, a good listener, and loyal.  But to my mom and dad, I was messy, sensitive, aloof, a daydreamer, and a slacker, which isn’t wrong, and they loved me despite all those aggravating character flaws. (And so did my Jesus!)  I struggled with my grades in school, to put it lightly.  I can remember how difficult it was to comprehend what I was reading; I would have to read a passage several times to understand it.  I often heard, “If you would just apply yourself more.” Teachers would tell my mom that I didn’t pay attention in class and that I would rather “doodle” than listen.  I know what you’re thinking, “Cristy, you have ADHD, YES, I KNOW THAT NOW!!  But back then, that wasn’t a thing. There were only 3 categories that you fell into when “Gen Xers” were in school: Special Ed (the “slow” kid’s classes), conventional (for all the average kids), and The AG classes(gifted).  Mind you, all things aside, I was a good student, I just had the attention span of a flea, my comprehension was a little lack-luster, and my math wasn’t mathing (it still ain’t).  So, somehow, I made it all the way to graduation in the conventional classroom.  How I did that, I will never know. Child, I even made it through Medical Assisting School and Nursing school, and I know it was by the Grace of my Jesus!

I was in my early 30s and a mother to a 3rd grader before the thought of being ADHD ever crossed my mind.  At the time, my daughter was being evaluated for ADHD- Inattentive type due to her having the same struggles with comprehension and numbers I did growing up. It was then that I brought it up to my physician and was given the ADHD diagnosis. So not only am I an introvert, but ADHD as well?  This was a recipe for a hard-knock life.  I also have a laundry list of comorbidities that would take out the healthiest American soldier.