The “Superpowers” of ADHD
ADHD is commonly thought of as a disability that makes conducting daily life activities difficult. While this is true, there is a misconception about how ADHD actually affects those who have it. ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This understandably makes it seem like people with ADHD can’t focus on anything. This is not true! A better way to describe ADHD is difficulty regulating attention. This means that if there are multiple things competing for a person’s attention, a person with ADHD finds it difficult to prioritize that information. This information could be in the form of a to-do list, auditory input, or visual input (or all 3). This is why the running joke about a person with ADHD being distracted by “a squirrel” rings true for most people. The visual input of “a squirrel” running by is processed by the ADHD brain at the same priority level as their current task, whether that is having an important conversation, cooking dinner, or completing school work.
Based on this explanation of ADHD, you can see how completing daily tasks can be difficult. However, ADHD isn’t all bad - it is just different. That means that there are also some positive qualities about how the ADHD brain processes information. Below I have listed a few of these positive qualities or “superpowers” that those with ADHD often find they are able to do.
The ability to hyperfocus. Yes! Those with ADHD can hyperfocus! When the ADHD brain finds something that is interesting or challenging - it can zone in on that one thing at the exclusion of everything else. This means that if a person finds a subject or topic that is engaging, they can think about it or read about it for hours at a time. Think about a child that finds listening in school difficult but can play video games for 12 hours straight. That is the ability to hyperfocus. This doesn’t just apply to video games but any subject or topic a person is interested in. It could be learning a skill like wood-working or studying about how to help people who are sick. The possibilities are endless!
The ability to think about more than one thing at once. When the ADHD brain is not hyperfocusing, it is most likely thinking about more than one thing at once. ADHD can often be over-looked in a person because they are not outwardly hyperactive. Hyperactivity is not limited to “bouncing off the walls” or “running like an engine”. It can also apply to what is unseen in the brain. A person can be sitting completely still but have a hyperactive brain. I like to describe it as a computer with multiple tabs open. (And by multiple, I mean like 87). It is constantly opening a tab up, thinking about that information, completing a task or two, and then opening another tab, in no particular order. This may outwardly appear as though a person is disorganized, but really it just means they can balance 87 different things at once!
The ability to set ambitious goals. Once a person with ADHD hyperfocuses on something, there is little that can be done to stop them. Instead of making a grocery list like they “should” be doing, a person with ADHD may be planning and dreaming about their area of interest. A person with an interest in plants, for example, may dream of opening their own plant store. They have ideas about location, types of plants to sell, and an entire business plan. It may seem like a person with ADHD (and no experience running a plant business) would have little chance of being successful with this idea. However, ADHD brains should not be underestimated! If the desire is strong enough, an ADHD person can overcome any obstacles in the way to achieve a dream that may seem unattainable to others. The desire to learn more about the area of interest often outweighs risks and difficulties a person may face.
The ability to become subject experts. When a person with ADHD hyperfocuses, sets ambitious goals, and overcomes obstacles in the way to pursue that dream, that person then becomes a subject expert in that area. Take, for example, our friend who is interested in plants. What started as an interest, “grew” (no pun intended) into an ambitious goal and eventually a realized dream. All of the experience that person has gained through the process of pursuing an interest in plants creates an expertise that can be shared with others.
The ability to empathize. ADHD brains do possess many positive qualities. However, I don’t want to discount the difficulties that those with ADHD also face. The world doesn’t always see those with ADHD through a positive lens. Everyday activities can be challenging and not everyone is understanding about that. (Like your boss, who doesn’t appreciate you being late - again). A person with ADHD can empathize with others that face similar difficulties. They understand what it is like to be different or misunderstood. A person with ADHD can extend grace and acceptance to someone who needs it in a time of difficulty. This creates connections and community with people that face similar circumstances.
These are just a few of the “superpowers” of ADHD. Each person is different and experiences ADHD in their own unique way. My hope for you after reading this article is that you would see a person diagnosed with ADHD as more than just their deficits. A person with ADHD is more than their diagnosis. They are multi-dimensional with strengths, weaknesses, and a lot to offer to those around them.
