Not Too Long Didn't Read

In a recent conversation with a self-aware young person, I was struggling with some of the new language, and eventually connected some dots. Basically, things I have always known about myself, but learning about so-called “new things” that are actually “old things” with a new name, brought me full circle to put some fresh attention on them.

This person self-describes themselves as “neuro-spicy” which is essentially a slang word to present a more colorful version of Neuro-diversity, which in turn, just means thinks differently than the statistical norm. So thinks differently from normal people. Then they commented that from the way I talk and write, they think I am also neuro-spicy…

NOT a big fan of self-diagnosis, or of public diagnosis either. Sharing personal information like that can lead to others being judgmental and using the terms against you. So, no thank you very much. However, I am a huge fan of learning and self-discovery, so still on that path for sure. So I looked into this idea.

When I was a kid, they (the doctors) said I had ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). They said I would grow out of it, and it does not affect adults.

Well, the doctors changed the nomenclature. Now they label that same thing “ADHD, Inattentive Type.” There is also 40 years more research which suggests that it does not “go away” in all cases, and there are some traits that remain and must be managed to a greater or lesser degree on a case by case basis for life. All things being equal, all people are unique and different. Yadda yadda yadda. Well Doh…

So, I did not need a doctor to tell me that. I live that every day, I call it “being myself.”

But, researching the slang term, “neuro-spicy”, led me to dip my toe into Neurodiversity, and when it suggested that ADHD was in that category, I went ahead and put on my swim suit and dove in.

Interesting to see the change in the list of criteria, and I pretty much checked most boxes for ADHD, Inattentive type. As an adult you only need to match five criteria, so yeah… Me is still this thing I think so.

In particular, I was surprised to read about how blurting and over-talking without meaning to was part of this, because I judge myself for that behavior. Seeing it validated as a trait of thinking differently does not make it okay to talk over other people, but it does help me have compassion for myself and understand why it is so difficult to stop doing it. I also need to express, with great verbosity to be complete, avoid assumptions, and I constantly worry that if I don’t “get it out,” then it will be forgotten.

Not that what I have to say is more important, but it is so frustrating to lose thoughts… So I have been writing things down almost constantly instead of burdening other people with them. It is so much head noise…

Anyhoo… I then shared this little piece of my journey with my new friend, as a fellow traveler who helped tip me off to some insight. Considering this reminds me to take myself seriously, and maybe follow this ADHD, Inattentive track a little while longer and see if there might be some useful new strategies.

As the purpose of creating NTL;DR is to empower myself to share my thoughts more productively, and without limitation, then self-discovery could be part of that too. If tracking this topic helps improve focus, that will be all for the good.

Welcome to my journey, fellow travelers.