How then do we discuss the challenges of impulsivity, hyperactivity and significant disorganization that makes it difficult for many of us to live our lives without significant help?

These challenges originate in our neurology, which directly influences our thoughts, feelings and perceptions.

Sure, the response of society to our differences attributed to poor awareness, lack of acceptance or stigma causes us suffering.

ADHD would cause its share of suffering without societal pressure. Our efforts to achieve the results our peers do only to fall repeatedly on your face at the outset would likely cause you mental and emotional distress.

You may try to split hairs claiming these challenges are a result of how we respond to our ADHD, not from the ADHD itself.

I promise you, my history of extreme credit card debt due to impulsive spending isn’t the result of a poor perspective on ADHD. It’s because of poorly managed impulsivity caused by ADHD.

I’m not ashamed of living with ADHD, Asperger’s or anything else I’ve been diagnosed with.

I’m also not going to hold any of them so close to my heart that my ego is bruised whenever a diagnosis isn’t considered by others to be a huge part of my identity.

I take a very Zen approach to my mental health journey. I don’t see these diagnoses as part of who I am, I see them as experiences I’m having.

Experiences like all others that challenge me to find a sense of balance where I can.

Balance can be achieved through medication, meditation, nutrition, exercise, and other healthy lifestyle habits, even mindset.

But if I want to address the challenges caused by these diagnoses to experience different results than the default settings they grant me, I don’t owe an explanation to anyone else.

What have I missed?