ADHD in adults: Can a struggle also be a superpower?

The hyperactive kid who doesn’t do well in school - this is the typical perception of an individual with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).  

Like any mental health condition, the complexities of ADHD provide unique benefits that extend far beyond this negative portrayal. Unfortunately, ADHD is still viewed as a debilitating impediment and is rarely perceived as a strength.

During our April Talk, ‘ADHD in adults: Can a struggle also be a superpower?’, our respective panellists (Grace Yeoh, Jesse Sng, Mag Chan, Khairy Farhan) shared the unique highs and lows they have encountered on their journeys with ADHD.  

Here’s a roundup of the important lessons we learnt from this discussion: 

1. Everyone’s journey is different

Just like the inherent neurodivergence which characterises ADHD, each individual has unique encounters with ADHD which inform their experiences in different ways. This was a common point that was reiterated throughout the talk by all 4 panellists. 

For instance, Mag’s experience with ADHD mirrored the stereotype - she was diagnosed after her teachers complained about her delinquency in school. However, the other panellists shared an entirely different set of experiences when it came to their diagnoses. In particular, Jesse and Grace both highlighted how observing the similarities between their behavioural patterns and others’ lived experiences with ADHD ignited their eventual discovery. This journey was also shared by Khairy, who hasn’t gotten officially diagnosed. Khairy’s observation of his unconventional behavioural patterns towards typically conventional tasks such as data entry and teaching children piqued his interest and prompted him to find out more. 

2. Neurodivergerence is a superpower

Each panellist highlighted the benefits of their unique neurodivergence explicitly throughout the talk. In particular, Jesse shared the importance of embracing it and leveraging on its uniqueness to fuel individual successes. A multi-faceted individual, Jesse’s comfort with embracing multiple disciplines has enabled him to thrive in various environments. Jesse shared how this has been beneficial in his various roles, whether in his current role as a pastor and community builder at Unlocking ADHD, or in his past roles at startups where he focused on building products, facilitating business development, and propelling marketing seamlessly.

Jesse’s praise of neurodivergence was also reciprocated by Mag, an established entrepreneur. Mag shared how her neurodivergent thought patterns enabled her to be comfortable with taking risks, adapting to innovation, and approaching unconventional solutions. Mag emphasised how her neurodivergent thought process has also made her comfortable with taking paths less travelled, a key factor for success in entrepreneurship.

In fact, the benefits of neurodivergence can extend far beyond typical business environments. In particular, Khairy highlighted the benefits it has served in his career as a teacher. For instance, Khairy shared his ‘investigative’ approach to tutoring children and how that has helped him to uncover their unique learning styles in order to maximise their unique potential. He also discussed how adopting different disciplines into teaching, such as the use of dramatic techniques, fostered engagement within his classes immensely. 

The parallels between each speaker’s entirely different journeys reiterate that the benefits of neurodivergence are far from homogeneous. 

3. Going beyond conventions

During their discussions about conventional workplace settings, all panellists agreed that the acceptance of neurodivergence in workplaces and schools would help many individuals flourish. 

For instance, Jesse and Grace shared a similar stance regarding neurodiversity in writing. Both panellists agreed that the neurotypical approach to writing in the Singaporean school system stifled the joy they obtained from writing later on. In particular, Jesse shared how learning to type during his study of Computer Science at University rekindled his interest in writing. Grace shared a similar experience, highlighting that the creative freedom provided during Literature classes relative to stringent English classes in secondary school fuelled her interest in writing. Their similar experiences highlight the importance of accommodating neurodivergent patterns in a school setting. This will enable individuals to realise their full potential.

Each panellist agreed with the need to embrace neurodiversity to foster inclusion in the workplace. For instance, Grace shared the difficulties she faced when filling up 2FA forms provided by HR departments and how other neurodivergent individuals shared her sentiments. Mag shared the same views and highlighted her efforts to encourage neurodivergent hiring amongst founders. Jesse shared how the inclusion of neurodivergent thinking in his current and previous experiences has fuelled innovative practices immensely. Their similar views highlight the benefits that accommodating neurodivergent patterns can bring in increasingly diverse business environments.

Like any other mental health condition, it is important to approach ADHD with nuance and without judgement. By learning to embrace the best that neurodivergent thinking has to offer, we can propel individuals with ADHD to lead more fulfilled lives and provide value in unconventional ways to others.

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