Dealing With ADHD During a Pandemic

Amanda George/Contributing Writer

This article is a part of PantherNow’s opinion section “Pandemic and Me”  series

As I took to my usual routine of Twitter doom scrolling, which Merriam-Webster describes as incessantly scrolling through grim news, there were multiple threads on the reality of ADHD and its comorbidities.  I felt an odd sense of relief. The realization, self-diagnosis and modifications that have become all too familiar to me throughout the course of the pandemic were presented to me in a way I couldn’t articulate. 

I had never even considered that I could have ADHD. I was never in trouble at school, had always been a straight A student and was the opposite of hyperactive. I did some googling after wondering why “College Me” wasn’t performing as well as I had the past 13 years of my education.  

I discovered that ADHD in women is often later or never diagnosed due to the stereotypical diagnostic criteria and societal expectations for young girls. The underdiagnosis of women made sense to me, as I had exhibited the exact reasons it’s overlooked: my usual lack of motivation, self-regulation and occasional inattentiveness that were mere personality traits became glaring obstacles to my college responsibilities that I had to manage. 

While all of this makes sense to someone who doesn’t experience ADHD or any other type of neurodivergence, it can help to think of these symptoms beyond their capitalistically-driven criteria: worth based on productivity and contribution.  This means that those with ADHD aren’t “ineffective” just because they work differently and often don’t work as well unless they stick to their own methods. I think Twitter user and ADHD activist @NomeDaBarbarian says it best: “I can pour out mental effort like water for days at a time. What I can’t do is to spend that energy on something that’s boring, that doesn’t hold my attention, or which has too many different steps.” 

This brief and frankly too relatable explanation of ADHD helps to make it more accessible for those with the disorder to recognize it in themselves and dispels doubt that they are just being “lazy”. It also allows neurotypical people to see the thought process of someone with the disorder and realize those with ADHD should not be judged by their productivity.

Aside from realizing I have ADHD and addressing it over the year of the pandemic, I’ve also learned that staying at home with it, and my slew of other disorders isn’t pleasant. This is especially true when being expected to complete school courses regularly but fully online. If you haven’t gotten it by now, schedules and socializing are essential for those with ADHD. Online classes offer none of that, only presenting you with a syllabus and occasional zoom meetings which you zone out from. Luckily, my anxiety drives my ADHD and vice-versa so I haven’t failed, but for many of my friends with the same disorder, that’s not the case, as anxiety can be as paralyzing as it is motivating. 

Another neurodivergence activist @ADHDelaide expresses in their twitter thread that those with ADHD and no anxiety disorder are more likely to end up missing deadlines due to this lack of coping mechanisms, resulting in lower grades.  However, those with both anxiety and ADHD often lack visibility. 

As PsychCentral explains, anxious ADHD sufferers, like myself, are more likely to remain unnoticed, especially because “last-minute panic” seems functional in lower grades but more advanced studies bring more difficulties. The loss of external structure and schedules that comes with independence becomes a challenge that builds up to a breaking point. The emotional buildup and eventual breakdown are all too common as ADHD symptoms are ignored like mine were until I reached the point in quarantine I couldn’t function more than the bare minimum. 

Overall, I believe that while self-diagnosis is a valuable tool in the absence of accessible doctors, especially good ones, it can go too far when you take regular behaviors that aren’t life-affecting or debilitating and label them as ADHD or any other disorder. But if online school has presented a unique set of challenges for you alongside the altered routine of staying inside for months, I’d consider looking into it. And if you find yourself among those of us who are struggling to keep up with expectations or stray from hyperfixations, just know there’s a range of communities that offer support, relatable experiences and coping skills during these traumatic times.

If you would like to share your pandemic story with us please contact: gabriela.enamorado@fiusm.com

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The opinions presented within this page do not represent the views of PantherNOW Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.