What is it like to have ADHD?

“I would sit in my car in the parking garage and dread going into the office.”

It was 2015 and Karen O’Brien had recently joined Zurich North America as an environmental claims specialist. She loved her new job. But she hated working in the office.

“For the first time in my adult life, I get to work and they’re like, ‘Here’s your cubicle.’ I did a double take, ‘My what? You mean I don’t get an office?’”

Prior to Zurich, Karen was working as an attorney, mainly a prosecutor, for 10 years and had always worked in a private office when not in a courtroom. But now she was confronted with working in a cubicle on an office floor surrounded by dozens of people. “Everybody’s on the phone, chatting or walking by. And I hated it. But I didn’t know why.”

Karen thought she was acting entitled. It took another seven years, growing her career at Zurich where she is now an AVP product designer in the Life, Accident & Health business, for her to discover that the difficulties working in an open-planned office were due to having attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – better known by its acronym ADHD.

What is ADHD?

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that can make people feel restless, have trouble concentrating, and to exhibit impulsive behavior. It is usually diagnosed in childhood – affecting around 11 percent of school-age children in the U.S. – and often improves with age. But symptoms continue into adulthood in more than three-quarters of cases, which can have a negative impact on work, relationships and contribute to – or mask – mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression.

There are three different types of ADHD with symptoms ranging from mild to severe:

Predominantly inattentive ADHD is where people are easily distracted or forget details of daily routines. (Karen is totally dependent on her iPhone calendar.) They may find it difficult to pay attention, organize or finish a task, or follow instructions or conversations. Many children with this type, especially girls, are labeled as daydreamers, or their ADHD symptoms are misdiagnosed as anxiety or depression.

Those with predominantly hyperactive-impulsive ADHD will struggle to sit still for long and will often fidget and talk a lot. They are likely to feel restless and be very impulsive – this may cause them to frequently interrupt other people or speak at inappropriate times.

Finally, there is a combined presentation of ADHD – that Karen has – where the symptoms of the other two types are equally present.

But it’s important to remember that this neurodivergent brain has many – often untapped – benefits, too. These include hyperfocus, resilience, creativity, high energy, spontaneity and courage. The problem is that a diagnosis of ADHD often emphasizes what is wrong with a person, which causes them to see themselves in a negative light.

Discovering the benefits of an ADHD brain

Karen was only diagnosed with ADHD in April 2022. “For me, having an explanation for my differences is incredibly empowering,” she says.

“Previously, I had exercised constant self-judgment and self-criticism. I used to think poor character was the reason I struggled with time management, procrastination, extreme sensitivity to rejection and criticism, low tolerance for mundane tasks, poor memorization, irritability, and my dislike of the open floor plan office. Now, since my diagnosis, I’m no longer my harshest critic. I know it’s biological, not moral.”

Karen has been learning that her ADHD brain has huge benefits. “It makes me exceptional at learning, recognizing patterns, solving problems, and being creative. I can blow away my neurotypical peers with sheer brainpower!” says Karen, who is a member of Mensa, the high IQ society.

“I can be 100 percent hyperfocused, where I’m oblivious to all distractions,” she adds. “I’m not hungry, thirsty, or restless. I have time blindness, where I couldn’t even tell you how long I was working on something, but I was just getting it done. This is when I’m in ‘the flow’ or in ‘the zone.’ I see patterns others don’t, and I can be extremely creative.” In fact, Karen makes time every day to channel her creativity into various arts, including writing, clothing design and home improvement.

But Karen’s ADHD is a double-edged sword that can go from hyperfocus to zero focus. “I find it difficult to accomplish ‘boring’ tasks, engage with things that don’t interest me, manage my time, and sometimes even find my car keys,” she says. “When something doesn’t require all of my brain power, I experience task paralysis. It may be an administrative task or responding to e-mails, but I just can’t get it done.”

This is why ADHD medical pioneer Edward Hallowell in his blog compares the power of an ADHD brain to a Ferrari, with bicycle brakes that are not strong enough to control the powerful brain. “With the right care, you will win many races in your life,” says Hallowell, “but sometimes, you race past places where you mean to stop, or you ignore instructions you mean to hear.”

Coping with ADHD

It is not known what causes ADHD, but genes appear to play a role as it often runs in families. Nor is there a cure for ADHD, but medication, behavioral and psychological therapies, as well as coping strategies can help harness the power of an ADHD brain. Karen, for instance, takes medication to help improve her concentration and her mental health, and she has adopted several coping strategies, this includes listening to podcasts while working on mundane tasks to help keep her mind focused.

“Anxiety is a big part of my ADHD,” Karen says. “My brain wants to be completely engaged. If it’s not, the idle parts start ruminating about the past or catastrophizing about the future.”

To support her mental health, Karen attends a mindfulness meditation practice and works with a therapist. She also runs or undertakes other intense exercise almost daily. “There’s kinetic energy in my body that I need to get out. Once it’s out, I can be still and concentrate. Tired body, focused mind.”

In the workplace people managers can make a big difference for ADHD employees simply by providing recognition. “Just as a little negativity can tumble into anxiety and panic, a drop of praise can build into a tsunami of hope and motivation,” explains Hallowell in this blog. “This positivity and encouragement supercharges the ADHD brain with the same intensity with which negative feedback defeats it.”

Karen says she’s happy to share her story because “acceptance and belonging cannot be achieved for me, or for others, without visibility, education and advocacy.”

“I describe ADHD as superpower,” adds Karen. “And like all superheroes, because they’re different, they are often misunderstood.”