“You have ADHD? No way. You don’t LOOK like you do!” I can’t count on two hands how many times I’ve heard this. In their defense, they are most likely basing their assumption of what ADHD looks like on what society (and Hollywood) has taught them about the condition. According to the stereotype, ADHD is a “boy’s disease” that causes them to be hyperactive, boisterous, and fidgety. There’s no way a girl could have it!
But alas, they do. I do.
I admit that my condition has created some challenges when it comes to being a military spouse. But, sometimes, I just need to laugh at myself. My condition doesn’t make me less worthy than my peers – but it does give me some interesting stories to tell, especially in the military community! Here are some (hilarious) examples of what it’s like to have ADHD as a military spouse in GIFs:
1. I always know I have an appointment coming up, but I don’t remember what (or who!) it was for because I forgot to put it on the calendar:
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2. When I walk into a crowded spouse’s function, I immediately have the urge to walk out because my anxiety is so high:
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3. I overshared at my first spouse’s club meeting about my interest in Harry Potter when asked to introduce myself because I have no filter:
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And they looked at me like:
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4. I thrive in the initial chaos of PCSing and deployments because I suck at planning…then it comes back to bite me in the a** later in the unpacking phase:
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5. I always do my best to listen to the speeches made at functions, then I end up dissociating, and I’m startled out of it by the round of applause at the end:
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6. I don’t talk to anyone at a function until someone brings up a subject I like, then I can’t stop talking:
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7. I sometimes forget my military I.D. at home, so my husband has to sponsor me on base:
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8. It only looks like I have it altogether, but what I really have is high-functioning anxiety:
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9. Care package? What care package? Oh sh*t, I was supposed to send that:
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10. I try to keep in touch with your long-distance friends, but I end up being distracted by something shiny online when I go to open the messaging app:
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11. Sometimes I get so hyper focused on cleaning all of the baseboards in the house that I forget to pick up my husband from work on time:
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12. Chances are, I won’t miss many phone calls or video chats during deployment because I’m probably still awake in the middle of the night.
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13. Trying to keep my leg from shaking the whole table at the awards dinner like:
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