What story do we keep telling?

ADHD isn’t real,

We hear this over and over almost as if it’s a story,

Your told this story from a young age.

You begin to see this story getting engraved in your mind,

You see yourself telling yourself your making it all up,

Thinking to yourself “I just need to try harder”.

Causing scars as you try to repress all these things you cant control,

Only to not be able to.

Why must we keep telling this story?

What story do we keep telling?

People with ADHD just need to try harder,

We hear this story over and over and begin to believe its true.

We destory ourselves to try to uphold the expectations of this world,

But no matter how hard we work,

No matter how much we destroy ourselves to try to do this,

To please those around us.

It leads nowhere.

Why must we keep telling this story?

What story do we keep telling?

They say your a bad parent,

We are told this story by everyone around us.

As a parent all you want is whats best for your kid,

This story hurts you more than anything.

You begin to act more strict,

Nothing changes for the better,

All this does is tear your farther away from your child.

Causing damage for everyone around,

Damage that will take years to undo.

Why must we keep telling this story?

What story do we keep telling?

Only boys can have ADHD,

Any girl who believes she has it is told this story.

She feels invalidated,

Fake,

Like she doesnt belong.

Resulting in damage that cannot be undone.

Why must we keep telling this story?

What story do we keep telling?

Medication is bad,

They hear this story so much,

They start to fear what it may do.

Their told no one needs them,

Their told they arent safe.

They struggle more than they need,

All cuz of this fear caused by a false story.

Why must we keep telling this story?

What story do we keep telling?

ADHD looks the same in everyone,

They struggle due to this,

They reach out for support.

Their ignored,

Rejected,

Discarded,

All because it doesnt look the same as it does in someone else,

As if they are the joker among the deck of cards.

Why must we keep telling this story?

What story do we keep telling?

People with ADHD can never focus,

You sit in most situations,

Getting distracted by everything around,

You sit there but never know whats going on.

But there are the few things you will focus on for days.

You go to someone for support,

They tell you your making it all up,

All because you can focus on those few things.

You go years without support,

All due to this story.

Why must we keep telling this story?

What story do we keep telling?

All kids with ADHD are hyperactive,

You sit there,

Unable to focus,

You sit there,

Never knowing whats going on.

You fail your classes,

All cuz you cant focus,

You go to someone,

But your told its impossible,

All because your not hyperactive.

Why must we keep telling this story?

What story do we keep telling?

ADHD can be outgrown,

We know we have this,

We know its there.

But were always told the same story,

You will grow out of it,

This wont last forever.

But as you grow older,

It doesnt get easier,

It doesnt go away,

You feel as if your broken.

Why must we keep telling this story?

All these stories,

All the pain,

Why must we keep telling these stories that cause damage,

That will never go away.

Why were you always missed?

It’s as if you are the faint whisper in a noisy room,

Forgotten,

Overlooked.

You sit in class unable to focus,

Never knowing what's going on,

Feeling as if there are a million different voices speaking to you all at once.

You fail all of your classes,

Procrastinate until the last minute,

Completing almost nothing,

Feeling confused about everything,

As if you are a mouse stuck in a maze with no way out.

Like everyone else,

You always assume you’re being lazy,

That you don't care,

You see yourself as an utter failure who can't even complete the most basic tasks.

What will it take for you to see that you’re trying your best?

You don't want to be like this,

You don’t want to fail,

It's as if you are a puppet with loose strings unable to get anywhere.

You want to succeed,

You just need some extra support to get there.

Whenever you hear the term ADHD you think of little hyperactive boys,

That are always running around,

Unable to sit still.

But what about people like you?

It's as if you started a book but never finished it,

Missing the chapters that would help you see the full picture.

You still struggle with the same stuff,

Even if you arent hyperactive,

But you are always missed and seen as lazy.

Why were you always missed?

Just imagine how different your life would be if anyone had picked up on this sooner,

If you could have just received the support you needed at a younger age,

Imagine all the things you might have achieved.

It’d be like finding the missing puzzle piece after years of searching,

Finally completing the big picture.

Why were you always missed?

Brain is on 100
But my face is at blank.

So many thoughts processing,
How long should this take?

Frustration and anger,
Danger and repeat.
My brains a ticking time bomb,
It’s me they want to defeat.

Colours, shapes, and sounds
Pops, whistles and bangs.
My brain keeps going forward.
Like a runaway freight train.

People say they know,
But inside they have no clue.
Like biting my tongue inside my mouth,
As I continue to chew

I bite off more than I can take,
And get down on myself in the end.
It wasn’t too much, and I’m too brave.
This possession controls from within.

Bright lights and flashes, my attention goes another way.
Today my goal is to concentrate.
But I forgot again.

Simple tasks in repetitive motion.
My mind wanders like a fly in an ocean.
I keep pushing forward.
To show my devotion.

I may forget a lot of things,
But remember dear,
In my mind, things aren’t that clear.

Simple tasks I drag on too far,
And my anger sings louder than a guitar.

I try each day, and each day passes. Forgetful I am, one day I’ll surpass this.

To me, people’s approval is essential,

So when they say “I’m not reaching my full potential”,

Though they may think it inconsequential,

That statement can be detrimental,

And their opinions are influential,

But now I’m getting existential.

That sentence is tattooed inside my brain,

The message those words portray,

Is constantly on replay.

And at the end of the day,

The one thing that remains,

Is that constant feeling of shame,

And no, I don’t mean to complain,

But the thought still haunts me all the same.

You see, my “best” is hypothetical,

A concept that’s theoretical,

It's purely parenthetical.

It's honestly kind of pathetic, I’ll dream of this ideal person who I aspire to be,

But it’s not based in reality, it’s just the perfect version of me.

Now you think to yourself this is an unrealistic expectation,

And I agree which is why it can only lead to frustration,

I’m only complicating the situation by not giving up this infatuation

Of a preconceived notion that leaves me with reservations.

I start to doubt myself and all of my abilities,

Becoming blatantly aware of life’s perceived futility,

And so I end up greeting people with way too much hostility,

Causing them to question my mental stability,

Ultimately resulting in a mistrust of my facilities.

Then one day down the road I’m left believing I’m just the worst,

In fact, it’s even crossed my mind that I might just be cursed.

But by now it’s been so long that this thought process can’t be reversed,

And I’ve racked up so much self-loathing that I could surely burst.

“I don’t reach my potential”, yeah I’ve got that rehearsed,

And I’m constantly waiting for someone to tell me, lips pursed.

All because a trusted adult didn’t believe in me first.