Another word to use to describe ADHD?

[FindingTheAnswers]

After hearing about so many others heartache, etc, in finally, after years or decades of:

1) getting or trying to get diagnosed with ADHD;

2) and then for a lot of people, going thru another round of Hell trying to find the correct Rx, at the correct dosage;

3) all the while working to improve on all of the 'Bad Programming' that's in our heads for all of the years/decades from before our diagnosis. Also while continuing/struggling to try and put it all together, in order to have the chance of possibly experiencing what most people would describe as a 'Normal, enjoyable, thriving instead of surviving' life;

Would anyone else use the word- 'Insidious' as part of the way to describe, what it takes to TRY and attempt to conquer ADHD?

From the Free Dictionary: 1) Working or spreading harmfully in a subtle or stealthy manner: insidious rumors; an insidious disease. 2) Intended to entrap; treacherous: insidious misinformation. 3) Beguiling but harmful. 

(the end of the last explanation was 'alluring', then 'insidious pleasures'........ no way I was leaving that part in. Unless, would some consider 'Addictions' an alluring or insidious pleasures ?).

What about the word 'enigma'?

What other words to describe all of ADHD and it's consequences would you use?

[Gettingittogether]

Insidious is a good word--the entrapment part, the gradual part ... when I read insidious I think a problem that sometimes is hard to see even though it's there.

But you don't need to go that subtle ... pervasive ... major ... I see ADHD as a major problem affecting all elements of life. A major problem that pervades all areas of life. It's funny--that may sound harsh, but that's my conclusion. And I've been lucky to have had good treatment, good therapy and some good coaching ... and a job I love that that does not require me to be all that organized. I have to be somewhat organized, but not in a high-pressure way.

Hope I'm addressing your question.

If you want other language, "executive function" is a term I sometimes use. ADHD leads to weak executive function. Unfortunately surviving life is all about good decisions and thinking and planning and following through and so on ....

[FindingTheAnswers in reply to Gettingittogether]

It's all good. Your perspective and that's ok.

[Macweb3000]

Hi Finding,

It’s nice to meet you. Words have immense power and changing a single word can change the whole meaning of a question or statement. I believe the words one uses to describe ADHD show what kind of mindset they have to approaching life. Insidious is a special word and to me insinuates that if you call it that you haven’t identified or accepted the diagnosis left. Now I don’t know you and you could be very successful.

If you’re trying to find ways to describe it to people I think the best way is to use your own words. I have no problem going to that dark place to describe to my neurotypical friends. Ultimately who cares what others think makes you successful. I have a friend with a PhD and he doesn’t invest or want a business and I’m obsessed with those. Getting to hung up on how to describe it to make sure others understand us is unproductive. At the end of the day they will never truly know us like you and I know each other. You and I and everyone else here are on the trenches with distraction, lying, addiction, shame, guilt, sensitivity, etc.

Define success and enjoyable your way. Find your way to not caring how others see you. Normal is an over used and unnecessary word in our vocabulary. And to be honest no one is thriving I’d say one just survives a bit better than the next person. You do you and live a life that you want. Everything else is just an ADHD distraction.

Sincerely,

Brian Weber

[FindingTheAnswers]

Hi. When you said 'Getting to hung up on how to describe it to make sure others understand us is unproductive'. Very True. I spent a lot of time in therapy getting to square 1. Meaning I was so lost, and so far behind most people as to where I was Mentally/Emotionally. And a lot of that time, I was trying to figure out how to describe how I felt or what I thought (Emotions? What are those?). It takes a lot of energy trying to put it into words.