Many people wonder what it's like to have (undiagnosed/untreated) adhd.  Some people don't even "believe" in it.  I figure they don't "believe" in it because they can't wrap their minds around what it's like, or what it is.

Well ... here's a sports analogy to help.

Joey Harrington, the current starting quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, is typically considered by people as a QB that sucks.  Fans blame him for everything ... he can't read a defense, can't hit the side of a barn, he doesn't deserve to be in the NFL ... blah, blah, blah ...

Fine.  Whatever you think.

I picked Joey Harrington for a number of reasons, but mostly, because I'm from Detroit MI, I witnessed first-hand his first years in the NFL.

Now let's put some things into perspective.  There are approximately 96 (32 teams x 3 roster positions) people in the world who get paid to be an NFL quarterback.  The NFL is big business and they pay big business salaries.  They also expect big results out of those big salaries.  In other words, they take picking their players very seriously.

To go a step further, there are only 32 starting QBs in the NFL.  That's it!  Only 32 people in the entire world can be a starting QB in the NFL.  So ... Joey Harrington is not only one of an elite 96 players, but in fact, is currently one of the 32 most elite players in the world!

Say what you want!  That's what pro sports is all about.  Just remember, that when we look at the numbers, only 32 people in the entire world get to be a starter in the NFL, and Harrington is one of them.  In other words ... he doesn't suck.  In fact, he's an incredible player!  Think about it!

What does this have to do with adhd?  Good question.

Here's the thing about Joey ... he shows confidence, practices well, studies his playbook and film, and EARNS himself the starting position.  He gets into the game (when it matters), throws some great passes, shows some leadership, and ... well ... then ...

There he goes ... throws the dumbest interception, fumbles on the hand-off, makes a dumb decision ... and loses the game.

Nobody can seem to figure it out.  He's got all this talent, shows all this ability, has the best trainers and the greatest opportunities ... but he screws it up again, again and again.  Then, just when the coach is ready to pull him, make him the back-up QB ... he goes out and has a brilliant game, manages the game properly, throws a bunch of touchdowns, and gets a bunch of yardage.

Alas ... Joey has turned it around!  The fans cheer!  The coaches praise him!  The media celebrates!

The next game comes around ... all eyes are on Joey, the game on his shoulders, he throws his first pass ... pick! Four more interceptions later ... he's booed and pulled from the game.

Such is the life of an adder.

Amazing abilities, can do almost anything, full of ideas, eager to go for it, all signs point to victory ... and ... FUMBLE!

Just like Joey Harrington, all the analysts and fans have their opinions.  In most of our cases, instead of fans and analysts, they're bosses, family, friends, and clients.  Their analysis blames laziness, lack of motivation, absense of follow-through, lack of talent, lack of discipline, stupidity, blah, blah, blah ...

Here's the thing ...

WE AGREE! We're with you!

We're already blaming ourselves for the very same things! Adders can get very defensive (another perceived fault), but the reason we get defensive is because we're already ALL OVER OURSELVES about these very things!  We don't need to hear about it from someone else, we WANT to "fix" it as bad as everyone else!

This blog, A Morsel of Genius, is the furthest I've ever gone in carrying out one of my "wild" ideas.  Do I post everyday like I'm "supposed to"?  No.  Is that just another fumble?  I don't think so.  I don't think the average adder wants me to overload them with posts everyday.  Could I post more?  Sure, and I will.  But I've developed a plan, and even when it doesn't appear right from the outside, I'm sticking to it!

You see ... with adhd, you tend to get a lot of information coming at you all at once.  Constantly!  New ideas, better ways, etc. and it's easy to get off-track because of this.  After you get off-track too many times, you start to get burned-out.  Then you give up and move on to the next thing.  This tendency isn't a character flaw.  Sorry, but most of us have higher expectations of ourselves than anyone else ever could.  So, like Joey Harrington, when we show lots of ability and determination, but go into the game and screw it all up, our attitude is the same as everyone else.

FRUSTRATED! Even MORE so than our analysts and fans!

Learning how to manage these symptoms, and with the help of medication and therapy, we can go out and perform to our true capacity.  It doesn't eliminate mistakes, nor does it change us as a person ... but it does eliminate the supposed character flaws.

Adhd affects the way thoughts process through our brains.  Literally, our brain synapses is different than the average person.  Trying to overcome our deficits in the traditional manner the average person goes about it, only sets us up for failure.  The same would be true of people without adhd trying to overcome their deficits by our methods.

Just like Harrington, the reality is that WE DON'T SUCK!

Living with undiagnosed adhd is like living life the way Joey Harrington's NFL career has gone.  Flashes of brilliance, lots of raw talent, but failure after failure, time and time again.  With diagnosis and treatment however, we get the genuine chance to be the Tom Brady's we believe we can be!

Don't give people with adhd a hard time, instead, realize they're on the same side of the table you are!

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