In this powerful roundtable episode of Attention Different, host Stephen Tonti brings together eight ADHD adults from diverse backgrounds to share their experiences, challenge common misconceptions, and celebrate what makes their neurodivergent brains unique. From late diagnoses to childhood realizations, these candid conversations reveal the complex reality of living with ADHD and the journey toward self-acceptance. As Stephen puts it: "ADHD is not a disorder—we are a group of ADHD adults determined to address the ways in which our unique brain wiring makes our lives more complicated but also to celebrate the traits that make us some of the most creative and exciting members of any given generation."

You'll Learn:

• ADHD is not just about "inability to focus"—many people with ADHD experience hyperfocus, but can't always choose what captures their attention
• The presentation of ADHD symptoms varies widely between individuals and across gender lines, with "masculine" presentations being more visible/disruptive while "feminine" presentations often go undiagnosed
• Many ADHD adults develop complex masking and coping mechanisms to fit into neurotypical systems, often at great personal cost
• There's no correlation between ADHD and intelligence—the condition affects people across all IQ levels
• Late-life diagnosis is common, especially among women, immigrants, and those from families that didn't recognize neurodivergence
• The path to self-acceptance often involves reframing ADHD as an identity rather than a disorder
• Many adults with ADHD wish they had been told earlier: "There's nothing wrong with you," "Weird is cool," and "You are worthy of help"

Resources:

• Children and Adults with ADHD (CHADD) Conference
• Stephen's TEDx talk
• Attention Different

Note: This episode features an authentic, unfiltered conversation about living with ADHD, including occasional strong language.

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We are Attention DIFFERENT not DEFICIT An advocacy and edutainment podcast centered on radical acceptance and neurodiveristy. Attention Different aims to de-stigmatize and build community by exploring the intricacies of living life and "adulting" with ADHD in the modern world. We periodically feature experts, special guests and influencers in the ADHD community.
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