Striving with Adult ADHD: Learning to Work with My Mind, Not Against It

I always knew I was a little different. I didn’t learn the way others did. While my classmates followed structured lessons and studied by the book, I observed the world with curiosity, figuring things out through shortcuts or unconventional methods. I never really followed "the rules" in learning—I saw patterns, made connections, and found my own way to get to the answers.

I was a bright student and got decent grades, but I never truly learned in a way that suited my mind. I never took a book home, never studied, and barely remember doing homework. If I did, it was usually thrown together ten minutes before class. Lucky for me, I managed to get by.

By the time high school was ending and college was on the horizon, I knew I couldn’t keep up this charade in a college setting. I wasn’t going to suddenly become a disciplined, structured student just because I was in a new environment. So instead, I enlisted in the Navy. At the time, I didn’t know I had ADHD. I had no idea why I functioned the way I did—I just thought I had a different way of seeing the world.

Discovering ADHD in the Navy

As my Navy career progressed and I took on more leadership roles, I started to struggle. The responsibilities were piling up, and I found it harder and harder to focus, plan, and lead effectively. I knew something was off. It wasn’t until 2010 that I was officially diagnosed with ADHD (without hyperactivity).

It took some trial and error, but I eventually found that Adderall worked for me—it made me feel normal. Instead of constantly juggling a million thoughts in my head, I was able to organize them, categorize them, and quiet my mind enough to actually function at my best.

That’s when I started to understand how my brain truly worked. I like the idea of structure, but my brain doesn’t like following the rules in a traditional way.

Thriving in Chaos, Struggling in Stillness

In the Navy, I worked in a job that required extreme multitasking. From the outside looking in, it might not make sense that someone with ADHD would thrive in that environment—but I did. When there was constant movement, problem-solving, and immediate decision-making, I didn’t need my medication. My brain naturally kicked into high gear, and I was in my element.

But when the chaos settled, when it was time to sit down and plan, write evaluations, or create training programs—that’s when I struggled. That’s when Adderall helped.

Fast forward to my career in food service. It was the same story—I thrived in a fast-paced kitchen where I had to juggle a million things at once. The constant movement and problem-solving were perfect for my ADHD brain. But once I transitioned into management, where I had to handle paperwork, scheduling, and long-term planning, I found myself struggling again. Whenever I took my prescription, it was like I had the missing piece I needed to get things done effectively.

Teaching and the Importance of Self-Awareness

When I transitioned into teaching, I knew this was a career that would require me to manage my ADHD properly. Teaching isn’t just about standing in front of a classroom—it’s about planning lessons, grading assignments, managing deadlines, answering emails, and handling the needs of nearly 100 students every single day. I knew I needed my medication to keep up.

Unfortunately, my doctor retired in the summer of 2023, and I had trouble finding a new one. I started this school year off my meds, and it was absolutely exhausting. The deadlines, the constant responsibilities, the mental load of teaching—I was drowning. I knew I needed to be back on my medication.

I’ve always been self-aware enough to admit where I struggle and where I need help. That’s an important skill for anyone, but especially for someone with ADHD. I finally found a new doctor, got back on my prescription, and I feel great.

Breaking the Stigma

The point of this story isn’t just to talk about ADHD—it’s to help break the stigma around mental health and medication. There’s a misconception that taking medication for ADHD (or any mental health condition) is a crutch, that people rely on pills instead of just "trying harder."

That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Managing ADHD isn’t about relying on medication—it’s about having the self-awareness to recognize when something isn’t right in your own mind and taking the necessary steps to fix it. Sometimes that means lifestyle changes, therapy, or structured routines. And sometimes, it means medication.

For me, medication isn’t about "fixing" who I am—it’s about helping me be the best version of myself. It allows me to function in a way that aligns with how my brain naturally works. It helps me lead, plan, teach, and take care of my responsibilities without constantly feeling like I’m falling behind.

So, if you’re someone struggling with ADHD or any mental health challenge—know yourself. Pay attention to what works for you. There’s no shame in asking for help, whether that’s from a doctor, a mentor, or your own support system.

At the end of the day, ADHD isn’t a weakness. It’s just a different way of thinking—and when managed correctly, it can be a strength.