I want to focus on mental health conditions I have experienced. Let me start with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder—what many people simply call ADHD. When I think about ADHD, I think about two main areas that keep showing up in people’s daily lives. The first area is attention—how a person concentrates, listens, and completes tasks. The second area is hyperactivity—how a person’s body and mind behave when they feel restless, active, or unable to settle. Then there is a third part that often walks together with these two—impulsivity, which is acting quickly without pausing to think through consequences.
I have learned that ADHD is not just “being stubborn” or “being playful” or “being impatient.” It is a real mental health condition that can shape how someone functions, especially in school, at work, and in relationships. And the challenging part is that many people live with it without knowing. They assume it is simply their personality. People around them may also assume the person is rude, careless, or undisciplined. Yet in reality, it may be a medical condition that needs attention and support.
One of the main things I notice in ADHD is inattention. When a person struggles with inattention, they become distracted easily. They may start doing something, then their mind jumps to something else before they finish. It is not always that they do not want to concentrate—it is that concentrating becomes difficult to sustain.
I have seen that people with ADHD can get bored quickly with tasks that require steady attention. They may start many things, but completing those things becomes a struggle. You may find someone with several tasks started—yet most of them remain unfinished. They begin, stop, begin again, stop again, and at the end, many things remain pending. When I see this pattern repeatedly, it becomes a sign that something deeper could be going on.
Another sign that stands out is difficulty finishing tasks. They might have good intentions, but follow-through becomes hard. Even simple routines may feel heavy. And then there is the issue of listening. Sometimes, a person may appear like they are not listening when you speak to them. You may be talking, and their eyes are there, but the mind is somewhere else. This can cause misunderstandings, because people may interpret it as disrespect. Yet in reality, the person may be struggling to stay mentally present.
I have also noticed that they may take time to process information. It can look like they are slow to understand, yet it is not always about intelligence. It is more about attention—how quickly the brain is able to hold and organize what is being said. When attention is unstable, understanding can also feel delayed.
The second major part of ADHD is hyperactivity. This is where a person seems restless—like they cannot stay still. It can look like they always want to move, touch, handle things, or interact with the environment constantly. It is as if stillness makes them uncomfortable.
I have seen people who appear to “itch” to touch things. They want to handle objects, open things, tap things, move around, and keep themselves busy. Sitting still can feel like torture to them. Even when everyone else is calm, their body is restless. They may fidget, shift their position repeatedly, or keep moving from one place to another.
Another thing I have seen is excessive talking. Some people with ADHD talk and talk, and they struggle to know when to stop. Sometimes others walk away because they feel overwhelmed, but what I have noticed is that the person often still wants connection. They may follow you because they want to continue the conversation. They may even follow you into spaces like hallways or toward the washroom because they feel an urgent need to keep talking. This can make people avoid them, not because the person is bad, but because people do not understand what is happening.
I have also seen how some people struggle with quiet tasks. Quietness can feel uncomfortable for them. They may function better in noise or activity, but when things are calm, they struggle. Their mind seems to search for stimulation, and silence makes them restless.
The third part I want to talk about is impulsivity. This means acting on impulse—moving quickly without stopping to think. It can show up as impatience. Some people cannot wait. They want things to move fast. They want answers immediately. They feel irritated when they are delayed.
One of the examples I have seen is difficulty with waiting in lines. In places where others queue—such as hospitals, airports, or offices—some people with ADHD struggle to tolerate waiting. They may try to pass others, interrupt processes, or demand immediate attention, not necessarily because they are arrogant, but because their brain struggles with delay and self-control in that moment.
I remember taking someone to a hospital, and while we were waiting for the receptionist or the doctor, this person could not sit and wait like others. He became restless. He went directly to the receptionist and demanded attention, as if the staff were intentionally wasting time. It was difficult because I could see how his impatience was not just a normal attitude—it was something bigger. It was impulsivity in action.
Impulsivity can also show up in risky behavior. Some people act without precaution. They may do things quickly without assessing danger. For example, crossing roads without abruptly. It is not always because they do not understand right from wrong. Sometimes it is because the “pause” that helps people think is missing or weak in that moment.
They may also interrupt others often. They cut into conversations. They step into what others are doing. They may speak before others finish. This can lead to conflict and rejection—yet they may not even understand why people get upset with them.
From what I understand, ADHD often has a strong genetic side. It can run in families. That is why mental health history matters. If one person in the family has certain conditions, it may appear in others. This does not mean it must happen, but it increases the chances. I have also learned that environment can play a role. For example, exposure to substances during pregnancy—such as smoking or heavy alcohol use—can increase risk in children. This is why choices during pregnancy can affect the developing brain of the child.
When it comes to treatment, what I have come to see is that ADHD can be managed. There are medications that help manage symptoms, and there are also therapies—especially behavioral therapies—that support a person in learning skills and coping strategies. There is also the issue of diet. Some foods may worsen symptoms for some individuals, and when that happens, adjusting the diet can help. There are also supplements—where something is missing in the body or diet, and supplements are used to support balance. In the end, treatment is about managing the condition, not pretending it does not exist.
I have learned that ADHD is not just “being stubborn” or “being playful” or “being impatient.” It is a real mental health condition that can shape how someone functions, especially in school, at work, and in relationships. And the challenging part is that many people live with it without knowing. They assume it is simply their personality. People around them may also assume the person is rude, careless, or undisciplined. Yet in reality, it may be a medical condition that needs attention and support.
One of the main things I notice in ADHD is inattention. When a person struggles with inattention, they become distracted easily. They may start doing something, then their mind jumps to something else before they finish. It is not always that they do not want to concentrate—it is that concentrating becomes difficult to sustain.
I have seen that people with ADHD can get bored quickly with tasks that require steady attention. They may start many things, but completing those things becomes a struggle. You may find someone with several tasks started—yet most of them remain unfinished. They begin, stop, begin again, stop again, and at the end, many things remain pending. When I see this pattern repeatedly, it becomes a sign that something deeper could be going on.
Another sign that stands out is difficulty finishing tasks. They might have good intentions, but follow-through becomes hard. Even simple routines may feel heavy. And then there is the issue of listening. Sometimes, a person may appear like they are not listening when you speak to them. You may be talking, and their eyes are there, but the mind is somewhere else. This can cause misunderstandings, because people may interpret it as disrespect. Yet in reality, the person may be struggling to stay mentally present.
I have also noticed that they may take time to process information. It can look like they are slow to understand, yet it is not always about intelligence. It is more about attention—how quickly the brain is able to hold and organize what is being said. When attention is unstable, understanding can also feel delayed.
The second major part of ADHD is hyperactivity. This is where a person seems restless—like they cannot stay still. It can look like they always want to move, touch, handle things, or interact with the environment constantly. It is as if stillness makes them uncomfortable.
I have seen people who appear to “itch” to touch things. They want to handle objects, open things, tap things, move around, and keep themselves busy. Sitting still can feel like torture to them. Even when everyone else is calm, their body is restless. They may fidget, shift their position repeatedly, or keep moving from one place to another.
Another thing I have seen is excessive talking. Some people with ADHD talk and talk, and they struggle to know when to stop. Sometimes others walk away because they feel overwhelmed, but what I have noticed is that the person often still wants connection. They may follow you because they want to continue the conversation. They may even follow you into spaces like hallways or toward the washroom because they feel an urgent need to keep talking. This can make people avoid them, not because the person is bad, but because people do not understand what is happening.
I have also seen how some people struggle with quiet tasks. Quietness can feel uncomfortable for them. They may function better in noise or activity, but when things are calm, they struggle. Their mind seems to search for stimulation, and silence makes them restless.
The third part I want to talk about is impulsivity. This means acting on impulse—moving quickly without stopping to think. It can show up as impatience. Some people cannot wait. They want things to move fast. They want answers immediately. They feel irritated when they are delayed.
One of the examples I have seen is difficulty with waiting in lines. In places where others queue—such as hospitals, airports, or offices—some people with ADHD struggle to tolerate waiting. They may try to pass others, interrupt processes, or demand immediate attention, not necessarily because they are arrogant, but because their brain struggles with delay and self-control in that moment.
I remember taking someone to a hospital, and while we were waiting for the receptionist or the doctor, this person could not sit and wait like others. He became restless. He went directly to the receptionist and demanded attention, as if the staff were intentionally wasting time. It was difficult because I could see how his impatience was not just a normal attitude—it was something bigger. It was impulsivity in action.
Impulsivity can also show up in risky behavior. Some people act without precaution. They may do things quickly without assessing danger. For example, crossing roads without abruptly. It is not always because they do not understand right from wrong. Sometimes it is because the “pause” that helps people think is missing or weak in that moment.
They may also interrupt others often. They cut into conversations. They step into what others are doing. They may speak before others finish. This can lead to conflict and rejection—yet they may not even understand why people get upset with them.
From what I understand, ADHD often has a strong genetic side. It can run in families. That is why mental health history matters. If one person in the family has certain conditions, it may appear in others. This does not mean it must happen, but it increases the chances. I have also learned that environment can play a role. For example, exposure to substances during pregnancy—such as smoking or heavy alcohol use—can increase risk in children. This is why choices during pregnancy can affect the developing brain of the child.
When it comes to treatment, what I have come to see is that ADHD can be managed. There are medications that help manage symptoms, and there are also therapies—especially behavioral therapies—that support a person in learning skills and coping strategies. There is also the issue of diet. Some foods may worsen symptoms for some individuals, and when that happens, adjusting the diet can help. There are also supplements—where something is missing in the body or diet, and supplements are used to support balance. In the end, treatment is about managing the condition, not pretending it does not exist.
The reason I speak about ADHD is because many people may have it and not know. They assume they were just born impatient or restless. They assume it is personality. But sometimes, it is a mental health condition that needs attention. When children struggle to concentrate in class, it should not be dismissed immediately as stubbornness or laziness. When someone is always restless, always acting quickly, always unable to wait, it may not be simple attitude. It may be ADHD. And when we understand this, we stop judging people for what may actually be symptoms. We begin to support them. We begin to guide them toward treatment. We begin to help them live better lives. This is why knowing these signs matters.
