Jorge Caballero, MD

Being a successful professional with ADHD sucks. Everyone assumes that just because you've gotten this far in life, then ADHD can't be that bad or disruptive to day-to-day life. In reality, I spend every waking moment of my day balancing the expectation to think linearly (ie "normally") with the expectation that I'll contribute unique insights that are made possible by the non-linear thinking that is a hallmark of ADHD.

It's exhausting.

#ADHD

Oct 3, 2023 at 6:49amWeb
Show threadLoukas (They/Them) 🏳️‍⚧️Oct 3, 2023
@DataDrivenMD mood
Show threadErin ConroyOct 3, 2023
@DataDrivenMD *looks exhaustedly into mirror*
Show threadNot a Spring OnionOct 3, 2023

@DataDrivenMD
This is one of my biggest energy drains:

Working in "linear" teams.
Who work slowly over many weeks on a thing I would have finalized in a week by myself (because I have to finish it before my brain decides that the topic has become "boring").

But somehow working on several projects in parallel is considered "normal" in contrast to actually getting something done.

(Which doesn't mean that I don't think about a lot of interesting off-topic topics while working on a thing.)

Revisiting and regurging an "old" project once a week is just the definition of a mental tar pit.

Show threadyour auntifa liza 🇵🇷 🦛 🦦Oct 3, 2023
@DataDrivenMD imagine finding out at 47 that you have ADHD, then at 50 that you're autistic. am still going through the process of recalibrating my expectation of myself, forget about even other people's expectation of me, LOL
Show threadholly allenOct 3, 2023
@blogdiva @DataDrivenMD Hmmm, just a year or two earlier for me but hard relate.
Show threadDr.EvilOct 3, 2023
@DataDrivenMD and I'm 38, an Engineer and still awaiting a diagnosis, so I can seek adequate supports just to get through the day. It's tough.
Show threadCaroleOct 3, 2023
@DataDrivenMD I hear and understand (tho not in your area). But on the whole, the diagnosis has helped me slot a few more things into place. Did that happen with you?
Show threadJeztasticOct 3, 2023
@DataDrivenMD I've experienced this as a kind of imposter syndrome throughout my career. It helps to start to let go of some of my professional ambition which in retrospect was unrealistic. But coming to terms with that loss is also very hard.