We ADHDers have little to call our own. Many of our symptoms are shared with other disorders and are even found among so-called normal humans. We don’t have much to call our own, A Loomis and the Lust song and a T-shirt, but even our T-shirt is a blatant ripoff of an iconic rock-band T-shirt. It’s enough to dishearten a distracted soul.

So today, I thought I’d create a list of words that will be our own … okay, okay, these are ripoffs as well. No new words here, just newly ADDed meanings. But, damn-it, I claim them for us! They’re ours!

So without further ADDo I present:

Our Very Own ADHD Words: (who else would want them)

  1. ADDvil: A non-steroidal Anti Inflammatory sometimes used by hyperactive subtype ADHDers after overdoing … well, just about everything, also ADDville a mythical town run by, and for ADHDers. This town was first described by me, Taylor McKinlay in a post on this blog.
  2. ADDjunked: Items purchased by ADHDers either to help us get organized or bought on an impulse. Truly ADDjunked items are never used and end up in landfills.
  3. ADDrift: The feeling or sensation we get when we’re missing something. I thought there was more to this definition, where did I put the rest of it …
  4. ADDagio: A high-speed, balanced interaction that takes place between two ADHDers when they meet. Typified by finishing each others statements in racing conversations, laughter and high emotion. ADDagio is so named because, to the untrained eye, it looks like the verbal equivalent of a similarly named circus balancing act. (see adagio)
  5. ADDverse: having problems dealing with the non-ADHDers world. Note: not to be confused with addverse.wordpress.com, a web site that accepts and publishes poetry written by ADHDers.
  6. ADDvice: A clamp like device that helps ADHDers get a grip.
  7. ADDmit: To confess to having ADHD, also to confess to having done something impulsive, forgetful, etc.
  8. ADDdress: Loud clothing worn by ADHDers. Orange, purple and chartreuse are common colours and wearing combinations of these colours is called being ADDressed-up.
  9. ADDept: Good at doing many things at once, multitasking.
  10. ADDroit: Skilful, ADDept; especially under pressure. That quality many ADHDers have that makes us the best choice in an emergency situation, even though we may have caused the emergency.
  11. ADDlib: A type of spontaneous humour common among ADHDers and facilitated greatly by both our impulsiveness and our lack of filters. Non-ADHDers often try to imitate this type of humour, be polite and pretend they’re funny.
  12. ADDage: A saying that sets forth a general misconception that gains credit through long misuse. Examples: Children will grow out of ADHD. ADHD can be cured by diet or a tonsillectomy.
  13. ADDvance: When an ADHDer creates more piles. They haven’t moved forward in their actual work, but feel they’ve made progress because, after all, there are more piles.
  14. ADDult: An ADHDer who has the physical attributes of a grown up non-ADHDer. This is misleading to non-ADHDers as they often expect us to be dull, boring, responsible, organized, etc.
  15. ADDventure: A new and exciting experience, usually this occurs when we’re being distracted from some dull and boring task that often has a deadline attached to it.
  16. ADDventurous: Ready for ADDventure, Standard Operating Procedure for People with ADHD.

This list is by no means complete, I just ran out of time. For a bit of distraction, try some on your own. And please, share your best, ‘kay?

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