By Rosemary Hayden, VCU Social Work Intern
I am sure you have read stories or watched movies about fictional characters who started off their stories with themes around being powerless, feeling different or inferior from their peers, perhaps even being victimized. Many of us are able to relate to these people on some level. I spent much of my childhood feeling embarrassed because of my ADHD, like I was always a few steps behind everyone else, like I was defective. However, our ability to relate to these characters tends to fade when these people discover, or are given, superhuman powers that put them a step ahead of everyone else. Many of us fantasize about what that would be like. I am here to tell you that I no longer must wonder, and neither do you.
The thing is, nothing about me, at my core, changed for this to happen. I was not bitten by a radioactive spider or imbued with some supernatural power. What happened was a reframing of my self-perception, an acknowledgement of what had been there all along but was blocked from my view by narratives of deficits. Yes, I do have deficits, but so does everyone, including superheroes. The Hulk is incredibly strong, but he also has challenges with managing his anger. Superman may be nearly invincible, but he lives with the constant burden of having to hide his true self to fit in.
My ADHD also poses its challenges. It makes it more difficult for me to regulate my emotions, to organize my thoughts and manage my time, to maintain motivation for my work. However, it also gives me special strengths. While I struggle to manage intense emotions, that emotional intensity also means that I can be extremely resilient and confront whatever I am feeling head on. I may have trouble organizing my thoughts, but my thoughts can also move in more creative, nonlinear ways that help me see solutions that others may miss. I have trouble managing my time, but I can also hyperfocus on a subject or task in a way the leads to deep insight and meaningful progress.
My power didn’t come from some special outside force—it came from seeing myself more clearly, with honesty and compassion. That’s not fiction. That’s real. And it’s available to all of us.
Rosemary is a driven, 2nd year Master of Social Work student at Virginia Commonwealth University, specializing in Social Work Administration, Policy, and Planning. With a Bachelor of Arts in Justice Studies from James Madison University and a concentration in Social Justice Interventions, Rosemary brings a deep commitment and innate passion to addressing systemic inequities. She aims to shape a career around advocating for marginalized populations, and ensuring just policy solutions. Diagnosed in the second grade, she has become confident in her identity as a person with ADHD, always striving to find love and laughter in its quirks. In her free time, you can find her pursuing opportunities to enhance herself personally and professionally, hanging out with her family and friends, cozying-up with her cat, reading, hiking and trying new foods.
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