Growing up without a mother is often compared to experiencing a war for a child. However, when you add ADHD to the equation along with abandonment, neglect, abuse, and domestic violence, it becomes even more challenging for a child to develop fully and thrive. As a result, I didn't have the opportunity to grow up properly, and I still suffer physically, emotionally, and mentally from the lingering effects of my past traumas. Despite that, I have lived my life to the best of my abilities without shame. Children with ADHD already face loneliness and difficulties, so I wrote this piece with the hope that adults would refrain from causing them any further harm. It would be wonderful if adults around the world could be a little more understanding and kind to children with ADHD.
I was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of forty. Prior to that, I believed that my challenging childhood, including my parents' divorce before I turned one, abandonment and neglect, malnutrition and emotional deprivation, my stepmother's abuse and exploitation, and my father's alcohol addiction and emotional neglect, were the root causes of my current state. However, after being diagnosed with ADHD, which is said to be 99% innate, I realized that my childhood struggles were merely fuel added to the fire of my ADHD tendencies.
Ironically, what saved me from the immense suffering I didn't cause myself was the hyperfocus characteristic of ADHD. I delved into the world of ideas, leaving behind emotional and personal growth as well as practical problems, and through studying, I managed to avoid falling into depravity or ruining my life during that period.
This piece focuses on the psychological analysis of a girl with ADHD growing up without a nurturing mother, exploring the experiences she goes through and the consequences of navigating social life without any healing. It was a truly difficult and challenging time.
In France, there has been a long-standing social agreement that the government should fulfill the role of a necessary father figure for children, regardless of whether they are born in wedlock or out of wedlock. This was a conclusion reached after much consideration of the low birthrate issue. In Korea, where there are many children, I hope they will not be urged to have more children, but rather be well cared for, not tormented, and not killed. I pray for all the children with ADHD in the world to receive proper healing.
Freelancer Life, Korean writer, and translator.
As a child, I was misunderstood as a prodigy, and as an adult, I was misunderstood as someone who intentionally hurts others. My family treated me like an enemy. I couldn't even understand myself, so how could I explain myself and defend against misconceptions?
I had no place to belong in life, and I often had to leave communities or organizations feeling like I was being pushed out while standing on my tiptoes. When I learned that I had ADHD, I felt like I had to apologize to the whole world without any reason. With my inadequate social skills, I used to make mistakes and be misunderstood, but now I can give myself a reason to stop and have the courage to pursue what I really want to do instead of just making money. I am now writing, which is something that I enjoy doing.
I realized that having ADHD is painful, but it's okay to inconvenience others a little bit. I tell myself that everyone can be a burden to someone else, and accepting that we all have some weaknesses in life makes it a bit easier to live. I want to offer my sincere condolences to all individuals with developmental disorders.