Basically, for many people with ADHD, we aren’t so good at sensing where our bodies are in relation to the world around us. So it’s not abnormal to, say, run into doors when walking through them.
It can also occur in folks with other neurodivergence but yes, there’s a legit reason why bruises are meme-worthy (and why I get my undies in a twist when people act like it’s not a legit symptom).
I’ve always been clumsy. It was bad enough that a couple of years ago I asked my doctor if I needed a neurology consult. Nobody at any point has said ADHD to me. (Or autism, I’ve probably also got that going on.) God healthcare sucks
I take stimulant medication for my crippling ADHD and while it’s in my system, I am suddenly aware of where I am, in relation to other things. I don’t run into things, I don’t trip on nothing.
When I’m at baseline, I have been known to tip over while standing.
This isn’t an ad for medication. There are massive drawbacks to it. It’s just a reiteration that this isn’t our fault. It’s not that we’re “clumsy.” It’s not that we’re stupid. In this case it isn’t even that we’re unobservant! It’s that neurologically typical people often “feel” where they are in relation to everything around them without trying.
We are fundamentally missing a sense of spacial relation, completely without a frame of reference to everything around us. That isn’t a flaw that we possess because of something we are doing “wrong,” or because we don’t try. And when I realized that, especially since I’m a woman (and grew up verbally brutalized over my unbecoming bruises), it made me angry.
High pain tolerance with this is borderline dangerous
I once went on a tech support visit to someone’s bosses office, finished what I was doing, left, and the guy escorting me told me my hand was bleeding the entire time.
I am absolutely that oblivious, i didn’t even know what I nicked myself on, didn’t even feel it
…ooof. I have a high pain tolerance as well… Totally get this. A lot of things breeze off, then I wonder why I’m suddenly bruised, or my toe is broken.
I’ve had cuts I didn’t know about, but the worst was when I worked retail and managed to smash my upper arm on a shelf, and apparently I was bleeding bad enough to leave a broken trail from the front of the store to the break room.
I couldn’t feel anything but the aching of the blunt force trauma, I didn’t feel the sharp cut or any stinging at all.
I’ve also had plenty of small spots I have no idea how they happened, but usually I’M the one to figure it out…
I get that. We’re meant to stay positive because they can’t help it and they need us, but it’s hard to see things in a positive light sometimes. Write me sometime if you need a sympathetic ear.
I do have one, but I haven’t had any experiences that would make me sit down and cry or anything traumatic. He’s a handful (and then some) at times, but definitely more good times than bad ones.
As a former ADHD kid myself (as in, former kid, still ADHD), I would at least worry about how the condition might affect their academic, social, and emotional development. I was an unfortunate Gifted Kid and picked up a lot of knowledge from cartoons (back when cartoons had educational value), but that came with the cost that I never learned discipline, and never learned how to study. I know that my consistently falling test scores confused and devastated my parents.
But all that was two decades ago. I hope that ADHD is more understood now and kids don’t have to remain undiagnosed and untreated.
Uuh…yeah that’s not part of growing up with ADHD, at least not universally in any way…and what’s with the bruised legs?
Lot of disinformation in the answers you got so I’m here to clear it up.
>Alterations to proprioception is a sensory characteristic that is inherent to ADHD symptomology.
>Proprioception is guided by receptors in the body that connect with the brain through the nervous system so that even without sight, a person knows what his or her body is doing.
Basically, for many people with ADHD, we aren’t so good at sensing where our bodies are in relation to the world around us. So it’s not abnormal to, say, run into doors when walking through them.
I’m pretty much perpetually covered in bruises.
wait fuck is THAT what it is? i’ve always been sorta on the fence about whether i’m adhd, but this symptom is one i have times one million.
It can also occur in folks with other neurodivergence but yes, there’s a legit reason why bruises are meme-worthy (and why I get my undies in a twist when people act like it’s not a legit symptom).
I’ve always been clumsy. It was bad enough that a couple of years ago I asked my doctor if I needed a neurology consult. Nobody at any point has said ADHD to me. (Or autism, I’ve probably also got that going on.) God healthcare sucks
I take stimulant medication for my crippling ADHD and while it’s in my system, I am suddenly aware of where I am, in relation to other things. I don’t run into things, I don’t trip on nothing.
When I’m at baseline, I have been known to tip over while standing.
This isn’t an ad for medication. There are massive drawbacks to it. It’s just a reiteration that this isn’t our fault. It’s not that we’re “clumsy.” It’s not that we’re stupid. In this case it isn’t even that we’re unobservant! It’s that neurologically typical people often “feel” where they are in relation to everything around them without trying.
We are fundamentally missing a sense of spacial relation, completely without a frame of reference to everything around us. That isn’t a flaw that we possess because of something we are doing “wrong,” or because we don’t try. And when I realized that, especially since I’m a woman (and grew up verbally brutalized over my unbecoming bruises), it made me angry.
Tldr: inattentiveness, bumping into tons of stuff, and only remembering it when you look at the bruise or someone reminds you.
An explanation that’s meant to be humorous because it happens to me and my wife all the time:
“Oh my god, where did THIS bruise come from?”
earlier that day
bump “ow, how did I hit the coffee table…”
bump “fuck that hurt, I swear the counter was another 6 inches over”
smash “FUCK the freezer door closes too quickly!”
has to be reminded of these events to remember tham
High pain tolerance with this is borderline dangerous
I once went on a tech support visit to someone’s bosses office, finished what I was doing, left, and the guy escorting me told me my hand was bleeding the entire time.
I am absolutely that oblivious, i didn’t even know what I nicked myself on, didn’t even feel it
…ooof. I have a high pain tolerance as well… Totally get this. A lot of things breeze off, then I wonder why I’m suddenly bruised, or my toe is broken.
I had this while working the other week. Only in my break I noticed my hand was bleeding…
I’ve had cuts I didn’t know about, but the worst was when I worked retail and managed to smash my upper arm on a shelf, and apparently I was bleeding bad enough to leave a broken trail from the front of the store to the break room.
I couldn’t feel anything but the aching of the blunt force trauma, I didn’t feel the sharp cut or any stinging at all.
I’ve also had plenty of small spots I have no idea how they happened, but usually I’M the one to figure it out…
This is where im blessed, my body very very rarely bruises so most people have no idea how clumsy I am on a daily basis.
Same, I walked into a vacuum cleaner about 30 minutes ago
Impulsive adventurousness and bumping into thing.
Aha, I thought it was a reference to getting beaten, partly because of the other comment part I mentioned.
Try having a kid with ADHD sometime. I love mine, but it is also genuinely traumatic sometimes
Yeah. ADHD mom here. Had a good cry tonight about my kid and all his challenges.
I try to keep on the happy face when he’s around but parenting a kid with severe ADHD is really hard sometimes.
I get that. We’re meant to stay positive because they can’t help it and they need us, but it’s hard to see things in a positive light sometimes. Write me sometime if you need a sympathetic ear.
I do have one, but I haven’t had any experiences that would make me sit down and cry or anything traumatic. He’s a handful (and then some) at times, but definitely more good times than bad ones.
As a former ADHD kid myself (as in, former kid, still ADHD), I would at least worry about how the condition might affect their academic, social, and emotional development. I was an unfortunate Gifted Kid and picked up a lot of knowledge from cartoons (back when cartoons had educational value), but that came with the cost that I never learned discipline, and never learned how to study. I know that my consistently falling test scores confused and devastated my parents.
But all that was two decades ago. I hope that ADHD is more understood now and kids don’t have to remain undiagnosed and untreated.
Everyone’s experiences seem to differ, but I’m glad it’s not this rough for everyone.
Removed by mod