ADHD & the Flu

Death warmed up (with a dash of hyperfocus)

Jan 02, 2024

selective focus photography of multicolored confetti lot — Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash

Short post today. If you can’t tell by the title, I’m on deaths door with the flu. *cough cough, feel sorry for me, cough cough*

I still have the urge to write something. Despite feeling like an unevolved mollusc about to be eaten by a prehistoric squid, I’ve had a lot of time to think over the festive period.

So, here are some thoughts.

Being unwell wreaks havoc on me physically, mentally, emotionally and physiologically. Not surprising, I know, given the nature of illness. But I think it’s relevant to reinforce this point given ADHD already impacts my cognitive abilities when I’m at full health. If my baseline memory, energy levels, and executive functioning are already lower / frazzled, the illness adds a bucket full of mouldy cherries on top of the cake.
I feel lower in mood. If I were to put numbers on it, my depression is at 60% rather than the usual 30%, and my ADHD symptoms are flaring at 80% as opposed to 20-40%.
There are several negative by-products to this:
1. As I am exhausted, I can’t kick the year off ‘strong’
2. I feel of less value
3. As a result, I feel sad

white and orange ice cream — Photo by Sandy Millar on Unsplash

So let me share what’s helped, especially as someone with ADHD:

Walks around the block or in the local park have given me a boost in mood or energy
Writing down a few things I am grateful for
Reminding myself this is temporary
Taking 1 thing at a time. I get overwhelmed by life’s crushing admin when ‘normal’, so making sure I really, truly only do 1 thing at a time and keep my focus as small as possible helps e.g. the washing up, rather than worrying about the entire mess of my flat
Hot showers

Here are some positives that have come out of being sick:

Thought about my 2024 goals:
1. Continue creating online start-ups and writing about mental health
2. Make enough money from online businesses to transition from 9-5 to full ‘solopreneur’
3. See a lot more of Europe
Reminded myself what really matters - family, friends, connections, travel
Fostering a quiet sense of motivation after this is all over