Inside the ADHD Mind: What My Words Reveal
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September is done. 8 posts were created. Words were typed. Some good, some bad, some filler.
This is the ADHD & Me: September Review: an inception like article to take a look at your favourite posts and my most repeated adjectives, verbs, and fillers words. Why?
So you can give feedback on what content you want to see moving forward
So I can tailor the topics I cover for you
To provide some insights into ADHD focus and emotion
To provide lessons learned on what did/didn’t work in my first month for other new Substackers who are below 100 subscribers
Favourites & Flops
I looked at my stats dashboard…
Favourites
You loved personal stories and collaborations with other people, as well as the Top 7 ADHD myths and ADHD app reviews. Why were personal essays best in class? My theory is the emotive story behind them, the hooks at the start, actionable tips, and the vulnerability on display 👇
That’s why in October, I’m ramping up the collaboration pieces with ADHD & Remote working coming this Friday 7th, and ADHD & OCD on Friday 13th!
CC: all New Substackers,
I’ve averaged 10 subscribers a week for 4 weeks, currently at 44 (with 3 new following today, thank you!). For anyone starting from 0 and with no professional writing background (like me), I’ve found the below helps build an audience:
Listicles
Brief personal essays with experiences and emotion
Interviews with other people on your chosen niche
Infographics, interesting numbers & ‘so whats’, polls, questions, and engaging with other Substacks outside your niche
See below for what did not work…
Flops
Commentary on media representation was the least popular. Looking back on this article, I can see why - it reads too much like a college essay, and less like a relatable piece of content (see YouTube video above for a more succinct review). If you want to do a research piece, you still have to inject emotion and tangible value for the reader. How does it relate to to them?
In my next piece on ADHD media representation later this month, I want to make it more interactive, as well as informative. Tell me what show to review. Poll time!
Geographic Subscriber Spread
The Americas and UK are well represented, but I want to branch out in Europe a little more. Know anyone that will like ADHD content in other parts of the world? Click the button!
I then used ChatGPT to analyse all of the articles I’ve posted for my most repeated words
My Top 10 Verbs, Adjectives & Nouns…
Top 10, errr, Filler Words
What does this mean?
1. Embracing ADHD:
I often use ‘ADHD’ not just as a label but as an adjective - a lens through which I view various aspects of life. From “ADHD-friendly interfaces” to success stories, it’s clear that ADHD is more than just a diagnostic label for me. Do you perceive any words differently from others because of your connection to it?
2. The Continuous Pursuit of Focus:
Words like “Focus,” “Headspace,” and “Calm” pop up repeatedly (removed the latter 2 cos they’re app names). The Cambridge Dictionary official definition is:
“the main or central point of something”
My relationship with focus is interesting. I tend to be more ‘in-the-zone’ in the mornings, but my attention begins to scattergun as the day wears on. When do you get the most work done?
Contrary to popular belief, people with ADHD can focus - but sometimes too much. I neglect parts of my life because of it. A useful practise I use to remedy this is timeboxing 👇
Try it out and let me know how it works for you!
3. Emotional Resonance:
Think of a time you’ve lost connection with an audience. I want connection. I’m a very emotive person, and sometimes my anger, sadness, or frustration get the better of me - social situations and work meetings often the catalyst.
Picture the scene: I’m presenting a piece of work, but feel a few sets of eyeballs trained on me. Noticing this, I start to fumble on my words, feel sweat snake down my forehead, and my worst fears come to fruition as my cognitive function degrades due to the inattentive side of my ADHD. I’ve lost emotional connection.
In another reality, I keep my cool and notice a buy in from my colleagues. I’m confident because my perception of the connection is strong, and I feel a rush of dopamine after a high pressure meeting.
The same applies. I want to connect with you, whether that’s via emotive personal stories or functional Top 10 ADHD listicles, there’s always room to be more informative AND engaging.
Post by post I’ll continue tweaking my approach based on what has/hasn’t resonated in the past, so it’s more relevant and engaging for you. I have co author projects for October, but if you’re interested in collaborating in November, please contact me!
Something to Note on ADHD & Language
Have you ever known what you wanted to say…
…but couldn’t get the words out?
I’m trying to tell a story in a social setting. I get words jumbled up. I know what I want to say in my head, but it just isn’t coming out right. A few strange looks discourage me, and I spend some time being quiet to regenerate my cognitive capabilities.
Listening is similar. I’m trying my best to absorb the information, but if I spend too much time in a single meeting or a conversation, or I’m mentally fatigued by a long day, it can appear as if I’m not bothered. The truth is different.
I want to tell stories coherently and I want to actively listen. It’s just sometimes the ADHD brain executive functioning misfires. I’ve found writing to be a better expressive tool for me, like choosing a bow & arrow over a verbal sledgehammer. Others may be different. It varies.
With this in mind, I’m looking to release visual illustrations of ADHD symptoms & solutions, specific to certain jobs or social situations.
For example, a Project Manager may struggle with deadlines due to ADHD; I’m going to use my 12 years in the Corporate World and experience with inattentiveness to design digital S.O.S help guides for someone to fall back on.
If you experience symptoms in the workplace or socially, please reach out to me as I’d love to crowdsource ideas!
Lets Finish off with a Quiz!
Your Turn!
How did you find this post? What words do you overuse day to day or in writing? Also, make sure to look out for my collaboration piece with
on Friday!
So I’ve just been diagnosed with ADHD which is honestly, such a relief. I’m enjoying your content even more now particularly as a Project Manager who struggles with routine! I’m reading a book called ADHD 2.0 which is all about the benefits of ADHD as well as some tips on how to live in a neurotypical world. I really relate to being tired after a long day of conversation or meetings, I crave the connection but also can get overstimulated easily! Anyway, excited for the next schedule of writing 😊
Great post and very relatable from an ADHD perspective haha. Also, as someone who is new to Substack, I really appreciated your transparency and growth tips. I learned a lot.