I used to do things pre-diagnosis and think to myself, “adults don’t do that.” Adults don’t scooter on the backs of shopping carts or lay upside down on the couch or jump up and down while watching TV. But after I got diagnosed with ADHD I realized that adults DO all those things, cuz here I am doing all these things and I’m an adult.
So basically what I’m trying to say is, don’t shame yourself into not doing harmless things that make you happy just cuz you think people your age shouldn’t do it.
It’s not just the harmless happy things, it can also be things you need. I used to think about ways that I could manage my ADHD better, or ways that other people could help me, and I’d draw a blank.
I’ve recently realized that this is because I had a lot of ideas when I was younger, and people told me I was wrong. No, I couldn’t write my homework down on my hand, I should use a notebook that could get lost at any moment. No, I couldn’t have my school assignments reduced to a more manageable length as long as my test scores stayed up. No, that’s not the way, that’s too weird, fix the problem, but NOT LIKE THAT.
Sometimes, those things you aren’t supposed to do are exactly what you need to do.
Also, lying upside-down activates your parasympathetic nervous system.
Which is REALLY USEFUL if you’re ramping up to a panic attack, because it’ll help stop it!
… I never realised my lifelong habit of lying on sofas and chairs almost upside down was unconscious anxiety management. Noted.
knitting in the dark 