I learned that I had ADHD when I was 30 – and it’s been my PR superpower ever since

ADHD is an unsung hero of the communications and creative marketing world. When treated effectively and managed, executives with the condition can take their game to the next level. Hear me out.

Let’s start with a pretty brutal fact: despite lots of memes and TikToks floating around the internet about ADHD, there’s still a vast and incredibly prominent misunderstanding of what ADHD actually is, who it affects, and how it can be harnessed in a positive way. That couldn’t be more true for women as it’s widely underdiagnosed; in young girls, it’s often thought of as a passing phase – yet another example of women getting the shit end of the stick.

I was only made aware I had ADHD when I turned 30. It took a health care provider putting me through extensive testing for weeks to finally land on the cause of lots of frustration I had experienced my whole life. But by putting in work, embracing the diagnosis, and doing some research to dispel what it is/isn’t, I’ve learned to make it work for my life and my profession as a partner in a global PR firm, striving to develop creative campaigns for clients in various fields.

ADHD can be an incredibly annoying disorder, but it can also be a creativity booster. Here are a few ways it has helped me in my endeavors.

Glorious organized chaos

ADHD brains thrive in multitasking. We like to connect the seemingly unrelated, and use ideas from just about everywhere to add some firepower to the mundane. I can use inspiration from 5 different places to weave together a coherent story and I can pull influence from anywhere: my morning commute in, a conversation, or even a quick interaction. I love working with my team to bring it together although, bless them, they do at times need to reel me in when I get excited and start going off on ‘and then…’ situations. But it’s only because I seriously believe in the power of possibility and don’t think things should be limited to small thinking.

Hyperfocus

Were you ever told ‘you can do anything you put your mind to’? Well, it’s not just a phrase from a sappy Mr. Rogers episode; it’s true. When I’m inspired by something or believe in it, I’m all in. It becomes a passion, and I will proactively do everything I can to become an expert in that field. Which helps when learning about a brand world – I immerse myself in it and think about every possible aspect about the ecosystem.

I find weird facts, latch onto consumer insights that stand out, and will slightly obsess about the details. It’s my zone. But that’s what helps me excel at my job. I look at things with a fresh lens and use the intel and due diligence to help challenge strategy when and where it makes sense. Because I care.

Calculated risks

When armed with information, I believe wholeheartedly in embracing risk. That doesn’t mean being reckless, but using intel to drive innovation by pushing what’s possible and going against the norm. Which comes in handy given today’s consumer has a lightspeed attention span and demands more than ever for brands.

Death by boredom is the ultimate enemy and I believe in going for it – letting the creative sing and do its job without being diluted.

Adaptability

Testing and learning comes in handy when it comes to being adaptable. It’s common for people with ADHD to drive forward solutions when up against challenges. That doesn’t mean it’s always coming up roses, we all have our fair share of shit and get tired, but it does mean exploring all options and always trying to find a path forward, even when things get tough. Some of the most exciting work I’ve done to date is in the crisis field because it requires maintaining calm, being objective, and finding a successful way to move past things that might be viewed as setbacks.

Luckily, today there is more awareness than ever about ADHD, and it’s about damn time. Roughly 4% of American adults have this diagnosis – and those are only the people that are aware of it. Imagine if the stigma were removed and people started to embrace how it can add to their firepower in creative fields? The world would be a hell of a lot more fun and interesting.