[neurostract]

> Normally, I'd have a ghostly music video running in my head just below the level of consciousness. Thoughts darting, snippets of music, visuals. All that was just gone and I was just there. Kind of like a flow state when playing sports. It was very interesting.

I know what you mean. I've used the analogy of having a plethora televisions on in my brain, all tuned to different cacophonous channels with the volume to 11 and no clicker. The medication gives me a clicker, so I can turn all the ones I don't want to pay attention to off. It doesn't get rid of my distractions: it gives me agency over them.

>This is where the ADHD as broken leg analogy breaks down.

I don't like that analogy one bit -- it implies that something is broken in me, and once it's fixed I'll be okay after maybe some physical therapy. Something isn't /broken/, my executive functions are /impaired/. Fixing that negative brings a host of positives with it: my brain makes creative connections all the time; my problem solving abilities are fantastic (even more so now that I have agency over those abilities instead of just letting them 'percolate' while I distract myself); yes, I'm a little impulsive -- but that just keeps things interesting ;)

Managed ADHD is a boon. Unmanaged, untreated, undiagnosed ADHD is crippling.