There is no question that those with ADHD have different brain wiring. “Non-linear thinking” is a label that many with ADHD use to describe their thinking experience. Using such labels to distinguish the thinking process from the implied and more mainstream linear thinking sounds good, but what does non-linear thinking really look like?
Recently, I stumbled onto a TED Talk video, titled “Living with ADHD in the Age of Information and Social Media,” in which Theo Siggelakis illustrates his ADHD thinking process and uses a specific example between 59 seconds and 1:58 minutes into the talk. He uses the term “hyperlink thinking” in place of “non-linear thinking.” Either way, it makes tangible his described thinking process. Watch the video below: https://youtu.be/y0hY5TYVv_s
If this is representative of your ADHD thinking experience, maybe you should not describe your thinking as non-linear, but more as hyperlink thinking.
If you can identify with this, it would be easier to understand and it might help you better communicate your experience.
This makes sense- I tend to describe my memory as ‘Google’ since it tends to fetch things based on triggers.
Here’s a thought for you; perhaps this form of thinking is not only not a fault, but a step in evolution for dealing with a technological society.
Evolution is an interesting thing.What starts out as an anomaly can turn out to be the difference between surviving or not. Thanks for commenting.
Yes! My way of thinking too! Just imagine when we are a few ADHD’ers together with only one or two who are not!
Yes, it can get crazy!
Wow! I love the way he articulates his ADHD. Everyone keeps saying its all about “finding your passion” and making the most of your hyper-focus skill. I wish I could do that and use the internet to become the next billionaire!!
His level of self-observation is amazing. It is so cool that he was able to witness how his brain thinks and then share it in a way we can all understand. To a degree, “finding your passion” is an exercise in self-observation. Such observations are not easy, but they can be amazing when we witness them.