Everyone with ADHD can relate to feeling overwhelmed in large groups of people. ADHD is like the tide. It comes in and out, and sometimes it’s easier to talk to people than it is at other times. I’ve had experiences where I’ve really had to focus during one-on-one conversations because I worry about offending someone. When more people are added to the conversation, it can quickly become overwhelming to keep up with everyone.
When I was younger, this often left me feeling alone and fed up with myself. I can also relate this back to my impulse blog: sometimes I would jump into a conversation with something inappropriate, only to be met with weird looks and awkward silences.
Like most things in life, this isn’t something with a quick fix. I improved through trial and experience. At one of my old jobs, the winter crew was quite small and easy to communicate with but when summer came, the number of people increased. It became hard to keep up with what was going on, but with time and experience, it did get better.
If I had one main piece of advice, it would be patience. Don’t be impulsive and say something stupid that will get you into trouble. Be patient, learn from your experiences in larger groups, and over time it will become easier.
