this is totally how i would write stories if I ever came to writing
this post was submitted on 27 Jul 2025
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Then read AntKind by Charlie Kaufmann. Or watch his movies.
ill check it out
Anybody who thinks that non-ADHD people go straight from start to end has never listened to another human tell a story.
Sure, there are times when someone has a well-rehearsed story that they've told 1000 times so they're basically doing a monologue they've memorized. But, mostly people forget details and have to go back, or stop to clarify something, and so on. Losing their train of thought is also perfectly normal.
I'm sure that people with ADHD are more scatterbrained. But, you should have a realistic comparison for what's "normal".
There is literally one rule for this community. One. There's even a meme that explains the rule. Refer to the rule:
Im going to assume you're not trying to be an asshole here and don't really understand.
Yes, most of us know that this is hyperbole. We understand that non-ADHD folks aren't robots and generally have an understanding of what social interaction for people without ADHD looks like.
Its the degree to which this effects us that is in play. When it comes to most things with ADHD if you read it and it sounds like something that everyone experiences just be aware that folks with ADHD experience it to a debilitating level.
It isn't that other people don't get sidetracked or go on tangents when telling a story, it's that ADHD folks struggle to or are unable to tell a concise story. Even if we've practiced and rehearsed it 1000 times. It's common for us to clarify something multiple times because we've forgotten what we've already told you or start in what seems like the middle of a conversation because we're unaware that you're lacking context. It's common for us to start explaining something, completely forget what we're talking about half way through, and just keep talking and hope we somehow answer the original question. It can be legitimately difficult to have conversation on a specific topic.
To the best of my understanding, this can be explained by the fact that most of us have a very limited working memory and struggle to pass information between working, short term, and long term memory. Often, we've quite literally forgotten what we were talking about and are using context clues to keep going.
edit: Noticed that I missed a few words/had a partially rewritten sentence. I feel like I accidentally proved my point somewhat.
The difference is chaos. ADHD brains are trying to manage the chaotic thoughts but are not doing a great job. You are just witnessing the struggle.
adhd culture in a nutshell
But then it wouldn't be funny. I don't think this is meant to be taken too literally.
I tend to exhibit ADHD-type speech patterns when I'm overwhelmed by a new task that I'm trying to explain, inadvertently letting random facts and emotions creep haphazardly into the dialogue.
I hear myself do it and think "huh, this must be what ADHD people feel like all the time"
There needs to be another box in there that is not connected to any of the other boxes. Just because. Like it was going to be part of the story but lol no.
Box: All the most important details of the story
I've never felt so seen in my entire life
I've just had to send this to a friend who always complains (jokingly, of course) about how I do exactly this.
I'm still a little rocked by my fellow AuDHD friend that I yap too much (exactly like this meme - my yap is the stuff outside of the story) and that's why she stopped calling with me.
I became a lot more conscious of when I start to yap and started trying to get things back on track but it's been an uphill battle.
Then like 6 months later she clarified she pretty much doesn't call with anyone else anymore and not just me, but in person she's totally cool with me yapping..
Like woman, yes I have started improving myself in that aspect but ouch
"tetris, can you come over? it will just take 10 minutes because I cant shift because of my back, and you were the one that put the bed there if you remember, and your aunt is coming on the third..."
vs.
"tetris, can you move the bed if you've got 10 minutes? My back hurts and your aunt will be visiting."
So, I told you that story to tell you this one...
Scene I think is cool
Prequel that may or may not lead into the first scene
Sequel that exists in my head but never gets written
something like that
I see you've read Neal Stephenson
Makes me wonder if my mom has adhd
I actively avoid talking to people like this. Please just say the thing
I can't help it despite trying.
Same when you're talking and I have something to interject.
It becomes painful
I know, that's why I avoid talking. It's better for both of us
In my head, when I'm telling a story, it's like I'm going on a journey and bringing someone along. It's only natural that we would have conversations along the way.
Lord of the rings is like that!
A long time ago in a galaxy far away
"Ending from a vaguely related story"