1.) Totally and completely in jest, and from the experienced view as lifelong captain of this meat-ship powered by an ADHD warp core. I do not disagree.

2.) Let us not forget the immortal words of Saint Tommy, “A person can be smart. People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals.”

Because they’re too often and consistently wrong? 🥲

To put a finer point on it: OG Quicksilver (don’t even get me started on the historic Marvel v DC handjobbery) ended up so “super powered” that his inborn celerity transcended the very laws of physics — having little to no frictional effect on the reality he was moving through. Thus, much like Jean Grey, Magneto, Legion, and a few others, his powers were not only beyond “super”, but recognized as equal parts boon and curse to the entire species. Thanks, 90s.

That seems fairly un-hobbity, with all respect.

Those are not only rational fears, but completely within the normal range for such a stigmatized and often-misunderstood perspective. In the same stroke, however, it’s also based on incomplete information and as a lens offers no pragmatic consolation.

Looking at your own challenges that way is less than helpful, so let’s get on the constructive path, instead: in the decades since the acronym was coined and that Rx boogeyman loomed over every kid that was even slightly unruly, fidgety, bored (or gods forbid had a super favorite thing they knew absolutely everything about to the seeming exclusion of much else), there have been incredible breakthroughs in the development of medications for and the overall understanding of neurodivergent components. I, for one, have worked my way through over half a dozen in the last decade alone, in guided attempts to fine tune my prescriptions to the challenges specific to my brain and life in general. In fact, the very first one I was prescribed was Adderall, and I absolutely hated it (except for the magic slimming effect, which was nice for the easy attention, if I’m being honest), so that didn’t last a month before I was asking my psychiatrist to find something else to try out.

There’s no reason to be afraid of getting professional help (ie. pharmaceutical) when you trust the pro behind the pen writing the Rx. A diagnosis is not a sentence hung around your neck, bogging you down for everyone else to sneer at. No, you’re on a path to wellness & self-betterment and you’ve already made the first key decision: asking for help. 🙌🏽 You deserve to be in your own corner, cheering yourself on from the inside, so take a minute to give yourself that much. You got this.

As someone who grew up in similar enough circumstances (though prior to the symptoms being collectively named, much less medications being created for it), please hear me out: this is entirely about your own health and as an intimately personal matter, you don’t owe anyone an explanation; who you share your struggles with is completely up to you — and should include a professional counselor whom you feel comfortable with, IMHO. If my experience has taught me anything, it’s that those I’d be better off sharing my victories with are also those that would be there when I stumble, if that makes sense.

To answer your question directly, I would begin with your primary care physician and ask for a referral for general mental health (to help ensure it’s covered by your insurance), but you don’t have to tell the referring PCP anything more than you think you might benefit from someone with an expert ear. The counselor you meet with would be better suited to help guide you to the right specialist and might even get you set up with a prelim exam to clarify what it is you’re challenged with (documenting it and, best case, helping the next one to better understand — without you having to go over everything again and again).