From a very young age, Emily Hamblin’s son would have meltdowns and get intensely angry. He was also really bright. He was ahead of the curve academically and scored in the 99th percentile on standardized testing. His teachers would say he was just “smart and quirky.” That didn’t sit right with Emily, though. She knew something else was going on.
Then one day, a friend suggested that Emily look into ADHD. She was skeptical at first. But when she learned more, it was clear that this was the missing puzzle piece. Her son was twice-exceptional: He’s gifted AND he has ADHD. And this discovery even helped her recognize ADHD symptoms in herself.
Emily co-hosts a podcast called “Enlightening Motherhood,” which aims to help moms who are overwhelmed by their kids’ big emotions. Listen in to hear how Emily reframes ADHD symptoms in a positive light.
To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood. We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at ADHDAha@understood.org.
Understood.org is a resource dedicated to shaping the world so the 70 million people in the U.S. with learning and thinking differences can thrive. Learn more about “ADHD Aha!” and all our podcasts at u.org/podcasts. Copyright © 2023 Understood for All, Inc. All rights reserved. Understood is not affiliated with any pharmaceutical company.
https://medbusiness.net/adhd-aha-twice-exceptional-raising-a-gifted-son-with-adhd-emilys-story/
I always noticed that I was different; I was academically successful, but I still had trouble focusing and interacting with others, and it took a toll on me. Eventually, after getting a diagnosis, I saw that I had ADHD, and I wasn't sure if knowing that made my life better because my family didn't quite acknowledge that much. I was also ashamed of it because I knew that people would react negatively and wouldn't empathize with it much. After all, they had different opinions. However, I realized that I shouldn't be ashamed of it. It's okay to be unique, and I want to share that with neurodiverse people and neurotypical people so I can change their perspectives on mental health. Vivian Tan is a public speaker and entrepreneur that is passionate about helping students in public speaking, and personal & professional development. She is involved in the community, from being the Founder and President of YOUth of BC to being a 3x TEDx speaker. Ever since 2020, she has been invited to over 25 speaking engagements based on her personal brand and skills alone, and spoke at organizations such as Intrepid Museum, Rewriting the Code, and more. She can be found drinking bubble tea, reading books, and cooking in her spare time. In the future, she aspires to go into social entrepreneurship and business, and to be in a position to inspire and motivate others to improve themselves. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at x
