Maya’s Super Buzzing Brain: Exploring ADD and ADHD

Sometimes it feels like my brain is a giant jar overflowing with buzzing bees. Thoughts zoom and whirr and bounce inside, so loud that I almost miss the teacher’s voice. It’s like a whirlwind that never stops!

I wish there was a little switch to quiet the buzzing, even just for a tiny bit. That’s when the grown-ups start talking about those letters – ADD, ADHD, or something like that.

It all sounds like a big, confusing jumble to me.

A Brain’s Journey Through Time

Did you know that brains like mine used to have a different name? It was called ADD, but that feels like a long time ago. Doctors are like explorers, always discovering new things, and they changed the name. Here’s what it’s like for me:

• Maya the Daydreamer: The middle of math class isn’t the best time for adventures, but my mind has other plans! One second I’m counting, the next I’m a knight battling a fire-breathing dragon. Losing stuff – especially pencils – is my special power. They vanish as if the dragon ate them!
• Maya the Fidgety Whirlwind: My legs have a life of their own. They need to run, jump, or wiggle, even when it’s time to sit still. It feels like ants crawling under my skin, and the only way to chase them away is to MOVE. Sometimes I get scolded, but it’s like trying to hold back a sneeze!
• Maya the Mix-and-Match: Most days, I’m a mix of both! My brain is a bouncy castle where thoughts either crawl like snails or zoom faster than racecars. There’s no in-between, and sometimes it feels a little… broken.

Then, like magic, the doctors realized all those buzzing, daydreamy, whirly brains weren’t so different after all. Kind of like different ice cream flavors, all delicious in their own way. So, they gave us a new name – ADHD. It means my brain does things a bit differently, which comes with a mix of awesome and tricky stuff.

My Busy Brain Superpowers

• Idea Machine: My brain is a never-ending party! Sometimes it feels like a fireworks factory exploding with questions. “Why does the sun go to sleep?” “Do fish dream?” “Can I invent a bubblegum that changes colors?” Teachers try to keep up, but it’s like catching lightning in a bottle! My thoughts are the zaniest, the loudest, and sometimes a bit too much… but I wouldn’t trade my brilliant brain for anything.

• Adventure Seeker: The world is a giant treasure map, and I’m determined to find all the secrets! A ladybug smaller than a freckle is as exciting as a dinosaur fossil. I notice the funny faces in the clouds and wonder if that butterfly is leading me to a hidden fairy garden. Of course, my adventures sometimes take unexpected turns. That one time I followed a rabbit…well, let’s just say dinner was a bit late that day!

• Supercharged Emotions: My feelings are like a giant orchestra – loud, messy, and impossible to ignore! Happy makes me want to jump on the moon and sing silly songs at the top of my lungs. Sad feels heavier than a giant backpack, with gloomy clouds that rain on my smiles. And when I’m angry… WOOSH! I become a tiny volcano, spewing hot words before the lava cools. Sometimes my big feelings scare me, but they’re also what makes me… well, ME!

Understanding the Ups and Downs

Having an ADHD brain means the volume is turned up on EVERYTHING. My good days are brighter than a rainbow, filled with boundless energy and enough ideas for ten people. But the hard days? That’s when the buzz turns into a jumble.

It’s like trying to read a book with all the words scrambled. And some days just feel prickly – when nothing is quite right, and even a soft hug feels too tight.

The thing is, those big feelings, the buzzing thoughts, and the thirst for adventure – it’s all a package deal. My ADHD brain might be a wild ride, but it’s filled with magic too. And though it’s sometimes a little confusing and a lot overwhelming, I’m learning to embrace the fireworks and the rainclouds, because they all make me Maya!

Why Does All This Stuff Matter?

Because now I get it… it’s why…

• Homework feels like climbing Mount Everest in flip-flops… and someone turned off the sun, making it super cold too! My brain wants to race to the fun part, but those problems feel like giant boulders blocking the path. It’s frustrating, and sometimes I just want to give up.
• I interrupt or blurt out things before they even make sense in my own head. It’s like my thoughts are on a runaway train, and my mouth tries to catch up! Sometimes I say something silly, and other kids laugh…and that feels like a pinprick right in my heart.
• My room looks like a toy explosion went off. It’s not that I don’t like being tidy, but starting projects is way more exciting than finishing them. I get this amazing idea for a spaceship out of blocks, then find some sparkly stickers, and oh look! A cool rock for my collection… before I know it, my floor is a giant mess, and I feel a little overwhelmed.
• Sometimes, all these different feelings mix up inside me. One minute I’m super excited, the next I want to cry, and then suddenly I’m mad at everyone, even myself! It’s confusing and a little bit scary.

But the best part? Knowing all this ADHD stuff means I’m not alone. It’s not that I’m weird or bad, my brain just marches to its own drumbeat. There are other kids with buzzing brains like mine, and grownups who can teach me tricks to make things easier.

Like how to break big homework mountains into smaller steps, or what to do when my words try to escape before I’m ready.

My ADHD might mean some days are tougher than others. But it also gives me amazing ideas, a heart full of HUGE feelings, and the energy to explore the world in my own special way.

And that makes me pretty awesome, even if I am a little different!

Watch a video

This animation discusses what it means to have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).