SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton: The Story Of An ADHD Doctor

Press release from SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton:

October 11, 2021

In honor of ADHD Awareness Month, I’d like to share my own story with y’all.

When I was 11 years old, I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a mental illness caused by abnormal brain development - certain parts of my brain are wired strangely, and I have a physiologic deficiency of a neurotransmitter called norepinephrine. This makes it difficult for me to prioritize tasks, stay organized, finish projects, be patient, avoid impulsive decisions and actions, sit still for any meaningful amount of time, and focus my attention correctly by distinguishing signal from noise.

My ADHD has impaired many areas of my existence, including:

• Constantly getting in trouble in school as a kid
• Burdening my parents, teachers, and friends with temper tantrums
• Misplacing items and showing up late for appointments
• Forgetting household responsibilities and tasks

My ADHD has also shaped my favorite parts of my personality, including:

• My creativity
• My spontaneity and flexibility and openness to new ideas
• My high motivation to work towards rewarding goals
• My sense of humor and lighthearted nature

Now, 27 years after my diagnosis, I am a child and adolescent psychiatrist who treats other young people who have ADHD, just like me.

I only made it this far thanks to finding the perfect partner, occasional medication, and ongoing psychotherapy, a plethora of random tricks that I stumbled upon along the way.

I can tell you one thing: Despite my 9 years of medical training, I’ve discovered that one of my greatest assets as a physician is my firsthand experience as an individual with a neurodevelopmental illness. My patients’ faces light up when I tell them, “I totally know what you’re going through -- I have ADHD, too, and I’ve been there!” This is usually followed by the parents turning to their child and saying, “See? You can still be successful!”

Because of this, I’m committed to using my own experiences to help support and encourage others in any way I can. Over the coming months and years, I’m hoping to share my fails, triumphs, stories, and random tips that have helped me get through my life. This will likely involve some combination of words, photos, and of course silly videos.

If you - or someone you care about - has ADHD or another neurodevelopmental illness, feel free to share this with them.

I’m proud of my ADHD, and I’d have it no other way.

#ADHDAwareness #NeurodiversityFTW

(P.S. If you read this far, Thank You So Much! And bonus points if you have ADHD and you somehow stuck around til' the end!)

Jeremy Chapman, MD

This press release was produced by SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton. The views expressed here are the author’s own.