I Thought Brainstorming Was Just Thinking
I wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD until I was around 28, and looking back, so many things suddenly make sense—but this one really sticks with me. Every single year in school, English teachers would explain the essay-writing process like it was brand new, and step one was always “brainstorming.” I remember being genuinely confused about why they had to explain it so much. To me, it just felt like… thinking. Putting thoughts on paper. Nothing special.
Now, in hindsight, I realize I only thought that because my brain is always storming. Ideas overlapping, jumping ahead, branching out in every direction all at once. What they called “brainstorming” was apparently a deliberate step for other people, while for me it was just my default mental state. It honestly makes me laugh now, especially when I see tips about how to brainstorm effectively—because it reminds me of that meme: “look what they need to mimic a fraction of our power.”
Getting diagnosed later in life really reframed these moments for me. Things I once brushed off as “normal” or just quirks were actually signs of how differently my brain works. What’s an everyday thing you thought everyone experienced, only to realize later it was an ADHD thing?
Brainstorming is typically described as the initial step in the creative or essay-writing process, where individuals deliberately generate ideas to organize their thoughts. However, for people with ADHD, this phase may not be a distinct or planned activity—it might instead be an ongoing, dynamic whirlwind of overlapping ideas and rapid mental connections. This constant mental storm can feel overwhelming but also bursts with creative potential. Many individuals with ADHD experience what could be termed 'default brainstorming'—a mental state where ideas jump around, intertwine, and evolve spontaneously rather than following a linear pattern. Understanding this offers valuable insight for educators, employers, and peers who might misinterpret such cognitive processing as distraction or lack of focus. For those diagnosed with ADHD later in life, moments like brainstorming can take on new significance. Recognizing that what seemed like mere 'thinking' was actually a natural cognitive pattern tied to ADHD helps reframe past experiences and validate the different ways brains work. It also highlights the importance of tailoring strategies to individual needs—such as using flexible note-taking methods or mind mapping to harness the richness of this mental storm productively. In everyday life, many with ADHD find that traditional instructions for brainstorming don’t always apply to their process. Instead, they might benefit from approaches that embrace their non-linear thinking, such as recording voice notes to capture ideas on the fly, using visual aids to connect concepts, or taking breaks to let their thoughts settle before organizing them. Moreover, this perspective challenges the common misconception that effective brainstorming must be a quiet, focused task. For some, it’s an energetic, chaotic experience that fuels creativity and innovation. If you’ve ever felt your brain is constantly 'storming' with ideas or struggled with structured brainstorming exercises, you might find it enlightening to explore whether ADHD plays a role. Sharing these experiences openly contributes to greater understanding and support for diverse cognitive styles, fostering environments where everyone can thrive creatively and intellectually.
