Take My Hand and Come With Me

A Poem about the Challenges of Having ADHD

This poem appears in many places on the web, often attributed to Anonymous. I found a copy with Andrea's name, but try as I might, I could not locate her. I didn't read the poem until I decided to post it. It seemed too long to read, but now that I have, I realize it is a keeper. I hope you feel the same and will print it out to share.

Take my hand and come with me,
I want to teach you about ADHD.
I need you to know; I want to explain;
I have a differently wired brain.
Sights, sounds, and thoughts collide.
What to do first? I can't decide!

Please understand that I'm not to blame.
I can't process things the same.
Take my hand and walk with me.
Let me teach you about ADHD.
I try to behave. I want to be good,
but I may forget to act as I should.

Walk with me, wear my shoes,
and see, it's not the way I'd choose.
I know what I'm supposed to do, but
my brain is slow sending messages through.
Take my hand and talk with me.
I want to tell you about ADHD.

I rarely think before I speak
and sometimes feel like a freak.
It's hard to get my school work done;
when my thoughts are elsewhere having fun.
I never know just where to start.
I think with feelings and see with my heart.

Take my hand and stand by me.
I want you to learn about ADHD.
It's hard to explain, but I want you to know,
I can't help letting my feelings show.
Sometimes I'm angry, wounded, or sad.
I feel overwhelmed, frustrated, and mad.

I can't concentrate, and I lose my stuff.
I try really hard, but it's never enough!
Take my hand and come with me.
We need to know more about ADHD.
I worry a lot about getting things wrong.
Everything takes me twice as long.

Living this life is exhausting for me,
piercing the fog of ADHD.
I'm so rarely understood
and would change in a heartbeat if I could.
Take my hand and listen to me.

I want to share more about ADHD.
You need to know there is a deeper me.
I'm not defined by it, you see.
I'm sensitive and kind and with a loving heart.
I'm curious and creative and very smart.
I'm the most faithful friend you will ever know.

I just need a chance to let it show.
Take my hand; look at me,
and just forget about my ADHD.
I have feelings, the same as you.
Negative comments hurt me, too.
I have a brain that never rests.

Please understand that I do my best.
I want you to know; I need you to see,
I'm more than the label, more than my ADHD!!!

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Original version by Andrea Chesterman-Smith from Hertfordshire in the UK. Cynthia Hammer, MSW, slightly

modified this version by adding more punctuation, adjusting the length of stanzas and changing a few words.