To the beat of my ADHD

For those of you who experience ADHD or another form of neurodivergence, you might understand the ups and downs that come with the perception and experience of your diagnosis - sometimes overwhelming, feeling like a victim of your own brain, other times appreciative of the originality with which it spices up your life.

The song I’ve imagined and captured below is inspired by more melodic verses which to me, depict the day to day realities of living with ADHD, and a more erratic, pointed chorus, which mirrors the moments of panic and precipitation that inevitably surge on a regular basis.

As part of this challenge, I also wanted to explore the relationship I have with my ADHD, from the initial frustration of being unable to manage my thoughts and my mind, the appreciation for the hyper focus that fosters exciting new hobbies and those moments of divine clarity, and the acceptance of this being my reality.

I am not a musician or lyricist (!) and therefore found my inspiration in two songs in particular. It was not intentional, but in writing this, I ended up writing the lyrics and singing my song in line with their melodies!

For the verses, which for me set a rhythmic yet emotional foundation—the steady, pulsing beat, rich dynamics, and poetic rise of "Emmene Moi by Boulevard des Airs:

And, in contrast, a song that immediately came to mind when I decided to write about my ADHD - specifically the rhythmic punch, the repetition in the chorus, the emotional overload, and the almost breathless urgency of All the Things She Said by t.A.T.u. for the chorus.

Without further ado, my submission for this challenge, which was a really enjoyable exercise and one that pushed me out of my comfort zone:

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All the voices

Mind’s like a river bed

Thoughts burrow in my head

Wave after rolling wave

Pulling me down instead

Moments of clarity

Light shining through to sea

A pebble’s gritty shell

The detail’s clear to me

Now chasing motivation, absolute elation

Focus slipping by, water through my eyes

All the voices sing

All the voices scream

Crying out my name

Drowning in my feels

Drowning in my feels

Thoughts like a broken sieve

Truth slips through, fugitive

Can’t focus on my work

Can’t make it mine to live

Moments of clarity

Suddenly all I see

This action, my hobby

Just one, totality

Now chasing some perfection, absolute elation

Focus slipping by, water through my eyes

All the voices sing

All the voices scream

Crying out my name

Puzzle in my brain

Puzzle In my brain

Dreams like a hazy wind

Here for a breath or two

Forever chasing next

But never reaching yet

Moments of clarity

Plans feel like meant to be

Creativity high

Sublime ADHD

And in the chaos, I still see

The spark of light inside of me.

All the voices sing

All the voices scream

Crying out my name

Drowning in my feels

All the voices sing

All the voices scream

Crying out my name

Puzzle in my brain

All the voices sing

Guiding through my dreams

Calling out my name

Flowing like a stream

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Many thanks, I hope that you enjoyed it and were able to imagine the beat and flow of the lyrics in tune !