Once, I invited my sisters for a girls' hangout and we wanted to lunch at this one restaurant we thought would be cool to try, except that there was a catch. Out of the three of us, I've been to this mall a million times and so I should know this place by heart, right?
Wrong.
I had a rough idea of where this place was, but we ended up walking wearily for ages, even caught ourselves walking in circles once, so we resorted to using Google Maps. Inside of a mall. We somehow did find the place, thank God.
Another time, I wanted to meet my husband during his lunch break at work but I couldn't find my way to his office although he showed me the path tons of times. I remember when he showed me the first few times but the moment the tour was over, and it was up to me to independently manoeuvre myself through the crowd and find what I was looking for, I got lost once again. Several phone beeps later, he picked up, I told him what happened, and he fetched me quickly from wherever I was based on the landmark I could recognise.
I can recount all the times similar incidents happened involving me being lost in supposedly familiar places throughout my life. Instances like getting on the wrong train from the wrong platform, not knowing where the car is at the parking lot, tripping over absolutely nothing while walking, accidentally hurting my fingers or elbow from hitting something mid talking, misplacing objects I just held in my hands, among others.
I couldn't explain to people who thought me strange because I frustratingly couldn't understand it myself. I just assumed something isn't right with me or heck, maybe it's just part of my personality. Except only when it happened a lot more often than usual and I was seeing patterns, then blurted it out to my psychiatrist did they locked in on that info and pressed me further on what was going on.
Spatial Awareness and ADHD
Okay, big words. But I'll cut them down to smaller chunks.
Spatial awareness is basically your brain's GPS where it helps you to know where you are based on the things around you.
Now add ADHD to that? The GPS would still work... just barely.
People with ADHD have a different way in how their brain processes spatial information especially in the department of understanding space, distance, and where the body is in that space.
What happens when it isn't working like it should? You get ✨ADHD clumsiness✨
If you're often blaming yourself for being careless or clumsy as I have for half my life, then you shouldn't be. These are not signs of laziness or you not paying attention... our brains simply work differently.
There are plenty of strategies to improve spatial awareness, but I’m still a work in progress. I’ll definitely share the ones that actually work for me once I’ve tested them out! For now, though, I’m focusing on cutting myself some slack when I lose my way. If you’re in the same boat, remember: there’s no shame in needing a little help, even if it’s just navigating to your favorite store. You aren't alone in this, and you definitely don’t have to have it all figured out right now.
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