Anthony Brown Unscripted: My ADHD journey starting with a flatpack

I decided to put my flat pack bed frame together on the first day I took my ADHD medication. I had bought this bed frame the night before from IKEA, and I dreaded stuff like this.

I know flat pack furniture is rarely anyone’s favourite thing, but for me, my ADHD had always made these a nightmare. I had always ended up losing a screw, breaking a piece of wood, or just giving up and living with half-made, wobbly furniture.

But that day, after taking my short-acting medication, I suddenly felt like I had a window where I could give it a go. For the first time, I felt confident enough to try. As I started, I noticed my mind was clearer than usual.

I could actually read the instructions (turns out they really are useful), took a breath, and took it one step at a time. And slowly, piece by piece, the bed frame started coming together.

It was so exciting to be able to focus without my thoughts constantly jumping to something else. My head felt quiet, just focusing on the allen key turning bit by bit. I remember feeling pretty happy as it all came together. As I finished, I could tell the medication was starting to wear off. Then, when I went to put the mattress on— and it just wouldn’t fit—I realised I’d bought the wrong size frame the night before. I hadn’t checked to see if it was the right size.

In that moment, I was really frustrated. I thought, what’s the point of all that focus if I still end up making mistakes like this?

Not to mention that I had to unassemble the bed frame to return it. The first time I did something with my new meds and I had to start over! Is my ADHD going to make my life full of these mistakes?

Over time, I’ve come to see it differently. It’s a good metaphor for how ADHD works. The medication helps you focus, but it doesn’t magically fix problems. The diagnosis led me to understand myself better, to accept myself, and that has really helped.

It takes time to set up accommodations to support your ADHD, unravel past mistakes and their consequences, or learn to be nice to yourself when you buy the wrong bed frame.

The bed frame was never that big a deal. I took my meds the next day, unassembled it, and just returned it. Plus I got lunch at the IKEA cafe. It was a nice afternoon out.

Looking back now, I can see that things have indeed become easier. Part of that is I just know that my brain works a bit differently from others, and I’m okay with that.
Anthony