Understanding ADHD Through Poetry

Student creates a poetry collection to help herself and others with ADHD

Early Years Care and Education BA (Hons) student, Steph Ruler, aged 20, has written a collection of poetry that charts her feelings whilst living, studying and working with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Steph started writing the collection, entitled My ADHD Mind when, initially just a few words came to her about how she felt. This developed into series of poems that proved to be both inciteful and cathartic.  

Steph said of the process: “I was just literally lying in bed and coming up with some just random sentences. The first one was like my mind and then the next I made them rhyme. One thing led to another and now I have over forty poems which I never planned to happen. It just felt so nice expressing myself in a way that I've never been able to do, then getting it out and have people like in my class understand and see themselves in it as well." 

She showed her writings to her tutor, Maria Cruickshank who encouraged Steph to continue.
Steph left school with no diagnosis of dyslexia, or ADHD. She explained: “I tried to seek help at school, but no one listened. I got ignored by several people. When I came to University Centre South Essex, I raised it with Maria and she got me help. This support has pushed me so far forward.”

Steph said that the condition affects her ability to focus and also means that she has difficulty when meeting new people and getting assignments done. She said: “It's been a challenge, but again, with support, I've managed to finish and turn in my assignments in the past month, which is mad.”

Steph now works in a preschool and loves her job. She gained the job through her course placement and hopes to continue working with young children. Tutor Maria said: "I am extremely proud of Steph and all that she has achieved. She has developed at an amazing pace and it is wonderful to see. I hope that her poetry will raise awareness of ADHD and help others who have it.“

Steph said of her experience with ADHD: “It's hard when you feel like you're the only one with it. It makes you feel like you're wrong. There are so many stereotypes that go with it and that’s so wrong and that needs to change."

Steph said that her advice to those who have the condition is: “Try to surround yourself with the right people. With coping mechanisms, everyone is different. What might work for me, like a little fidget to stay focused might not work for someone else. It's hard. Try different things and find what works for you. Don't give up if one thing doesn't work out.”