ADHD and executive dysfunction: a struggle no one talks about
Assalamu alaikum. I wanted to share something that's been weighing on me for a long time. I've searched through so many resources, both old scholarly works and newer ones, trying to find guidance on how a Muslim with ADHD should manage their religious duties. But honestly, I haven't found anything helpful. I did come across someone's thesis about different mental health conditions and Islamic rulings, but it didn't mention ADHD at all. The closest thing it covered was autism. This lack of awareness is really affecting me. The confusion and guilt I feel because of it is a heavy burden on my mental health and overall wellbeing. Since I was young, I've always struggled with salah. I forget, I delay, and then I feel crushed by my own guilt. I was only diagnosed with ADHD in my early twenties, and even then I didn't take it seriously until I ended up with kidney stones in both kidneys. I kept putting off taking my medication, and over time those tiny stones grew into bigger chunks that need treatment now. Alhamdulillah they can dissolve with medicine, but it was a huge wake-up call. After that, I finally connected the dots and saw how much my ADHD has been affecting my relationship with prayer. It's not that I don't care, it's that my brain makes it so hard to stay consistent. I've even tried reaching out to scholars online, asking for practical advice on how to make things easier for myself. But sadly, I haven't received any real help. I feel like a burden to myself and to the people around me. Sometimes I even feel like a munafiq because I can't pray the way I know I should. I just needed to get this off my chest.