Instead of ADHD
By Lamisse Hamouda
Published 29 October 2025
after Andrea Gibson's 'Instead of Depression'
Try calling it an adventure.
Imagine every unfinished project
as a celebration of process
because nothing rushes its finish.
The hummingbird knows to fly backward sometimes.
It’s okay if you can’t stay in one place
without spring. Bounce to the next
world – name your fleeting thoughts
a sparkle, a swing rope over
stepping stones, a zigzag to your well
my darling, instead
of a wall.
The shape of this poem is inspired by Andrea Gibson’s poem, ‘Instead of Depression’. I brought this poem into one of my workshops recently, and it was incredible to witness people use the poem to scaffold a journey into transformation. I love how I can use this poem to link poetry to narrative therapeutic practice through the way the poem externalises, and transforms, depression. And how we can then use its shape to craft our own journey of transformation.
So, for MAD Poetry, I wanted to offer my little journey with ADHD. I got a diagnosis in February 2025 and while I experienced relief to have a framework to understand my struggles, I also came into the realisation that I really liked my brain and that I don’t want to change it. So, while meds have been helpful in managing day-to-day life under capitalism – the most transformative part of my ADHD journey has been the joy of self-acceptance: where once I saw a wall, I now see a well.
The aim of this project is to share lived experiences of mental health via poetry. Therefore, some of the workshop content may potentially trigger some readers. If you require mental health support or assistance, you can call the Wellways Helpline plus a list of free confidential 24/7 support lines can be found here. You are not alone in your journey.