ADHD: The developing mind across one’s life

Date of Publication

7-2026

Document Type

Bachelor's Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts in Literature major in Creative Writing

Subject Categories

Creative Writing

College

College of Liberal Arts

Department/Unit

Literature, Department of

Thesis Advisor

Johannah Mari B. Felicilda

Defense Panel Chair

Genevieve L. Asenjo

Defense Panel Member

Vijae O. Alquisola
Timothy R. Montes

Abstract (English)

“ADHD: The Developing Mind Across One’s Life” is a short story collection comprising four short stories. Each story follows the theme of mental health, specifically targeting ADHD. These short stories will follow a young man’s life with ADHD and the experiences he has had throughout his lifetime, from the ages of eleven to twenty-five, but the present perspective takes place in his thirties. He goes through specific events from the past, and it shows the aftereffects of the future. In addition to this, some stories may include highly sensitive topics and words such as suicide and the use of slurs. While most stories will be done in a first-person view, some may use a third-person view if the story’s direction is sufficient for it.

The motives behind writing this collection are from my experiences with mentally challenged individuals, either my friends or former classmates, and hearing the stories of those in the same or a similar spectrum, allow me the opportunity to understand ADHD, a condition that I have been diagnosed with since my childhood. Using Michel Foucault’s theory on madness and Virgilio Enriquez’s theory on the ‘kapwa’, I would be using how individuals might have to match or reach certain standards to become a member of Filipino society and within the social, political, and cultural systems and rules that we follow. However, these standards cannot be met due to one’s beyond control or those who seek to undermine the individual. This approach is done as, I wish to write my personal experience as struggling in everyday life at home and in college due to ADHD. This to make Filipinos understand that mentally impaired individuals, primarily those with ADHD, face greater challenges due to difficult learning and unaccommodating environments, and unrealistic social expectations, especially when individuals with ADHD take longer to adapt and adjust to new environments and tasks and have a different behavior pattern in their lives compared to those without. As my future will be challenging due to my ADHD diagnosis, I need to understand myself now to be ready for future challenges and new environments.

Abstract Format

html

Abstract (Filipino)

Ang "ADHD: The Developing Mind Across One’s Life" ay isang koleksyon ng apat na maikling kwento na tumatalakay sa kalusugang pangkaisipan, partikular na sa ADHD. Susundan dito ang buhay ng isang binatang may ADHD mula edad 11 hanggang 25, na isinasalaysay mula sa kanyang pananaw sa edad na 30. Ipinapakita ng mga kwento kung paano humubog sa kanyang hinaharap ang mga karanasan sa nakaraan. Paalala lang na ang ilang bahagi ay naglalaman ng mga sensitibong paksa gaya ng pagpapakamatay at maseselang salita. Karamihan sa mga kwento ay nasa unang panauhan (first-person), ngunit gagamit din ng ikatlong panauhan (third-person) kung kinakailangan ng naratibo.

Naisipan kong isulat ang koleksyong ito base sa aking karanasan sa mga kaibigan at kaklaseng may katulad na kondisyon, at dahil na rin sa sarili kong paglalakbay mula nung bata pa ako matapos ma-diagnose na may ADHD. Gamit ang teorya ni Michel Foucault ukol sa madness at ang teorya ng 'Kapwa' ni Virgilio Enriquez, susuriin sa kwento kung paano pinipilit ng mga panlipunan, pampulitika, at kultural na sistema sa Pilipinas na pasunurin ang isang indibidwal sa mga pamantayan upang matanggap sa lipunan—mga pamantayang imposibleng maabot dahil sa mga bagay na hindi kontrolado ng may katawan, o dahil sa mismong mga taong nanghihina sa kanila.

Layunin nitong maipakita ang aking mga personal na paghihirap sa araw-araw na buhay—sa bahay man o sa kolehiyo—upang maunawaan ng mga Pilipino na ang mga may ADHD ay nakararanas ng mas mabigat na hamon. Dulot ito ng kakulangan sa suporta sa pag-aaral, hindi angkop na kapaligiran, at hindi makatotohanang mga ekspektasyon ng lipunan, lalo na’t mas matagal silang umangkop sa mga bagong sistema at may kakaibang takbo ng pag-uugali. Dahil alam kong hindi magiging madali ang aking hinaharap, mahalagang maunawaan ko ang aking sarili ngayon upang mapaghandaan ang mga darating pang pagsubok.

Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Keywords

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

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Embargo Period

7-17-2026

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