James Arthur’s song “ADHD”  explores the reality of relationship difficulties for someone living with ADHD. He explores the dichotomy between wanting to be loved and the fear of burdening a partner with their mental health struggles. In an interview, James mentions that his battle with ADHD is something that many people do not understand, but when one’s imperfections are accepted, it can feel like a dream come true.

“Black heart that I wear on my sleeve

Old flames still messaging me

Between that and the ADHD

You should run a milе (Oh)

Held back by the weight of my past

I’m a walking rеd flag

Why don’t you leave?”

These words show the internal battle someone with ADHD can experience as a result of feeling unworthy of being loved and accepted. The lyrics list a number of apparent flaws in a person including their ADHD diagnosis, and express self-doubt in wondering why their partner does not leave. At another point in the song, James makes direct reference to a common symptom of ADHD– difficulty concentrating, further highlighting how hard it is to remain consistently engaged in a relationship:

“You’ve reached the voicemail of someone with ADHD

They can’t concentrate on answering the phone or much of anything else

ADHD, ADHD, ADHD, ADHD, ADHD”

The song was written to inspire people with ADHD that the challenges they face are not defining features of their life, and that healthy relationships are possible despite how daunting they may seem. It is a way of encouraging people to embrace their mental health problems and strive to create meaningful lives for themselves, regardless of what that might entail.

Listen to “ADHD” on YouTube or Spotify.

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