Title: Curiosity Killed the Cat But It Saved My Bacon
Description: Four years after being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Sara Rosa Espi reflects on how the diagnosis changed her life, and offers a critical disability perspective on living with ADD. As a PhD student, Espi’s ADD serves as the catalyst for burnout and depression for her; it makes it difficult for Espi to complete unstructured academic work, as well as complete tasks like laundry and responding to emails. However, there are also aspects of ADD that Espi loves – rather than viewing ADD as an attention "deficit," Espi sees ADD as "having too much attention," allowing her to take note of the minute details of the world in a new and beautiful way. Exploring ADD coping strategies has also led Espi to discover her love of creative writing. Espi ends the zine by writing about the pulsating energy and power she feels when she dances. — Alekhya
Subjects: Attention-deficit disorder in adults, Personal narratives, Women graduate students, Mental illness, Social aspects, South Africans
Places: Netherlands
Time periods: 21st century