ADHD UK Discovery Platform · ADHD Product
The Zebra Analogy – An analogy for the importance of a diagnosis and a label
“Why do you need a label?” Because there is comfort in knowing that you are a normal zebra, not a strange horse. Because you can’t find a community of other…
- “Why do you need a label?” Because there is comfort in knowing that you are a normal zebra, not a strange horse. Because you can’t find a community of other zebras, can’t learn what makes a zebra thrive, what brings [you] a zebra joy, if you don’t know you are a zebra and you are learning solely from horses. It is near impossible to be happy and mentally healthy if you’re spending all your life thinking you’re a failed horse, having others tell you you are failed horse, when all along you could be thriving and understood if everyone, including you, just knew you were a zebra.
Does this work for you?
What others have said
Log in to add a comment or vote on others.
You might also like
Work Strategy “Only tell me if you want me to do something about it”
Michael Queenan, Chief Executive and Co-Founder of Nephos Technologies, was diagnosed late in life with ADHD and Autism. In an interview with the FT he talked about ““I was just physically and emotionally exhausted all of the time”. The…
Vitamin D supplement
The Government advises that everyone take Vitamin D supplements October-March. Vitamin D deficiency has been shown to be linked to low mood, an increased prevalence of depression, and increased suicide risk.…
Waking up technique – Alarm clock apps with stop triggered with your morning routine starting
Alarm apps like alarmy allow you to set specific triggers. It can be the barcode on your toothpaste, a picture of your kettle. Making the stop…
Ratings and comments come from people with ADHD sharing what helped them. They are experiences, not medical advice.
I totally agree with this approach - used to debate this with my sister, whose daughter was clearly neuro-diverse and struggling at school in some ways, but my sister felt that a 'label' was not helpful.
Thanks for sharing this (and to the comment below for crediting whoever came up with this! :) ) - it has made me feel so much better - I want to make a T-shirt saying 'I am a Zebra, not a failed horse'!!! :)))
Brilliant
I absolutely love this
This quote actually was created a number of years ago in relation to Gifted kids (I first read it in 2019 when I was going down the Giftedness rabbit hole). I guess @omgamiautistic has adapted it and now ADHD UK have done it too! It’s certainly useful in all those cases to help explain how labels help us to find our place.
Seems Doctors either are trained, or lack the imagination to look for horses, not zebras.
As a result I went undiagnosed for over 60 years while being made to feel like a strange horse - or a lazy, hypocondriacal, irresponsible, attention seeking, annoying, difficult horse.
Finding out that I am a adhd has brought up many mixed emotions: anger at lack of help received, sadness for my "wasted life", but am gals that at least I can now understand who I am.
I am and zebra and I love zebras.
I am currently really struggling with various facets of who i am. Reading this analogy has given me comfort. Thank you
I love this! I always knew something was different about me. When I was diagnosed in 2022, in my 50's, I cried. 1, because I was relieved to finally know why I am different, but also I cried because I felt I wasn't NORMAL. What I just read helps a lot. I am a NORMAL zebra and it is O.K that I am not a horse. I started to experience negative attitudes from people that I worked with, because I was transparent about being ADHD. It made me feel ashamed and I began to hide my LABEL. This has made me realise why it is important to be labelled and it is their shame of being ignorant, not mine. Hold your head up high and wear it on your t-shirt. Zebras are beautiful creatures in their own right!
oh my gosh this made me cry it is exactly what my journey is about.
i love this analogy. It is a great explanation as to why I have felt like this!
I love this! ☺️
I’m 55, I have had struggles with depression and anxiety for most of my life. I was diagnosed this week with ADHD and feel vindicated for what I previously saw as a lifetime of never being a fully functioning successful individual.
Just love this Zebra metaphor.
Love your stripes people!!
This is a great quote, and it was great when @omgimautisticaf on IG or X came up with it. You need to credit @omgimautisticaf because you are ripping off their work
This is a great quote, and it was great when @omgimautisticaf on IG or X came up with it. You need to credit @omgimautisticaf because you are ripping off their work
I’m 55, I have had struggles with depression and anxiety for most of my life. I was diagnosed this week with ADHD and feel vindicated for what I previously saw as a lifetime of never being a fully functioning successful individual.
Just love this Zebra metaphor.
Love your stripes people!!
I love this! ☺️
i love this analogy. It is a great explanation as to why I have felt like this!
oh my gosh this made me cry it is exactly what my journey is about.
I love this! I always knew something was different about me. When I was diagnosed in 2022, in my 50's, I cried. 1, because I was relieved to finally know why I am different, but also I cried because I felt I wasn't NORMAL. What I just read helps a lot. I am a NORMAL zebra and it is O.K that I am not a horse. I started to experience negative attitudes from people that I worked with, because I was transparent about being ADHD. It made me feel ashamed and I began to hide my LABEL. This has made me realise why it is important to be labelled and it is their shame of being ignorant, not mine. Hold your head up high and wear it on your t-shirt. Zebras are beautiful creatures in their own right!
This is a really brilliant analogy that explains the benefits of diagnosis in a simple way that's easy to understand.
At the age of 57 I have finally approached my GP regarding my suspicions re my having ADHD and have been reffered to the Adult ADHD/Autism Service - I know that it will be a long wait to get even the initial assessing appointment and I was begining to wonder what's the point? Imposter syndrome reaing it's ugly mug too. The Zebra analogy is just what I needed to read today having had numerous friends ask me why I need a label. Now I've got a clear explanation of how it feels to have this big question mark over my head - am I a zebra or just a funny looking awkward horse?
Definitely helpful. I'm 70 and have not had an ADHD diagnosis because when I was at school, causing trouble and not concentrating, it wasn't a recognised condition. Now finally I understand the cause of all the difficulties I've endured in education and work. I definitely relate better to other people with ADHD. Others often find me weird and annoying. Now I know why and can explain the reasons I behave as I do. Yes I'm a zebra.
Useful
test
I am a norma zebra dammit. Not a weird horse!
Test of 5 stars
Rating