i gave a talk to about 20 coworkers on a topic i really understand  i felt comfortable the whole time and held a qa afterwards where i answered rapid-fire questions  it went so well i was asked to give the same talk 3 more times  i didnt struggle for words misspeak or space out    a few days ago i went through the drive-thru at burger king and in the span of 30 seconds i   said the wrong number for my meal   forgot to ask for onion rings instead of fries   somehow told them not to give me ketcupsauce even though i wanted it   asked for dr pepper instead of sprite   didnt ask for cheese on my passengers meal as she requested   didnt ask for less ice in my passengers drink even though she was literally reminding me in that moment   when we pulled forward i was reaching to accept straws i didnt want when my passenger told them no straws over me    my ability to answer questions and navigate interactions is primarily based on my experience confidence and focus  the burger king drive thru was a last minute decision and i hadnt had time to collect my thoughts and mentally prepare for the experience  unlike my presentation i wasnt prepared rehearsed well versed in the subject i rarely went through drive-thrus pre-covid or in a comfortable environment  i had difficulty hearing and understanding the speaker and my passenger talked over them sometimes  i felt stressed anxious and unprepared  for a friggin drive-thru   so i totally understand  it happens  i can speak articulately about advanced subjects some contexts and in others completely fumble my words or just stare blankly back at the person  its one of the paradoxes of adhd and its what makes the condition so perplexing to people like my passenger  its also why i have about 10 straws in the glove compartment of my car