Taylor Swift’s Mastermind is one of those songs that feels like it was written just for me—right down to its blend of strategy, sensitivity, and a touch of chaos. For women like me with ADHD, the lyrics beautifully capture what it feels like to move through life as someone always thinking, planning, and overcompensating. Here’s how Mastermind resonates with my ADHD brain and my journey to be understood, loved, and seen.
“What if I told you none of it was accidental”
When you have ADHD, very few things feel “accidental.” I can’t count how many times I’ve overthought even the most basic interactions, replaying conversations and strategizing every detail. Whether it’s friendships, relationships, or even work, my mind works overtime trying to set the stage for everything to go just right. It might look effortless to the outside world, but beneath the surface, it’s a constant whirlwind of mental gymnastics.
“Strategy sets the scene for the tale”
ADHD has taught me that I’m often the ultimate strategist—even if I didn’t mean to be. I create systems, plans, and strategies to work around my brain’s quirks. From placing my ADHD medication on top of my phone in the morning to setting reminders on sticky notes, I’m always a few steps ahead, trying to navigate life. When it comes to social situations, I plan conversations, reactions, and outcomes like I’m directing a movie, all to avoid feeling out of place or misunderstood.
“No one wanted to play with me as a little kid”
This lyric hits me hard. As a kid, I daydreamed endlessly and struggled to connect with other children. I was sensitive, easily overwhelmed, and often felt like I was watching the world from the sidelines. ADHD made me feel “different” before I even knew what ADHD was. I wasn’t the carefree, easygoing child everyone else seemed to be. Instead, I was the one people didn’t quite “get”—and that hurt more than I could ever express.
“To make them love me and make it seem effortless”
This one. Oh, this one. One of the most exhausting parts of living with ADHD is the constant pressure to hide how hard you’re trying. I’ve spent so much of my life masking—adapting my personality, interests, and energy to fit what others expect of me. I want people to like me, to love me, to not see my struggles. So I try to make everything look effortless, even when it feels like my brain is screaming at me in 17 directions at once.
“I’m only cryptic and Machiavellian ’cause I care”
There’s a misconception that people with ADHD are careless, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. If anything, I care too much. I analyze every word, every glance, every moment to ensure I’m doing enough and being enough. I can overthink myself into exhaustion because I’m terrified of letting someone down. My desire to “get it right” might make me seem cryptic or calculating, but it’s all because I care—deeply, intensely, maybe too much sometimes.
Why Mastermind Feels Like an ADHD Anthem
Taylor Swift’s Mastermind perfectly encapsulates the hyper-awareness, overthinking, and relentless effort that come with ADHD. I relate to the way she carefully plans, masks her struggles, and fights to make connections that feel effortless to others. Living with ADHD often feels like being the mastermind of my own life—strategizing and overanalyzing while hoping no one sees the strings I’m pulling behind the scenes.
At the end of the day, my ADHD brain might be chaotic, but it’s also creative, passionate, and capable of great things. Like Taylor says, none of this is accidental—I’m always trying because I care.
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