ADHD in Adults?
Yes. Kids with ADHD tend not to outgrow it. The symptoms evolve but the underlying factors do not. In fact, ADHD is as heritable as height, so a kid diagnosed with ADHD is likely to have at least one very close relative with the same condition – which is why many of us start our road to diagnosis soon after our offspring, when we realize many of the items on the questionnaire we’ve been asked to fill out sound perfectly normal! In adults, the challenges tend to present in ways that others might interpret as lack of commitment, or even lack of intellect: Disorganization at home and in the workplace – with bills paid late, meetings missed, notes lost, etc.…
I’m not Broken?
That’s right! ADHD is just a different type of brain wiring, not a character flaw or moral failing. Yes, it creates some challenges – especially relating to executive function – but it also brings some unique abilities. For example, have you noticed how much easier it is to do something that matters to you, rather than because someone else told you it was important? And how much better you are at it? By developing an understanding of how you work, and learning some simple strategies, you can create an environment that plays to your strengths and mitigates areas of weakness.
ADHD Positives?
Absolutely! People with ADHD are highly intuitive, picking up on things that others might miss. Thinking differently, and making non-obvious connections, brings creativity and an ability to quickly capture the essence of a problem. Other strengths include: | curiosity | humour | empathy | imaginative story-telling | outstanding sales skills | charisma | entrepreneurial mindset | belief that anything is possible | spontaneity | hyper-focus | passion | compassion | ingenuity | great in a crisis | strong sense of right & wrong | a different perspective | rapid learning | high energy | multi-tasking | resilience | … For each trait that causes problems, there can be benefits too, with the right support, role models, mentors and mind-set. In…
ADHD Coaching?
Your ADHD coach is a mentor and motivator who understands how ADHD’s impact can be pervasive but needn’t be life-limiting. Coaching from this position of ADHD understanding is very effective because it works with the brain type rather than against it; it doesn’t start with the assumption you’re “broken” and need to be fixed. It’s a strength-based model that empowers you to make your own, self-directed, change. ADHD Coaching recognizes that ADHD is simply a different type of brain wiring, and allows you to reframe you experiences in that light. It teaches you ways to optimize your environment to bend the world to your needs. A good analogy might be to think about left-handed people in a world optimized for the right-handed. …