ADHD Challenges
In adults, the challenges tend to present in ways that others might interpret as lack of commitment, or even lack of intellect, such as: Disorganization at home and in the workplace – with bills paid late, meetings missed, notes lost, etc. Recklessness – with more traffic accidents, broken bones, affairs, etc. Poor listening skills – leading to misunderstandings, forgotten appointments, difficulty following spoken directions, partner feeling ignored, etc. Distractibility – contributing to relationship challenges and under-performance at work, such as forgotten deadlines, lost focus, mislaid items. Difficulty relaxing – no longer hyperactive, but always on edge, tense, moving about, or fiddling with something. Procrastination – difficulty getting started on a task unless it is novel, interesting, challenging or (has become)…
Exec Function / Self Regulation
ADHD is often described in terms of inattention/distractibility and impulsivity/hyperactivity, but these symptoms are now understood to arise from a deficit in areas of Executive Function, each of which is a form of Self Regulation. Executive functioning can be considered analogous to the role of a company’s Chief Executive – setting direction and goals, maintaining an overview of all activities to stay on track, managing time and resources, etc. It’s the processing that goes on in your brain to enable you to work out how to reach a future goal, and take the necessary steps towards it. | Self-awareness | Inhibition | Non-verbal working memory | Verbal working memory | Emotional self-regulation | Self-motivation | Planning & problem-solving | Here’s a brief explanation of these terms, and how…
ADHD Coaching – My Role, and Yours
An ADHD coach is a facilitator or catalyst. My role is to enable you to become more aware of the impact of ADHD on your choices, recognize and embrace your own unique strengths and thinking patterns, as well as tackle specific ADHD challenges that can derail the best-laid plans. Your role is to actively engage with the process, and be accountable for the results you achieve.
Tips and Tricks
Because it stems from difficulties in Self Regulation, ADHD is a disorder more of performance than skill, as in “I know what to do, but… I find that, in the moment, I still don’t do it (and then get frustrated with myself)”. The challenge is to create an environment that makes performance easier, and levels the playing field. An analogy might be the ramp that allows someone in a wheelchair to access elevated rooms. Make the most of your exec function skills, and help compensate for their weakness, by learning what works for you. Create Structure One of the simplest ways to ensure you get things done, is to have a regular routine so each step becomes automatic rather than a decision…
Is it Like Therapy?
Both coaching and therapy strive to create a trusting, supportive and confidential relationship based upon dialogue to enable the client to craft a more fulfilling life, but the roles are distinct. Coaching is motivational and action-oriented, harnessing your passions and working on strategies for present and future goals. Therapy is analytical, looking at “why” and aiming to heal symptoms through focus on the past. Another fundamental difference is that the coach and client carry equal weight, working together towards a client-identified vision, whereas the relationship between therapist and client is that of doctor-patient rather than partnership.
Why Use an ADHD Coach?
All great coaches work with clients to identify goals, tease out issues, and help instigate changes that improve their lives. But the ADHD Coach brings an intimate understanding of ADHD, and how its impact manifests across all areas of life – both challenges and benefits – and the skills to make a difference. How often have you missed a deadline, had to pay a late fee, felt overwhelmed and out-of-control, been frustrated with yourself for forgetting something, etc. and gone to bed exhausted, wondering where the day went? As a mentor and motivator by your side, I help you see ADHD as a frame of reference rather than label or excuse, learn how it affects your life, and take concrete steps…