Tag Archive for: adhd awareness month

Embracing Neurodiversity: Celebrating ADHD Awareness Month

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embracing neurodiversity and adhd awareness month

 

October is ADHD Awareness Month. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects millions of people worldwide, and this month is dedicated to raising awareness, reducing stigma, and celebrating the unique qualities and talents of individuals with ADHD. Whether you are newly diagnosed, a veteran with your diagnosis, know someone, or work with someone with ADHD, I share what ADHD is, explore the challenges, and emphasize why it is important to embrace neurodiversity.

 

About ADHD

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by executive function issues, including motivation, organization, inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. These factors can significantly impact a person’s daily life.

  • Those with ADHD have difficulty organizing their belongings and their time.  Some people lose track of keys, papers, appointments, and time.
  • Time awareness is poor for those with ADHD.  They are not sure of how much time has passed, how long a task will take, or have trouble managing their time.
  • Impulsivity such as acting through thinking or interrupting others can cause unintended consequences for those with ADHD.
  • Lack of attention on tasks, following through with instructions, or staying on track impairs productivity.
  • Individuals with ADHD struggle more with procrastination due to trouble initiating tasks and sustaining effort over time.
  • Transitioning between tasks and shifting attention can interfere with time management.
  • Because of poor working memory, people with ADHD may have difficulty holding onto information in their heads, following through on multiple-step tasks, and increased frustration with multiple-step tasks.
  • Co-existing conditions of depression and anxiety impact these daily life activities.

Executive function deficits are common in ADHD, however not all individuals with ADHD experience the same challenges to the same degree.  Every person with ADHD experiences the challenges of executive function in a different way with different levels of challenge.

Embracing Neurodiversity

ADHD Awareness Month is a time to celebrate neurodiversity by recognizing that differences contribute to the depth and breadth of our world. You can share the love of neurodiversity by learning more about it and supporting those experiencing it.

Learn about ADHD, its symptoms, and the challenges individuals face. Here are some sites that help you better understand neurodiversity.

    • ADDitudemag.com
    • Understood.org
    • CHADD.org
    • ADDA.com
    • ADDA-SR.org
    • Professional-Organizer.com

Support individuals with ADHD with understanding. These are some ways to offer support for yourself or others with ADHD.

    • Find a coach to support you with curiosity and accountability.
    • Chat with friends and family about how to best support you. If you are a friend or family, take the initiative to gently discuss how you can best support them.
    • Connect with ADDA-SR, ADDA, or CHADD to join a support group. Groups are offered virtually throughout the month and can be specially focused on parenting, aging, and more.
    • Join an online ADHD social media support offering suggestions and support.
    • Choose a therapist who specializes in support for those with ADHD.
    • Build a bigger team for those with ADHD to thrive with their diagnosis.

Empower those with ADHD to embrace their unique traits and talents, fostering a positive self-image.

    • There are many ways to accept an ADHD diagnosis, including the choice to take medication.
    • Through learning about strengths, embrace ways to build from these opportunities for out-of-the-box thinking, spontaneity, and passion.
    • Validate feelings about neurodiversity through empathy.

By getting to know ADHD better, and appreciating the strengths and challenges it brings, we can better encourage and support those with ADHD and other brain-based conditions.

Learn more here at ADHD Awareness Month!

Healthy ADHD Habits and Gratitude Practices

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healthy adhd habits and gratitude

October is National ADHD Awareness Month.

To “celebrate” this month, I am sharing 4 very important habits for living your best life with ADHD

in 4 blog posts throughout the month.

Throughout these uncertain times, gratitude has improved our quality of life and general well being. When we are grateful we are energized and connected. Gratitude strengthens relationships, a part of our personal and business lives.

 

The Value of the Habit of Gratitude

Everyone wants to experience more joy in their lives.  Gratitude predicts hope and happiness. Grateful people are happier overall, have a more positive outlook on life and feel more connected to others. Gratitude elevates your mood, increases optimism, and improves your well being.

 

We’ve been growing in our knowledge about gratitude and habits. Science shows we can train ourselves to experience thankfulness by intentionally being aware of the differences in our lives. The practice of acknowledging abundance and connections can help us experience happiness. Practicing gratitude is a skill and a routine that we can add to our daily lives.

 

Practice of gratitude is especially important for those with ADHD. People with ADHD can think negatively about themselves and their experiences.  They are critical of their themselves in terms of achievements and lack perspective on all the positive accolades. Practicing gratitude is like practicing self care.  Gratitude will focus your thoughts on specific parts of your day and life that are going well currently and in the past. In addition, gratitude helps with sleep in pushing negative and anxious thoughts back. A better night’s rest helps your executive function.

 

Habits can be difficult.

Habits require consistency, which is one of the most difficult actions for people with ADHD. You might get off track or change the plan after a short time despite the intention and goals. If you miss a day of the routine, negative thoughts creep in with discouragement.  Finally it is easy to give up too soon on a habit. The key is to be intentional about follow through and knowledgeable about how long it takes to create a habit.  Research shows that creating a new habit can take from three to eight weeks. Track your success, allow yourself an occasional “oops,” and remind yourself why the habit is important.

Commit to a gratitude practice.

Life is ramping back up and it may be hard to find a time for your gratitude practice. Researcher Brene Brown says that more than feeling gratitude, we must have a practice that shows this. Here are several times throughout the day you can spend time in gratitude. To start a gratitude routine, choose one of these times to be intentional about your gratitude practice.

  • As you start your day during a time of meditation
  • During your morning or evening shower
  • Waiting in traffic
  • Waiting in the car pool line
  • As a prayer before a meal
  • Before bed with your family

Starting your gratitude practice can be a joyful action. Here are eight ways you can intermittently share your gratitude for yourself and with others. Just like a smile is “contagious,” so it gratitude.

  • Write a thank you note to someone who made a difference for you and mail it.
  • Write a note to a family member in your home sharing what you appreciate about something they helped you to complete.
  • Volunteer at a local philanthropy to share your skills and acknowledge your gratitude for that option for people in need.
  • Take a 5 minute walk and acknowledge the beauty of the greenery and scenery around you.
  • Write in a gratitude journal each evening.
  • Write a note of gratitude and place it in a gratitude jar.
  • Create a photo album in your phone named Grateful. Add photos to it each day.

 

Start to notice how gratitude is impacting your life in creating joy and cultivating resilience.

Celebrating ADHD Awareness Month

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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting both children and adults around the globe with executive function, planning, initiation and other challenges. There are more and more ways to “celebrate” this month and I especially appreciate learning as the optimal way to celebrate. Take time this month to check out these resources for ADHD and celebrate neurodiversity.

 

Websites

These websites offer tips, tech and more about ADHD solutions.

ADHD Awareness Month 

ADDitudemag.com

CHADD.org

ADDA-SR.org

Understood.org

 

Podcasts

Podcasts tell the stories of people with ADHD.

Faster Than Normal

Take Control

More Attention, Less Deficit

ADHD reWired

Translating ADHD

 

Books

Books are a gateway to knowledge. Most of these are available on kindle and audiobook. 

ADD Friendly Ways to Organize

The ADHD Effect on Marriage: Understand and Rebuild Your Relationship in Six Steps 

What Your ADHD Child Wishes You Knew: Working Together to Empower Kids for Success in School and Life 

 

Blogs

Blogs are personal accounts and information about ADHD.

Professional-Organizer.com

Totally ADD

ADD Consults

Order Out of Chaos

Impact ADHD

Black Girl, Lost Keys

 

Education is a cornerstone of living a thriving life.  The more educated you are about ADHD, the more you can move forward in all you do!