When you think of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), what comes to mind for you?
If you immediately picture a disruptive child in a classroom, you are not alone. ADHD is often viewed by society as a childhood diagnosis received when a child has difficulty paying attention in class, acts impulsively, and is disruptive to others.
Some individuals with ADHD are able to function “normally” throughout their childhood and adolescence; thus, an ADHD diagnosis is not suspected. These individuals may be able to meet deadlines and achieve high grades; however, this can come at a cost of mental exhaustion, procrastination, and self-judgment. In fact, it is extremely common for women to be diagnosed with ADHD during adulthood (CHADD, 2018); which can cause others in their life to question their diagnosis and why it wasn’t caught earlier. No matter the age of diagnosis, individuals with ADHD often experience a significant amount of self-judgment.
This may sound like…“Maybe I’m just lazy”
“Why can’t I just manage my schedule like others in my life?”
“What is wrong with me?” And much more…
ADHD is a neurological disorder, meaning that the brain chemistry of someone with ADHD is physically different than someone without ADHD. The difference in executive functioning is not a character flaw, and is not at all related to will-power.
If you are struggling with ADHD, you may benefit from implementing some of the following practices to reduce self-judgment around your differences in executive functioning.
- Work with a mental health counselor to gain a deeper understanding of your diagnosis – At EYMT, we value a team-based approach to working with neurodivergent individuals. In addition to working with your individual therapist, we offer executive function coaching services and therapy groups tailored to meet the unique needs of neurodivergent individuals.
- Normalize doing chores with other people (laundry over video, video calls to work on homework, etc)
- Practice acceptance that it takes time to figure out what works for you – Make a list of affirmations to read when you begin to judge your executive functioning struggles. One example could be, “it’s okay that a planner doesn’t help me stay organized. I will find my own unique way to manage my schedule even if it takes time”.
- Surround yourself with other neurodivergent people – Having ADHD can make day to day life difficult to navigate; however, that doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with you. With patience and support you can still create a life worth living!
Source: CHADD. (2018, May 14). Understanding ADHD. CHADD. https://chadd.org/for-adults/overview/
