Unmasking ADHD
ADHD is more than struggles with focus, attention and hyperactivity. Emotion regulation is also a huge part of living with this neurodevelopmental condition, but not enough is understood about this hidden disability.
I have lived with ADHD all my life and didn’t realise this until I hit my 40s, when 2 of my children were diagnosed, this is a very common experience.
Schools, Universities, work places, GPs, mental health services are all under resourced in this area. Leaving students, parents and employees feeling lost in a system that doesn’t understand them, and cannot provide the guidance and support they need to manage this condition. Waiting lists for assessments on the NHS are currently 2-5 years depending on where in the country you live and even private clinics have a waiting list.
Women and girls in particular mask this condition, making it harder to identify. The assessment process, along with research for ADHD, has been very male focused compounding this struggle.
This all sounds very bleak, I know, however times are changing and more conversations are taking place about ADHD then ever before. Post lockdown saw a surge of over 400% of adults seeking an ADHD assessment, as it was a time when our normal routine and structure was disrupted and we all had time to learn and notice more about ourselves and how we function (or don’t function day to day).
So what do you do if you think you have ADHD and want to understand more?
Online screening tools can be a helpful place to start, providing you guidance of what areas of your behaviour and experience could show ADHD is present. From there you can decide whether you want to exploring getting an assessment.
A question to ask is whether the presenting symptoms are impairing yours or your child’s life? Some people with ADHD become aware they have many of the symptoms, but can manage day to day life as they have created a structure that supports their challenges and helps their strengths. For others the experience is far more challenging and in some cases results in mental health problems, substance use, relationship difficulties and struggles at work or with studying. There is a spectrum of severity from person to person.
How to manage ADHD
ADHD can be managed in a number of ways.
Medication is very helpful for many adults and young people, there are different types and taking time to work with adpsychiatrist to find the right dosage and right medication can make a huge difference. Medication isn’t for everyone, it is a very individual thing, finding what works for you, or your child can take time.
Whether you take medication or not, there are many lifestyle practices that can make a huge difference to your life with ADHD. Finding an ADHD coach or therapist that you click with can help, working with you to build routines and structures into day to day life that enables less overwhelm and for more productivity day to day.
Learning mindfulness techniques, understanding how to prevent burn out, the importance of exercise and the role of food and nutrition are all key areas to understand when living with ADHD.
I want to understand more but don’t know where to start
It can be overwhelming navigating the assessment process, then there is understanding your life once you have a diagnosis. There is a natural grieving process that you go through when you find out late in life that you have ADHD, it helps to have support through this time.
Making sense of your life so far looking though an ADHD lens can be difficult, but very empowering. I have supported many adults and young people through this process and it takes time to discover and embrace our differences, particularly after many years of masking and potentially unhealthy coping mechanisms of being undiagnosed but just trying to struggle through life.
My passion for this topic has led me to develop a live talk about unmasking ADHD and what it is like living with this condition day to day. I am on a mission to make this information more accessible and easier to digest. I will be sharing some of my personal experiences along with tools that I use myself, and with my ADHD clients.
There will be an opportunity to experience some of these tools live at this event, along with a chance to connect and share with others after the main talk.
Join me for the first of these live events at the Leadmill Sheffield and learn more about yourself or your loved one.
Click here for tickets and further info.
