ADHD

THE MAIN IDEAS OF THIS PAGE (IT MIGHT HELP IF YOU HAVE ADHD!)

I approach ADHD as part of the broader concept of neuro-diversity. Neuro-diversity refers to natural variations in how human brains process information, emotions, and behaviours. This framework sees conditions like ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and others not as disorders or deficits but as different ways of thinking and interacting with the world. In this context, ADHD is not merely a collection of challenges or impairments but a distinct cognitive style that comes with its own strengths and advantages.

ADHD involves attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. People with ADHD often struggle with focusing on tasks, organizing activities, completing projects, and controlling their impulses. Although ADHD is most commonly diagnosed in childhood, its symptoms can persist into adulthood, where the challenges may shift but remain impactful.

In therapy together, we’ll support you in gaining a better understanding of your ADHD presentation, which can foster self-acceptance and reduce feelings of frustration and anxiety. Collaboratively, we can take stock of how ADHD affects you and work accordingly. For instance, we can explore some strategies for improving time management, planning and focus, which are often areas of difficulty. Clearly, it will all depend on your interest and patience in trying some of these strategies over time – I know, patience might seem a tricky word to you! We can also look at ways to manage emotional regulation and impulsive behaviours that can make work difficult and strain relationships. A fundamental element towards the possibility of a shift is your attitude and collaboration to the process.

In addition to the management of challenges, we will also explore strengths normally associated with ADHD (e.g. creativity, enthusiasm, resilience). For example, we can look at ways to expand your self-awareness and emotional regulation with mindfulness, so that you might tap into your creativity and hyper-focus more effectively.

One of the connecting threads of our sessions will be self-acceptance. A deep sense of respect for who you are and your history will be an invaluable companion on the road to healing and discovery of new perspectives on your challenges and aspirations.

SOME THOUGHTS ON NEURO-DIVERSITY

As you might have seen from my picture, I wear glasses. This is because the shape of my eyes predisposes me to blurry vision – like a lot of people, I developed myopia (shortsightedness) in my pre-teen years. I was born like this. I have a friend who didn’t develop myopia but Diabetes type 1 as a child – most probably also due to a genetic predisposition. What my diabetic friend and I have in common is that our organism has a particular genetic coding that leads to a different manifestation of the human experience, in this case with myopia or diabetes 1. According to some descriptions, we are atypical. Atypical simply means different – yes, it’s true the vast majority of people don’t wear glasses or haven’t got type 1 diabetes, so my diabetic friend and I are atypical. I like this word, very much – I find it very neutral and very factual. It hints somehow at our human uniqueness – and, psychologically, that’s a good starting point, in my view.

Amongst the atypical families, a particular group has received increasing attention over the past 10-20 years, and for all the right reasons. I am referring to those people whose brain processes information coming from the external world and arising from inside in an “atypical” way. They are neuro-divergent, that is to say their brain works differently to what is known as the “typical” way – this does not mean incorrectly, mind you, just differently. This is the way they were born – or at least with this very strong genetic predisposition. The family of neuro-diversity includes people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, dyscalculia and dyspraxia. Over the past two decades, awareness about neuro-diversity has increased and that’s wonderful news for all the atypical/neuro-divergent individuals. For decades neuro-divergent individuals struggled in a world that didn’t fully acknowledge their existence, neglected their needs and often described them in offensive ways. Now, they finally have the possibility of making sense of their experience in a healthy and accepting way. Things are still not that easy. Neuro-divergent individuals need support in integrating their experience and being prepared to face the challenges that are still existing at cultural-societal level. Embracing neuro-diversity encourages society to accommodate and support diverse cognitive styles rather than pathologizing them.

MORE ON ADHD

While reading on neuro-diversity, I got particularly drawn to ADHD also because of experiences in my personal life. Over time, I’ve expanded my knowledge and experience on ADHD not only with courses and extensive reading but, most of all, by working with individuals with ADHD. Learning about their struggles and the extraordinarily creative ways they sometimes had to adopt to overcome their challenges has been an incredible source of inspiration.

ADHD, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, is a condition that affects how individuals focus, manage their energy, and control impulses. People with ADHD often struggle to maintain attention on tasks, which can lead to challenges in school, work, and everyday life. They may find themselves easily distracted by external stimuli or even their own thoughts. Additionally, hyperactivity is a common trait, where individuals may feel restless and have difficulty sitting still. In adults, the hyperactive behaviour seen in children may manifest as inner restlessness or difficulty relaxing, while inattentiveness can appear as forgetfulness, disorganization, or trouble focusing on tasks. Impulsivity is another key aspect of ADHD and, I would say, probably the most insidious. Individuals may act quickly without considering the consequences, which can lead to hasty decision-making or problems with emotional self-regulation.

ADHD is not just a childhood disorder; many adults also experience its effects, often without realizing they have it. This is particularly true for people over-30-40 today. ADHD was not fully acknowledged in the past and adults with ADHD have often had to face considerable challenges through most of their lives not knowing why – they were undiagnosed. Many adults with ADHD have actually adapted to their symptoms in ways that allow them to function relatively well, but some continue to struggle with day-to-day tasks and responsibilities. On several occasions now, I have worked with people who didn’t know they had ADHD when they first came to see me. Once I sensed that ADHD was in the room with us, I suggested a referral for a diagnosis. Recognizing ADHD can be a crucial first step towards the possibility of managing it in a different, more helpful way.

Psychotherapy plays a significant role in helping those with ADHD. In our therapy together, we will look into ways of supporting you with managing challenges and harness your strengths. On the one hand, our therapy together will offer you emotional support, allowing you to express feelings of anxiety or low self-esteem that may accompany ADHD. We can address negative thought patterns and support you in improved decision-making and impulse control. Together we can also explore practical strategies for organization, time management, and minimizing distractions, which might help you in navigating daily challenges.

On the other hand, we can also explore a new perspective on ADHD and look at some of the strengths that are often associated with ADHD and see what part they play in your life. For instance, one of the most notable strengths associated with ADHD is creativity. People with ADHD often display unconventional thinking and the ability to make connections between seemingly unrelated ideas. Their minds may wander, but this can lead to innovative and out-of-the-box solutions that others may not have considered. People with ADHD also tend to be highly energetic and enthusiastic. This energy can be an asset in dynamic, fast-paced environments where quick thinking and action are required. Another often overlooked strength of individuals with ADHD is their adaptability and resilience. Many people with ADHD develop strong problem-solving skills as they navigate a world that is often not designed for their way of thinking. As I mentioned, they often manage to find creative workarounds for challenges, whether it’s developing their own strategies for organization or discovering new ways to stay focused.

There is one last element that needs to be considered when working with ADHD. ADHD presents differently in each person not only because some may primarily have issues with attention, while others may exhibit more hyperactivity or impulsivity. In my view, ADHD also combines with the history and innate temperament (personality type) of each individual and these aspects influence each other considerably. Even if it is possible to see common traits amongst people with ADHD, the actual final “mix” will be absolutely unique to each individual. This mix is at the basis of your attitude towards the possibility of shift from unhelpful (old) habits, which you might have developed as coping mechanisms along the way. As you can probably understand, working with your ADHD can be very challenging – it entails a shift in some of these ingrained ways of thinking and habits. If working together we notice that there are underlying resistances to shifting or trying new approaches, we’ll explore that and, if necessary, we’ll consider alternative options.

In summary, we will work on your challenges by increasing self-awareness and exploring strategies for  the management of daily tasks, which in turn might help in reducing anxiety. At the same time, we will create space for self-acceptance, which might be of support in better navigating challenges in both your personal and professional life.

Please note that if you are taking ADHD medication and are under the care of a clinician specialized in ADHD, I will be very happy to liaise with them.