Living with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is draining. Struggling to organize schedules and completing tasks in a timely way takes a lot out of adults with ADHD. Disorganized and cluttered desks, unopened letters and laundry left in random places in the house are common. Stress and anxiety can come intensely and frequently. On top of battling self-doubt and self-worth, they face criticism from colleagues, bosses or loved ones for appearing haphazard, unstructured and failing to fulfill promises.
What is ADHD?
Although ADHD as a term suggests lack of focus and being hyperactive, ADHD shows up differently in everyone. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition Text Revision categorizes ADHD into two types: being inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive. The inattentive type can show up as:
- Forgetting where one places wallets, keys, bags, glasses
- Beginning an activity with good intentions to complete them, only to get distracted quickly
- Completing tasks at the very last minute but not completing all the required steps
- Seemingly not listening to conversations when spoken to
- Finding it extremely difficult to start something that requires high attention span
On the other hand, the hyperactive-impulsive type can show up as:
- Using a fidget spinner or twiddling fingers or thumbs to calm down
- Being restless, unable to sit still when required (e.g. sitting through long meetings)
- Having a need to speak up and inadvertently interrupt sentences
- Require background noise to gain focus
Creating Access Pathways for the Brain
The truth is, ADHD is so much more than the label itself. Experiences are diverse and varied, as described above. For someone who does not have ADHD, it is difficult to empathize with their experiences. They can be viewed as lazy. Inattentive. Unproductive. However, judging them will not contribute to their healing journey. Furthermore, ADHD frequently co-exists with anxiety and depression. Instead, the key to unlocking ADHD is in creating access pathways to their brain.
When the brain feels overwhelmed, it will shut down and consequently not be able to listen to any new information. Emotionally, individuals with ADHD may feel emotionally dysregulated and discouraged with themselves for not reaching their goals. As such, treating individuals with ADHD encompasses holistic treatment: psychoeducation of ADHD, providing guidance on executive functioning management, and journeying with the client to manage their intense emotions during heated situations, which will improve pathways to their brain and expand their executive functioning capacity. Individuals with ADHD can benefit from either individual or group therapy in helping them reduce self-blame, increase self-worth and working on their executive functioning skills.
Judging a person with ADHD will not contribute to their healing journey. Instead, the key to unlocking ADHD is in creating access pathways to their brain.
Evelyn Ooi, Pre-Graduate Student Counselor
