Flourish with ADHD

02/13/2025

Dr. Russell Barkley, a respected leader in ADHD research says that ADHD is not a disorder of knowing what to do but rather a disorder of doing what you know. You know you should do something, you know how to do it, and yet you just can’t get yourself to do it. That’s why coaching can be so effective. A coach can help you come up with strategies that will help you, while being a source of accountability to make sure you do the things you know will help you reach your goals and improve your quality of life. Listen to Dr. Barkley discuss the benefits of coaching for ADHD…

00:00 Introduction00:27 The background of ADHD Coaching and its purpose04:06 Things to Know About ADHD Coaches06:47 The nature and focus of Coaching and Its ...

11/15/2024

👉 https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/i-have-adhd-need-support/

10/23/2024

It's ADHD awareness month! Many people don't realize that "all or nothing" thinking is a common trait amongst ADHDers. It breeds perfectionism and squashes motivation, making it impossibly hard to get started on anything. It isn't easy, but shifting your mindset just a little bit can have a huge impact. A little bit is better than nothing. It is still progress and that is worth celebrating!

06/26/2024

Perfectionism and people-pleasing are two common traits of people with ADHD, and as many of you know, they can quickly lead to burnout. This short article has some great info about this challenge and how to overcome it, including setting boundaries, which let's face it, is also hard for ADHDers. With a little help though, you can make some positive changes that will have a big impact on your daily life.

05/16/2024

Do you feel mentally exhausted? It is very common for people living with ADHD to feel exhausted and overwhelmed by the middle of the day or to just have a have a low energy day. Here are some ways to recharge. Everyone is different, so some of these may work better for you than others. Give them a try and keep the ones that leave you feeling more energized. Have you found something else that works great for you? Please share your ideas in the comments.

03/28/2024

Do you ever do this? I wish I could say I didn't, but the truth is it happens. Sometimes I get distracted halfway through writing a text and never get back to it. In my head, I responded, but in reality, it was a big fail. There are a lot of reasons this happens from working memory challenges to executive function fatigue (yes it's a thing). Learning how my brain works (and doesn't at times) has helped a lot. I am much better at responding to texts and emails, not perfect, but better, and when I do forget I am more forgiving of myself because it happens to just about everyone.

This article has a few good tips, but the biggest takeaway is your friends will be happy to hear from you even if it has been a while. In my experience, people understand and are actually quicker to get over it than we are. So phone that friend, send a quick text, and connect. Research shows that connecting with others is one of the best things we can do for ourselves.

Do you cringe as you remember your last conversation with your friend, eons ago, when the ball was in your court to respond? The thought of reaching out now, after all this time, makes you want to run and hide.

We all juggle so much all the time, and ADHD executive dysfunction subjects others, even those who are important to us, to the dreaded realm of “out of sight, out of mind.”

You may think that your friend wants nothing to do with you. But what if that's not the case? Your friend would probably be thrilled to hear from you, even if it’s been a while!

Read 6 tips from Caroline Maguire, M.Ed., ACCG, PCC here: https://www.additudemag.com/bad-texter-how-to-keep-in-touch-with-friends-adhd/

03/26/2024

Those of us with ADHD tend to focus on the negative and we don't always notice the plethora of good things we do or how much progress we have made. This can completely derail us, making it a lot harder to stay motivated and reach our goals. Using a strengths-based approach in coaching helps put the focus on what we do well and build on it. This leads to hope, which is the key to motivation.

According to Dr. Ned Hallowell, Psychologist and ADHD Expert, using a strengths-based approach to treating ADHD leads to the best outcomes.

03/26/2024

According to a large-scale study...
When first-year college students received coaching, they were more likely to persist in college and had significantly better retention and graduation rates. Students with ADHD developed better executive functioning and self-determination skills, improved study skills, managed stress more effectively, and reported increased self-awareness, self-esteem, and satisfaction with school and work when they received ADHD coaching.

03/08/2024

Has this ever happened to you?
I know I’ve been there. It helps to know you are not alone. The struggle is real and it has a name… ADHD.

03/06/2024

Here is a simple experiment you can try to see for yourself…

1. Grab a pencil and paper. Use the stopwatch on your phone to time yourself. On one line write all the letters from A-Z. Then, on the next line, write the numbers 1-26, so that each number is below the corresponding letter.

2. Time yourself again, but this time write the letter on the first line, then the corresponding number below it, then the next letter and the next number, and so on.

When finished, both tasks should look like…
A B C D…
1 2 3 4…
you are just writing in a different order.

Did you notice a difference?

Can You Really Multitask?

Doing too much at once is less productive, though you may not realize it. What have researchers learned about the effects of chronic multitasking?

https://bit.ly/CHADDAttentionMultiTask

03/06/2024

Many people, especially women, don’t get diagnosed until later in life. They silently mask and struggle, until they have a big life change like college, parenthood, or starting a business that makes the ADHD symptoms more apparent. Often times after a child is diagnosed the parent says hey wait a minute, I have these same symptoms and didn’t realize they were a part of ADHD. I could never figure out why certain things seemed so much harder for me. Everything makes so much more sense now. Once you understand why you do the things you do, it is easier to identify and implement strategies that make life easier.

Misdiagnosed ADHD in adults can create a lifetime of emotional turmoil. Why can’t I keep up? Why is it so hard? Dr. Dodson explains how to spot the signs and (finally!) understand what’s holding you back. 👉 www.additudemag.com/slideshows/misdiagnosed-adhd-in-adults/

03/06/2024

Advocating for yourself can be so hard, especially when you already feel defeated. It is so important to model and encourage this practice for your kids. Talking through what they are going to say and in some cases standing by their side so they feel supported can be very helpful.

As kids get older, and social interaction gets more complex, it’s not enough to just learn the rules. They need to learn to set boundaries for themselves and respect those of others. And that takes being able to recognize what others want and need — and express what they want and need, too.

Help your child make a plan for what to do when someone isn’t respecting their feelings or boundaries. Go over some simple phrases your child can use: “Please stop.” “I don’t like that.” “It’s my turn now.” Also, make a list of Get-A-Grown-Up scenarios.

Your example matters too. When kids hear parents checking with each other to see if they’re on the same page before they make decisions, or asking a friend how they feel about something, kids are more likely to follow suit.

Parents should also avoid pushing kids to be affectionate when they’re not comfortable. But forgoing grandparental smooches doesn’t have to mean being impolite. Try coming up with something else your child can do instead. For example, instead of a kiss on the cheek, they could pick something they’re more comfortable with, like waving or shaking hands.

Really listen when your child tells you what is, and isn’t, okay with them, and take their requests to heart whenever possible. Dismissing children’s boundaries is often something grown-ups do all the time without even realizing it.

“If a child says they hates being tickled, or picked up, don’t say, ‘Oh come on, you don’t really hate it.’ Instead say, ‘I hear you and I won’t do it again.’”

Read the full article: https://childmind.org/article/teaching-kids-boundaries-empathy/