ADHD
Many people think of ADHD as a childhood condition associated with behavioral issues, but it’s much more than that.
ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurological condition with 3 classifications of symptoms: inattentiveness, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Symptoms vary for each person, so a diagnosis of ADHD can include any combination.
Both children and adults can have ADHD, but the symptoms always begin in childhood. A great deal of adults with ADHD were never diagnosed as children because the condition was generally poorly understood and symptoms were overlooked.
There is no cure for ADHD and you do not outgrow it. With time, many people learn to live with their ADHD, but symptoms can become more intense as demands increase at school, work, or home. The way these symptoms show up evolves with maturity.
Common obstacles associated with ADHD are generally due to a delay in the development of Executive Function.
Executive Function
EF or Executive Functioning skills help you get things done and are often described as the command center of the brain. When Executive Function isn’t working as it should, behavior is less controlled.
Executive Function helps you
Manage time
Initiate and sustain work on tasks
Pay attention
Switch focus
Plan and organize
Remember details
Avoid saying or doing the wrong thing
Use experience to guide future actions
Read social cues effectively
Manage emotions
Weak Executive Function skills can make it hard to meet expectations no matter how hard we may try. We hear lots of negative comments that accumulate and weigh us down. We may even start to believe we are lazy or stupid and we often just give up.
It doesn’t have to be this way. The good news is that these EF skills can be strengthened with awareness and practice and that’s where coaching can help.
ADHD Untreated
Left untreated, ADHD can be costly and make a significant impact on a person’s wellbeing. It can even be responsible for a shorter life expectancy.
Because the ADHD brain has less dopamine, the pleasure chemical, we tend to be thrill seekers. Our impulsivity can lead to risky behaviors that can significantly impact quality of life for us and for those we love.
ADHD has been linked to more frequent:
unemployment
financial problems
car accidents
alcohol and substance misuse
unstable relationships
trouble with the law
struggles with weight
unplanned pregnancy
health issues
suicide attempts
This is a sobering list, but it is important to recognize that ADHD can be a real asset or impairment throughout our lives. Understanding how ADHD shows up for you is the first step in managing its symptoms.
Begin your journey to living your best life today.
Highly Successful ADHDers
Below are just a few famous people who have ADHD. Included are common positive ADHD character traits that helped them achieve greatness.
In the right environment and with the right tools, we all have the ability to shine!
Walt Disney
Founder of Disneyland
imaginative, innovative, fun-loving
Jeff Bezos
founder of Amazon
visionary, pioneer, resourceful
Emma Watson
actress (Hermione in Harry Potter)
charming, expressive, playful
John F. Kennedy
35th president of the US
intelligent, charismatic, driven
Michael Jordan
NBA basketball great
tenacious, optimistic, maverick
Will Smith
actor and musician
creative, funny, enthusiastic
Justin Timberlake
musician and actor
artistic, energetic, authentic
Simone Biles
Olympic gold medalist, gymnast
driven, committed, resilient
“Everyone is a genius.
But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
— Albert Einstein (widely believed to have had ADHD)