ADHD awareness Fosters Empowerment
October is ADHD Awareness Month! Created by a coalition of ADHD organizations- ACO, ADDA, and CHADD- the goal of ADHD Awareness Month is to share reliable information about ADHD and its treatments worldwide. Their website is full of useful information about support organizations, podcasts, classes, ADHD myths and facts, and more.
A great section of the website is daily tips for life with ADHD. Today's tip is ADHD Awareness Fosters Empowerment.
This is so important! I recently had an acquaintance tell me his child was newly diagnosed with ADHD and he was frustrated with the state of her room, and didn't know how to help. The first thing I suggested was to learn more about ADHD from a reputable organization like ADDA or CHADD. Education can help build his understanding of ADHD and replace frustration with new resources and empathy.
I also suggested that he get curious about his daughter's experience by asking her open, non-critical questions about what it's like to have ADHD and how it's showing up for her. This helps build her ability to self-reflect and empowers her to speak up for her needs. These ideas may not get the room cleaned as quickly as he wanted, but I felt they would set them up for a better relationship with her diagnosis and help him feel empowered knowing where to turn for ADHD friendly solutions to the challenges they may face. This is an example of how awareness can foster empowerment for both of them.
As a coach, I encourage all of my clients (neurodiverse or not) to reflect on their experience and get curious about what is and isn't working in a given situation. Building this skill is critical for creating new habits (or stopping unhelpful ones). If you need a partner in this work, reach out!
For more great tips for living with ADHD, check out adhdawarenessmonth.org.
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