Navigating Life with ADHD
It begins with a set of symptoms you can’t quite understand. Then comes a long debated visit to see someone who can help you place these burdens or make sense of these behaviours. Next comes the answer you thought you wanted, but may not have. If you're like me, the days, weeks and even months following any type of mental or physical health diagnosis are filled with mindless and lengthy hours of scrolling through an endless number of websites. From journals and articles, to brochures and YouTube videos, we are bombarded by research, facts, and wordy definitions claiming to know everything about our new diagnosis. Oftentimes, the more information we take in, the more confusing our reality can become. The solution, to read about the diagnosis from the point of view of someone who’s lived and/or continues to deal with it on a daily basis.
As a therapist specialising in neurodivergent, I use a combination of research and my own experience with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to guide my practice. I am committed to helping individuals navigate life with ADHD. Within this blog feed, I will be writing a series of entries called ‘My life with ADHD’. Within these entries I will be providing readers with tips to take on this journey through life as a neurodivergent, all of which have been proven to work in my own life.
The Non-medicated ADHD Life
Studies show that ADHD is best dealt with through a combination of medication and therapy. However, in some cases individuals with ADHD might not take medication. Whether it be by choice, access too, or health related problems, navigating life without ADHD medication is possible. Here are some tips that have worked for me;
EAT GOOD FOOD: Choose the food you eat wisely. Find out what types of foods give you the most energy. Try not to be fooled by just any article about what you should be eating when you have ADHD. Eat healthy, and know what works for you.
STAY ACTIVE: Stay as active as you can throughout the day. I found that on days that I need a little bit of extra focus (essay writing days or work), I have to run 2-3 times a day. Although that might be extreme for some people, find out what works for your body and gives you the most energy.
SOCIAL BREAKS: I find that I need more social breaks than the neurotypical person might. If I am out in a crowded place for a long period of time I become mentally exhausted. I love to unwind in a bath while reading my book… which brings me to my next point
FIND AN ESCAPE: ADHD can keep our brains going an one hundred miles a minute, and this makes it difficult for us to focus on tasks throughout the day. For some people, meditation and breathing techniques might give them the break they need, however I find that these are difficult to do with ADHD symptoms creeping up at any moment. The only way for me to calm my mind and get myself to my own version of a mediated state is to distract my mind. I find reading a book or watching crime documentaries does it for me, but find out what works for you.
The lesson here… find out what works for you and run with it!