‘’The most powerful ADHD life lessons that after knowing, you will say that I wish I knew sooner include breaking down the complex tasks, developing a structured routine, emotional instability is manageable, ADHD people are not lazy, ADHD is not a character flaw, identifying the ADHD related strengths and incorporating physical activities are the best ways to deal with ADHD’’.
22 Major ADHD Life Lessons That Every Individual Should Know
Many people believe that ADHD individuals always remain out of control and always fail in organizing and managing things. However, in reality, it’s not obvious that you always see an ADHD person showing the symptoms clearly. In most cases, their symptoms are not completely visible but interfere with normal life in a hidden manner. Any individual, including children, adolescents, and adults, can suffer from ADHD. So, everyone should be aware of all the major life lessons related to ADHD.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health disorder that comprises the symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The exact cause of ADHD is still not known, but several studies have reported that several genetic, biological, as well environmental factors can contribute to the development of ADHD.
So, whether you are a child or an adult, male or female, if you are concerned with your mental well-being, you should have absolute knowledge of how real it is, what afe the main facts and how you can cope with it.
The following are the major life lessons that every individual with ADHD must know.
1: Adults Can Also Develop ADHD
Any adult can experience the negative effects of the symptoms of ADHD. Although it can occur in childhood stages but it’s not necessary that you can’t have it in your adulthood stage. Most individuals can also develop ADHD later in life, in adulthood. However, the difference between adult ADHD and childhood ADHD lies in the way they manifest differently in them. Children with ADHD exhibit more hyperactivity and impulsivity, while adults who suffer from ADHD find it hard to pay focus or attention to vital things, organize things, and manage the intensity of their emotions.
Those individuals whose ADHD symptoms are identified early in their childhood stages can easily recover if they get the timely intervention or treatment. If it does not happen, then symptoms can persist into adulthood. Some children grow out by masking their ADHD symptoms, while some completely remain unaware until they are diagnosed with ADHD after becoming adults. So, each individual should have a clear idea of what ADHD is and what the main symptoms are that they can also self-evaluate.
2: Emotional Instability Is Real, Fortunately, Manageable
If you are having constant mood swings, it does not mean that it is a mood disorder. ADHDers also experience sudden mood fluctuations and increased sensitivity to emotions. But there is nothing to worry about, as with the help of the most effective stress management and emotional regulation strategies, you can easily manage the intensity of your emotions, which include meditation, yoga, and major mindfulness techniques. By learning different emotional regulation skills, you can easily navigate all the challenges associated with ADHD. If you remember this ADHD life lesson, you can easily and rapidly get relief.
3: People with ADHD Are Not Lazy
It’s a common myth that people with ADHD are lazy. But in reality, they just face difficulty in paying attention to the most important things. In addition, they face difficulty in starting a new project or completing any ongoing task. They do not feel any motivation in any activity.
Children with inattention are unbale to pay attention in their classroom and therefor fail to get good marks in their academics. Likewise, adults also get easily distracted from any environmental factor. You might have noticed that your any team mate easily get distracted from any sight or sound.
4: ADHD is Not a Character Flaw
If you are an ADHD person, then it does not mean that you have some flaws in your personality. ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that involves the lack of ability to focus, regulate emotions, and control impulses. So don’t consider it a drawback of your personality.
5: Give Yourself Credit For Small Things
If you have completed any project and obtain the best outcomes then give some credit to yourself. Do not always wait for another person to appreciate you. You should be the first one who acknowledge and appreciate yourself. This can increase your self-confidence and also help you to manage the ADHD.
6: Break Down the Complex Tasks
If you are getting overwhelmed with the complexity of complex tasks then you should break the complex or larger tasks into smaller ones. By doing this, you can manage them with ease. In addition, it also raises confidence to achieve goals.
7: Structured Life is a Freedom From ADHD
The best life lesson that can help you get freedom from ADHD is making a well-organized structure of your life. The more you follow discipline, the easier it is to escape from the complex maze of ADHD. You can get the benefit of digital reminders, calendars, and other organizing and time management apps. By employing these and some other significant tools, you can save your potential or energy and live your life without any stress of ADHD.
8:Live Your Life by Focusing on a Balanced Routine
The time when you realize that you are suffering from ADHD, stand up, show some courage, and develop a highly structured and organized life routine. You should carefully consider what you are eating, drinking, sleep routine, and all your daily chores. Once you follow a specific routine, you will see a significant improvement in your mental health as ADHD symptoms vanish.
9:Your ADHD Can Have Masked Hyperactivity
You can have ADHD in a way where you do not seem to be hyper. This can be seen in many individuals who are dealing with ADHD but do not exhibit hyperactivity and impulsivity. Some of the individuals are more prone to suffer from an inattentive type of ADHD, in which hyperactivity and impulsivity are not prominent. Individuals with this type of ADHD not only face attention issues but also make careless mistakes. In addition, they have also increased a sense of frustration or loss of things.
10:Don’t Rely Solely On Medication
Medications recommended by the experts help individuals manage their symptoms of ADHD. Experts mainly prescribe the stimulants depending on the mental state or severity of the symptoms. Medications do not provide complete relief from ADHD, as they just help to manage the symptoms. Moreover, several studies have reported the positive outcomes in ADHD individuals after following a schedule of medication intake. In addition, it is also suggested that there is no link between medications and substance abuse, and you can stay protected from the negative or any side effects until you are following the expert instructions.
Read More About: How Can ADHD be prevented?
But the main fact that each individual should remember is that medications are not size one-size-fits-all solution for ADHD. If you want to get lasting and permanent relief, then you should choose the combined effects of medication, therapy, and positive lifestyle changes.
Note: Do not take any medication for ADHD without the expert’s recommendations.
11: ADHDers Can Have a Successful Relationship
If you have ADHD, then it does not mean that you can’t have a successful relationship with your loved ones. If your child is not helping you with your home chores or not getting good marks, then it does not mean that they are doing it intentionally. They are trying and want to do better. If you are a parent of a child and want to help your child, then what you need to do is employ some useful strategies. For example, when you feel that they are out of zone, then ask them what happened or do they need help. Make sure that they feel comfortable so they can speak their heart in front of you.
Furthermore, you should also keep an eye on their treatment. Be their companion in their journey of recovery so you can also find that which medication or therapy can work best.
12:Anger is an aspect of ADHD
ADHD individuals are usually short-tempered. They can easily loose their temper or exhibit the anger outbursts. Even a small or minor thing can trigger their anger. For example, if someone say to them, stuck in traffic or lost any important file before attending a meeting can be a major contributor in their explosion. They do not do this with intentions as anger is a by-product of anxiety.
A large number of ADHD individuals are unable to manage the intensity of their emotions, and this condition is also known as deficient emotional self-regulation (DESR). However, medications and therapy can work for managing their anger.
13: ADHD recovery is a long-term Journey
Remember that good things always take time. Managing ADHD symptoms is a long-term journey. So what you need to do is to have some patience. So if you want to regain your mental wellness, stay consistent and patient and keep your efforts in a continuous manner.
14:ADHD Can Help You to Win
It is believed and also scientifically proven that ADHD individuals are usually more creative and innovative and tend to score higher in creativity measurement tests. Music, dance, the arts, and scientific discoveries are easier for them. This is due to their hyperactivity, hyper impulsivity. This is one of the major reasons why most of the ADHDers become entrepreneurs. So it shows that there is a silver lining to ADHD.
15:You Can be the Game Changer
Most of the difficulties are associated with the thoughts and opinions. Whatever you tell or instruct your mind, it will perceive the same. So, a major life lesson that you should know is to fill the positive thoughts in your mind. Say to yourself that this is just a phase and it will pass soon. Moreover, you can only change your life story when you change your mental state.
16:Stay in the Present
Most of the people do the same mistake of not staying in a present. Instead of living and enjoying the present, they take excessive stress of the future. Whatever you are doing, just train your mind to stay in that moment. So staying and enjoying the present without getting overwhelm with the stress of future is one of the major life lesson for people with ADHD.
17:Genes Tell you a lot; listen to Them
Approximately 70% to 90% ADHD that individuals get is due to their genes. Learning how genes work and understanding the genetic map and reports can help in getting an insight to the most useful and effective treatment options that actually work. So ultimately, based on them, you can shape your mental health journey.
18: Show Some kindness to Yourself
The best life lesson that you should never forget is that always be kind to yourself. Teach yourself that if today is a bad day then there is nothing to worry about as tomorrow when sun will rise you will see a new day with new hope. So always be self-kind and keep showing your efforts to start your journey of recovery.
19: Do Not Chase Perfection
Always thinking and struggling to a be a perfect for ADHD is paralyzing. Instead of this, focus on your progress and identify that where you are lacking and what you need to do more. Follow the instructions, celebrate small victories and continuous focus on completing the things accurately can help you to get rid of your ADHD.
20: Don’t Underestimate the Physical Activity
An ADHD person mostly feels restless. However, if you daily perform any physical activity or take any little breaks then you will feel relaxed. In addition, it will also improve your focus and attention.
21: Leverage Your Strengths & Capabilities
Do not just waste your time thinking about difficulties. Invest your precious time in identifying your ADHD related strengths such as problem solving skills and creativity.
22: Don’t Hesitate to Seek professional help
If you are facing difficulty managing the symptoms of your ADHD, don’t feel hesitant to seek professional help to treat your ADHD. Find the best ADHD specialists and benefit from the finest ADHD treatment.
Last Thoughts
Living with ADHD is quite challenging. Individuals have to battle with several issues in their personal, professional, and social lives. However, with the right tools, strategies, and significant life lessons, you can easily get relief from the symptoms of ADHD. There are some major life lessons that every individual should know such as ADHD is manageable, break down the complex tasks, ADHD is not a character flaw, make a structred and balanced life routine, stay in and enjoy the present moments, be kind to yourself, identify and leverage your strengths, do not run after perfection, ADHD journey of recovery is manageable etc. In case of worsening of the ADHD condition, reach out to professional experts to treat your ADHD.
Embrace your Strength at Renewed Mental Health Group
If you are in search of a reliable platform where you can find professional, trained, and skilled ADHD experts, then you are in the best place. Renewed Mental Health Group is a leading platform and acts as a hub of the most effective psychiatric services for children, adolescents, and adults. Whether you are a child, teen, or adult, if you are facing certain complexities in your life due to ADHD, then we are here to help. We have a dedicated team of professional experts who offer specialized and tailored treatment for all common mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, etc.
Don’t struggle anymore. Be kind to yourself! Schedule a consultation today to treat your ADHD.