Weak. Needy. Helpless. Annoying. Thanks to social conditioning and outdated gender norms and decades of hits to our self-esteem, this is how some of us think we appear when we ask for help. But research and experience tell us otherwise.
Strong self-advocacy skills — i.e., the ability to ask for and secure support when it matters — is a strong indicator of success for people with ADHD. Everything from executive dysfunction to the emotional impact of ADHD and its comorbidities are made more manageable with the right kind of help. But the same ADHD characteristics that make assistance so important also make asking for it really tough.
So we asked ADDitude readers to share their experiences with self-advocacy and offer any tips, hacks, or hints that have helped them get helpful help. Here’s what they told us:
“I see requests for help as opportunities to build relationships and connections.” —Catherine, Washington
“When I ask for help, it makes me feel like a failure. But I remind myself that I need to set an example for my kids, so I will ask my husband for help by explaining that I need to prioritize something else so can he please cook dinner?” —Kate, Australia
[Read: The Fear of Failure Is Real — and Profound]
“I’m midlife and the gig of doing it all by myself is up: I have crashed and have to ask for help now. The trick is choosing relationships in every area of life with people who have high standards of relations, reciprocity, and compassion. I choose now, rather than hoping others will get me. It changes everything!” —An ADDitude Reader
“I think having a background in addiction recovery is an asset to ADHD coping. I am already aware that in some areas, I need support outside of myself. Therefore, I am already practiced in asking for support. I know that if I try to cope on my own, it may lead to unhealthy behaviors.” —Krysta, Canada
“I have a 15-minute rule. If I am stuck for more than 15 minutes, I ask for help. I instill this in my employees as well. Asking for help tells me that they are comfortable with communication, and humble.” —John, Florida
“If I notice my RSD is preventing me from asking for support, that often indicates that I’m not getting what I need from that relationship to feel safe.” —AJ, Utah
[Read: How ADHD Ignites RSD – Meaning & Medication Solutions]
“I prefer typing out a text or email rather than orally asking for help, but if text/email is not an option, writing a script can help me prepare for a face-to-face request.” —Chandler, Pennsylvania
“Ask for something super tiny to get practice at asking for help.” —Katrina, Australia
“I have set up keywords with my husband, so when I say those words he knows I am feeling lonely and I need help.” —April, Oklahoma
“My ADHD can make me quite impatient, so I need to give people time to process my request, or take the action I’ve asked for. It helps to remember this isn’t rejection, and they don’t have to drop everything then and there in order to be willing to help.” —Trish
“To address loneliness, I have learned to say ‘I need a hug.’ Often it opens the door for me to share more about what is going on.” —Claire, Pennsylvania
“I identify a person with complementary skills, and I spontaneously contribute to our shared objective by doing the tasks they find laborious. The reciprocal task division follows naturally. Nobody has to ask, no gift debt is engendered. We are actively helping each other.” —Dettie
“I imagine that I’m giving someone good news when I’m about to ask for something I feel nervous about.” —Kelsie, Mississippi
“I have to just accept that asking feels awkward, and it probably always will.” —Sarah, Georgia
“I always express gratitude to any person who is willing to body double with me and I describe how it was helpful. For example, ‘You read your book while I was doing bills and I got sooo much more done. Thank you. Let me know when you are reading your next book.’” —An ADDitude Reader
“I offer help, often. That makes me feel better about asking for help. In my mind, I’ve kind of already paid for the help that I need by helping others, and now I’m cashing out.” —Helen, Maryland
“I practice a lot of ‘I statements,’ like, ‘I feel so overwhelmed by the number of tasks I have to do and I need extra hands.’ It’s not easy, but if you start with positive ‘I need’ statements, and practice, it’ll start feeling like second nature.” —Vanessa, Texas
“I try to set up check-ins with team members at work so it’s easier to ask for help while working on a specific project.” —Christina, Louisiana
“Give yourself 10 seconds of bravery. Start counting backwards from 10 and, before you hit one, say what you need to say to the person.” —Charlie, Australia
“Before asking for help at work, I always make sure to have a list made up of things I need help with. It shows my boss and team members that I have come prepared, with a plan.” —Melissa, Minnesota
“I have realized that I need to be very concise and direct when asking for help, instead of talking about how much I need help and giving reasons.” —An ADDitude Reader
“I use an app such as Goblin Tools to break down tasks, then I ask for specific help. I find that if I say I need help in a non-specific way, people are less ready to help, but if I say, ‘Can you declutter this one drawer please?’ then I’ll get help. The act of breaking the task down helps reduce my overwhelm, too.” —Laura, New Zealand
“One thing that helps is to talk to friends about what is going on, just to gauge what their capacity is for listening or coming up with solutions I am blind to. More eyes and brains on a problem are a good thing.” —Sarah, Germany
“With my teenager, it is mostly a choice-based, task-related ask: ‘Would you be willing to help me with Option A or Option B and at what time?’” —Kristen, Michigan
“At work, I have a personal checklist of resources to exhaust. If I can’t find the answers after doing due diligence, I reach out to an appropriate team member. Having researched on my end allows me to reach out with a more informed and confident ask for help.” —Sharon, Ohio
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Resilience isn’t so much a skill that individuals with ADHD need to build, but a fundamental part of their DNA. Working an 80-hour week while pregnant. Graduating college at age 43. Navigating unhealthy relationships. Staying strong when faced with mental and physical setbacks. These are just some examples ADDitude readers shared when asked for a time their (or their child’s) ADHD resilience truly shone. Read on for more stories of perseverance and grit.
Share your stories of ADHD resilience in the comments section.
“I lost my three-year-old daughter to a rare form of cancer. I remember wanting to die, too. A voice in my head said, ‘You have three other kids who need you to find a way to go on. Because if life hits them the way it’s hit you, they will know they can overcome.’” — Tracy, Canada
“I struggled with depression and anxiety in my first semester of college because of major imposter syndrome and ended up having to go home on medical leave for suicidal ideation. No one expected me (maybe not even myself) to get up the next morning and apply for a job. Hitting what seemed like rock bottom helped me find a hidden, gritty, scrappy fighter within me. I knew I needed time and experience outside of the academic arena to show me that there is more to life and that I have value and talent beyond what any classroom grade might assign me.” — Rebecca, Connecticut
“I failed out of college. Then, I took a semester off, went to community college, eventually enrolled in a four-year program, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in accounting.” — Erin, Missouri
“Being diagnosed late in life, raising three kiddos with ADHD, surviving a high-conflict divorce, running a school, and navigating a teen through trauma and treatment — ADHD resilience, it’s a real thing.” — Katie, Arizona
[Get This Free Download: Secrets of the ADHD Brain]
“Having ADHD and dealing with setbacks has made my teenager resilient and allowed him to build strong boundaries. When he realized he was being mistreated by ‘friends,’ he recognized that their negativity was contagious and dangerous to his mental health because he was emotionally sensitive. Recognizing his sensitivity to unpleasant behavior gave him the motivation to end old relationships and seek out new ones that are positive and more rewarding. This is a life skill that more teenagers need to live happier lives.” — Jane, Tennessee
“I was told I might not be able to walk again. Yes, I suffered from depression, but I had small goals and kept going. I worked hard. I pushed myself (with my high expectations), and now I can walk with a walking stick. It was one of the most challenging things I’ve ever had to do. It has taken me years to get to where I am today. But I did it because I’m resilient and strong. I’m grateful. I’m proud. Thank you, ADHD.” — Sam, U.K.
“A childhood full of bullying, misunderstanding, and criticism drove me to seek out therapy. That self-exploration gave me an early advantage in self-acceptance and how to deal with others, especially in the decades when I went undiagnosed. I’m a veteran human being now.” — Dee, Canada
“I have fallen on my face so many times over the years, but each time, I climb back up and get a little more success — money, lifestyle, health, etc. I have endurance tattooed on my back (I should add resilience).” — Angie, Virginia
[Join the ADDitude Support Group for Adults with ADHD]
“I try to be resilient by giving myself grace when I forget things and try to complete multi-step tasks. I tell myself it’s ‘OK if I don’t get it right the first time.’ Allowing myself to try again took a long time to accept because I like to get things perfect the first time.” — An ADDitude Reader
“I taught a class of 16-year-olds who hated my guts. Going to work was like entering a war zone. My work colleagues could not believe how I kept going. At home, I also took care of my husband, who suffered from a work injury. I refused to give up. Former bosses still talk to me, and some former students smile and publicly say, ‘Hello.’ My marriage and career continue to thrive.” — Louise, Australia
“I have big emotional reactions to setbacks and rejection, especially involving others. Since learning more about RSD and ADHD, I try to allow myself to feel my feelings so I can build resiliency and move forward. I remind myself that, while people may not understand me, I know who I am.” — Ellen, Massachusetts
“My 10-year-old son faced significant challenges when he developed arthritis and severe asthma following a post-COVID infection. This condition made physical activities like running and playing soccer and basketball difficult, often leaving him in pain and short of breath. Despite his efforts, some teammates were unkind, telling him he was hopeless and suggesting he should quit. When he shared his feelings with me, he showed determination, leaving me in awe. He said, ‘I’ve heard what they’ve said, but I want to finish the season because I made a commitment. I’ll keep doing my best, stay positive, and not let their comments get to me. After the season, I’ll find an activity that better suits my abilities.’ True to his word, he persevered through the season and eventually discovered jiu-jitsu and ninja training, activities that he loves and excels at.” — Jo, Australia
“I have learned that my value is not determined by what I do or have not done or how much I weigh or what others say about me. I have learned to forgive myself and move on. I’m also not afraid of admitting and taking ownership of my mistakes. I try to teach my son this, too.” — Glenda, California
“I don’t know how I survived the five years of my life when I was pregnant, had two young sons, and worked in an industry where an 80-hour workweek was expected. As an ambitious advertising executive and new mother, I flew more than 100,000 miles a year, breast-pumped on the road, and stayed up until 3 a.m. working on new business pitches. I had no clue that I even had ADHD until this year!” — Tyra, Arizona
“I continue to write despite never finishing a single project. I have three unfinished novels, an overflowing drawer of unpublished poetry, and ideas for more. Despite the unsuccessful struggle to complete or publish any of this, I am actively working on a non-fiction book, mostly because I can’t not do it.” — David, Oregon
“I can think of several times in my adulthood where I was resilient: Going to nursing school at age 27, finishing at the top of the class, completing college at age 43, becoming licensed in the state and nationally as a nursing home director, and becoming a director of a bankrupt facility. Despite wanting to drown many times, my mind would rebound, and I kept swimming.” — Enola, Oklahoma
“I had five different majors in college. I spent my 20s jumping from job to job, unsure of what I was good at or wanted. I returned to school and got my Ph.D. at age 39. Ten years later, I am tenured and an associate dean at a major university. I work with people who know that they benefit from my ADHD superpowers and accommodate my less super ADHD symptoms. I regularly get to use my position to help neurodivergent students.” — Ted, California
“I co-founded a charter school 22 years ago. Keeping it on track through many challenges required a lot of perseverance.” — Morgan, California
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When solving a particularly sticky problem, it helps if your brain is adept at divergent thinking — that is, generating original ideas by considering diverse and unprecedented possibilities.
Unsurprisingly, neurodivergent brains tend to be aces at divergent thinking. Folks with ADHD tend to think fast, dream big, and innovate solutions that are totally unexpected and brilliant, making them perfect people to turn to when there’s a problem that stumps everyone else.
From software snafus to construction conundrums, tough problems are no match for ADHD brains. Here, ADDitude readers share their problem-solving success stories.
“When I was buying a new mattress, the sales person told me I needed to rotate it top to bottom, once a month. I’m a single mum and having to handle a double mattress on my own didn’t sound fun. I thought for a second and said, ‘Can’t I just rotate my body instead of the mattress?’ The person looked at me for a second and said “Wow, actually yeah. No one has ever suggested that before.” —Emma, Scotland
“I came up with this crazy idea to design costumes for my colleagues and I to wear to a presentation for the higher-ups that really made this project idea hit home. It was fun and effective.” —Jen, Ontario
[Read: 17 Things to Love About Your ADHD!]
“Door handle fell off. Fixed it with a shoelace and two pencils.” —Miriam, Ireland
“An ability to see patterns allowed me to devise a flow chart that simplified an admissions process in a mental health facility. It also allowed me to ‘see’ an element that might be missing during an intake interview. This led to better diagnosis and care.” —Rinda
“I am often coming up with suggestions that are totally logical to me and not to others. Yesterday, I helped a friend and her daughter hang something in the stairwell. I suggested using one ladder as a base to support for the other ladder, which made the job easy.” —Lisa, Washington
[Read: What I Would Never Trade Away]
“I fix all temporary problems in my house with painter’s tape. It makes a great seal, picture hanger, cable organizer, label. The only thing it can’t do is my taxes!” —Yvette, Canada
“As a nurse practitioner working in a student health clinic, I unleashed my creativity and developed an on-line reference for students that was wildly popular! —An ADDitude Reader
“I can make the simplest dish for lunch even when my fridge is almost empty.” —Boon, Malaysia
“ADHD has allowed me to find workarounds within proprietary software at work faster and more frequently than others. Sharing workarounds when something is broken helps stop productivity loss until a permanent fix is made.” —An ADDitude Reader
“I saved a deadline once with my ADHD thinking. Pre-internet, my East Coast publishing company discovered that we forgot to fact check an important detail with a federal government bureau that had closed for the day. While my bosses pondered disaster, I realized that all we had to do was call other branches on Pacific Time that were still open, to get the info. We made our deadline!” —Dee
“At my first real job I was given a task that regularly took people three days to do. I found a different way of doing it that got the same results but took one day.” —Erin, Missouri
“At work, colleagues were attempting to reorganize a room so that a light fixture was not accessible when you stood on the bed. They were discussing moving wardrobes when I came in and said, ‘Why not cut the legs off the bed?’ So, we did, much easier!” —Lisa, Wales
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“My ADHD curiosity sends me down rabbit holes that cost me on occasion but, wow, the things I learn.” — John, Florida
The ADHD mind is not satisfied with ‘what’ and ‘where.’ As one reader told us, “I am a solution detective, always driven by the ‘why’ and the ‘how.’” And that natural intellectual curiosity regularly unlocks innovation.
Here’s how ADDitude readers answered our question, “How has your (or your child’s) curious ADHD brain fueled innovation, exploration, and/or opportunity?”
Share your own stories of where ADHD curiosity has taken you in the comments section!
“My child’s curiosity has fueled her soccer progression. She wants to know the ‘how’ and ‘why’ for every play, making her the best strategist on the field.” — An ADDitude Reader
“I saw a queue of people with instruments in Glasgow, Scotland. I couldn’t not ask what was going on! Turns out it was open auditions for a TV show, which I joined and went on to win. Completely serendipitous, but that seems to happen to me a lot. I question if it is serendipity or my curious ADHD mind pushing me toward these things my whole life.” — Emma, Scotland
“My child, who has ADHD, once wondered what was the best-tasting sugar substitute, or if they even liked sugar alternatives. Within the hour, they had set up a taste test for the entire family.” — Sara, New Hampshire
[Get This Free Download: Secrets of the ADHD Brain]
“I have always wanted to know how, what, where, and why things work. Over the course of my life, I have learned how to restore and play old violins, sing, lead a choir, write music and poetry, sculpt, draw, paint, collect and categorize insects, ride and train horses, raise peafowl and chickens, grow a garden, grow trees, and the list goes on and on. I follow maintenance and engineers around at work asking endless questions on how and why something does what it does. Everything is fascinating! I want to know EVERYTHING!” — Kathleen, Arizona
“A curiosity about what lies beneath the permafrost has given my son a silver lining to climate change. His passion is for dinosaurs and other beasts of another time.” — Tara, Canada
“In my job, I help people with mental, emotional, and physical disabilities find long-term employment. As an evaluator, I am the ‘digger’ — I really get to know each person I work with on a deep level. I use a variety of assessments to determine a client’s interests, skills, and aptitudes. My ADHD curiosity also allows me to morph into the appropriate mental and emotional state to meet the client where they are and develop trust, which is what I need to be successful at my job.” — SolLuna, Nebraska
“I have cataloged more than 150,000 articles in my 12-terabyte drive of ‘Dirk’s Knowledge.’ It’s more than an obsession, it’s a severe case of e-hoarding. I know many things about just about everything, but not enough to be specialized in anything.” — Dirk, Australia
[Read: On the Awesomeness of ADHD Creativity]
“I always fact-checked everything before I even knew what fact-checking was. It turns out that collecting facts isn’t just for fun! It can also help you get into a fancy school.” — Ted, California
“In my retreat business, curiosity plays a crucial role in shaping unique and transformative experiences. My ADHD brain constantly asks questions like, ‘How can we make this experience different?’ and, ‘Why do people respond to certain activities in certain ways?’ This drive to understand and explore leads to the creation of retreats that are not only distinctive but deeply impactful.” — Jo, Australia
“My curious ADHD brain has me constantly questioning ‘why,’ ‘how, and, crucially, ‘what if,’ which helped me to better understand the subjects I learned in college. My line of questioning made me a bit of a leader amongst my peers, since I asked questions that hadn’t occurred to others, which helped us all learn. My ADHD also helps me see patterns and meaning in things that others often miss, which helps give more meaning and understanding in my life.” — Rebecca, Connecticut
“It helps that I grew up reading Agatha Christie books. It taught me to look for creative ways to fix problems and solve mysteries. I have had pretty good luck using psychology to understand what someone was thinking, which helps with problem solving. (Mostly in the form of helping to find lost things at work.)” — Cecil, Minnesota
“My ADHD gave me a hunger to learn before I even entered preschool. Today, it’s a fantastic asset in my editing career. I bring to the job not just hyperfocused attention to detail but also the curiosity and healthy dose of skepticism needed to ask, ‘Is that right? Let me check that’ or, ‘I wonder what other style guides say. I want to do a deeper dive into this.’” — Heather, Alabama
“As a writer and comedian, I don’t just want to know how something is done, but why it’s done. I want to know who benefits from it being done that way, what its history is, the people who make it happen, and what choices were made to get there. My thought process can be distracting, but my curiosity makes me feel more connected to the people and things around me. When I get my questions answered, I’m left with a huge filing cabinet of info to rummage through when I have a problem to solve.” — Nicole, Ohio
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I have a pretty cool job.
A few years ago, I was sitting in an office at Velcro International. They needed a creative ad that would persuade their customers to stop calling their product Velcro.
Yes, you read that right.
I learned the product they sell is actually called Hook and Loop, not Velcro. If people kept calling their product Velcro, they could potentially lose their trademark. So they needed to reach millions of people with this habit-breaking message.
After dropping this bombshell, the executives talked for another 15 minutes about legal ramifications, but I was ZONED out. I know that’s a bad thing most of the time, but for my ADHD brain, it was amazing. My wandering went something like this.
Wait, how funny would it be to write an ad that begs people not to call Velcro “Velcro?”
This is a multi-billion-dollar company. We can’t have its lawyers in a stuffy office doing this ad.
This seems like a pretty ridiculous problem. What if we acted like it was a serious problem?
Oh my gosh, remember “We Are the World?” Everyone was so serious, you know, because it was about starvation in Africa. But what if we did an ad with that vibe, but about something that is clearly a first-world problem?
These lawyers could be making fun of themselves. They could be aware that this is, in fact, a ridiculous thing to ask people!
Ooooh, we could use real lawyers!
Oh boy, here come the lyrics….
It was like a brainstorm session inside my own head.
I am very lucky to have co-workers who have seen this happen to me. They explained to the nice lawyers that I had something cooking, so it didn’t seem rude.
Before I got back to my office, the song was already written in my head. Here’s the final product. (Parental alert: There are some bleeped-out potty words so watch before showing your kids!)
It went viral and got tens of millions of views worldwide.
Still, I know you are probably thinking, “C’mon, Penn. Are you telling me that SPACING OUT sparked the flame of this very good thing?”
Yes, I am. Allow me to explain.
My favorite ADHD doctors are the ones who use creative metaphors to teach me more about my brain. It helps me truly “see” my ADHD. It’s also a fantastic way to explain ADHD to kids.
One of my favorite metaphors comes from Dr. Marcy Caldwell of ADDept.org. She was helping me understand how my brain works compared to the neurotypical brain. According to Dr. Caldwell, the neurotypical brain is like a VIP Club with a velvet rope and a bouncer. The bouncer does a great job making sure only elites gain access to the club, while carefully keeping out “less important” partygoers who don’t have a pass. The inside of the club is orderly, a little quieter, and much less cluttered.
The ADHD brain? Well, that is more like Coachella, and everyone gets in! There are countless different sights and noises. Laser lights and fog machines. You can feel the wind and the weather. Sometimes it rains. There are conversations all over the place. You can see, hear, and feel it all; your attention is pulled in countless directions.
[Get This Free Download: Unraveling the Mysteries of Your ADHD Brain]
Our ADHD brains can eventually learn to put up a velvet rope and a bouncer, but it’s not our default mode; it takes real work.
When it comes to trying to make breakfast, complete a job, or get through school, the VIP club sounds much better, right? That’s the battle we ADHDers fight every day; we try to get our brains out of the open air and into a room with more order.
But…. and it is a pretty big but… (it’s okay if you just laughed reading “pretty big but”) that Outdoor Festival is the perfect breeding ground for one of the most important qualities a human being can ever have: CREATIVITY.
When your brain feels, sees, and smells everything, it is more likely than the neurotypical brain to notice something no one has ever noticed before. It is more likely to go down a rabbit hole and discover a new path. It’s more likely to see something in a way no one has ever seen it.
Biographers speculated that Thomas Edison, one of the greatest creators of all time, had ADHD. Possibilities came to his Open-Air Brain and he was able to harness them by giving us light (yes, literally invented the lightbulb), sound (invented the phonograph), and sight (yep, the camera too!) He struggled just like we do.
According to thomasedison.com; At age seven – after spending 12 weeks in a noisy one-room schoolhouse with 38 other students of all ages – Tom’s overworked and short-tempered teacher finally lost his patience with the child’s persistent questioning and seemingly self-centered behavior.
Sound familiar? Yeah, schools are mostly VIP Clubs, not Outdoor Festivals or Open-Air Concerts. You may not be Thomas Edison yet, but that same creativity lives within you.
My Open-Air Brain finds creativity through music. I studied music theory at a very early age, to the point that it became a second language for me.
I stopped learning after two years because my Open-Air Brain was much less interested in being Rachmaninoff and more interested in the brand-new notes, chords, and lyrics popping up in my head. I wasn’t writing Shakespeare; just lines documenting the countless things going on in my world, and in my family. Now just about everything I experience plays like a song in my head.
In the case of the Velcro ad, that Open-Air Brain quickly gave me access to a catalog of every melodramatic music video I’ve ever heard, every lawyer stereotype I’ve ever had, and every funny meme about first-world problems I’ve ever shared. All those ideas were welcome to the party.
Of course, there are times that this is frustrating – it can be hard listening to someone if the story they are telling is turning into a song. I’ve had to do some really hard work to find a VIP bouncer when what a person is saying is important, and I care about that person and their feelings.
But when there’s nothing else going on, no work to do, and no conversations to have, my mind wanders back to that Open-Air Concert. It happens on walks, at night before bed, in the shower, and sometimes in the middle of the day when I have a minute to just sit and let it happen.
Your Open-Air Concert isn’t just a distraction; it could be the key to your success. Now, we don’t have an excuse to get lost in thought all the time; we need to be respectful of our parents, friends, and teachers, and do the best we can to hear what they have to say. But don’t ever discount those wonderfully bizarrely random thoughts coming into your head. Those thoughts are yours and yours alone, they are enormously creative, and believe it or not, they could change the world one day.
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ADHD is not a coincidence among our greatest creative and artistic minds. From best-selling author Dav Pilkey and Grammy-Award winner SZA to Hollywood mastermind Greta Gerwig and YouTube gamer and animator Markiplier, the evidence of ADHD creativity dominates popular culture.
“ADHD creativity is natural in a brain that works uniquely,” says Kathleen, an ADDitude reader from Arizona who has had a prolific career creating model horses produced in resin for companies such as Breyer/Reeves International, Hartland Collectables, and Safari.
Michelle, an ADDitude reader from Mississippi, uses creative thinking daily as a professional writer, photographer, and graphic designer. “ADHD allows me to see the world differently, offer a fresh perspective, and connect ideas others miss,” she says.
“We light up the room with our sparkles,” says Sam, an ADDitude reader from the U.K. “I believe my ADHD helps me see the world in a kaleidoscope of color. I have a vivid imagination, which enables me to be creative. I can give the most amazing descriptions of things so other people can almost see, touch, and taste them. I love writing, drawing, creating music, dancing, and singing.”
[Download: Need Help Finding Your Passion? Use This ADHD “Brain Blueprint”
Some ADDitude readers credit the ADHD trait of hyperfocus with nurturing their creativity professionally and personally.
“Developing the skill of hyper-concentration makes it so I can practice and then play the piano longer and better,” says Anastasia from Nevada.
Hyperfocus enabled Mia, from New York, to excel as a student journalist “despite the strange and long hours required.”
Others say their creativity stems from insatiable curiosity, distinct viewpoints, and the ability to see obscure connections and solutions.
“ADHD has been a driving force behind my creating unique, fun, and inspiring wellness events,” says Jo from Australia. “I attribute much of the success of these retreats to the creative energy and problem-solving abilities that come with ADHD. It’s not just about being different; it’s about harnessing that difference to make something truly special. ADHD helps me see opportunities where others might see obstacles and turn them into unique and transformative experiences.”
Read on to learn about the creative successes that ADDitude readers ascribe to their (or their child’s) ADHD brain, and how they encourage their creative thinking to blossom.
[Self-Test: ADHD Test for Adults]
“I attribute my son’s writing ability and creativity to ADHD. He was able to complete two books and have them published by age 12!” — Carin, Ohio
“I wrote a newspaper column for 15 years about different aspects of my life that I thought were interesting or funny.” — Jen, Canada
“In the middle of COVID, I switched careers to become a writer. My ADHD gave me the creativity, the courage, and the tools to do it. Since then, I’ve published two children’s chapter books, which are loosely based on my life from childhood growing up with undiagnosed ADHD.” — Heidi, Washington
“I’ve written books, flash fiction, and poetry. I definitely attribute my ability to easily come up with imaginary stories or find new ways to describe things to my ADHD.” — Felicia
“When my daughter was in kindergarten, her teacher explained that it was hard for her to focus on her work because she was always paying attention to what the other kids were doing. Years later, she became an amazing writer. One of the things that makes her writing so compelling is her ability to describe characters and stories in detail. I think this ability comes from a lifetime of constantly observing people and details around her.” — Katie, Maryland
“At age 12, I learned how to play chess. When I was 14, I won my first of several tournaments. I didn’t understand why I saw upcoming sequences that others could not — I assumed they weren’t trying. It wasn’t until I was in my 40s that a college president explained there was something about me that allowed me to see things others didn’t.” — John, Illinois
“In the engineering world, I can find creative solutions quickly by making uncommon connections in my head and working them out on the whiteboard with my employees.” — Celtic, Florida
“I am an engineer with ADHD, and I have invented several novel environmental technologies and have the patents to show for it.” — Victor, Mississippi
“As a psychotherapist, I see connections between things in my patients’ lives and internal narratives. I can articulate these insights, often in visual metaphors, in ways that immediately put my patients at ease. I credit my ADHD with giving me this expansive access to my mind and heart and the ability to connect powerfully with my patients in ways that help them let go of their suffering.” — Jennifer, Massachusetts
“My son has a unique eye for street life. His ADHD has enabled him to capture people uniquely through his photography.” — Sara, New Hampshire
“When I take photos, I can see the picture in my mind. I often take close-up shots of nature with people saying, ‘What is that? It’s really beautiful or interesting, but I can’t tell what it is.’ Then, they are amazed to discover it’s just water photographed differently.” — Gina, Kentucky
“My son takes the most amazing photographs. We can be looking at the same things, but he sees it in a different light and can capture that moment on film.” — Robin, Colorado
“My daughter always tapped and jiggled her legs and had to move all the time. I had her bang on pan lids and wooden spoons as a toddler. This evolved into her becoming a drummer. People with ADHD can make awesome drummers. The rhythm soothes mental restlessness, and the physical energy needed to play calms hyperactivity.” — Andrea, U.K.
“I could never read music because of my dyslexia, but I discovered I have an ear for it. My ADHD gave me the hyperfocus to teach myself how to play piano, drums, and guitar when music lessons failed me.” — Kerry, New Jersey
“I was a professional musician for 23 years and produced and released a CD/album of original music.” — Julia, Oregon
“My ADHD allows me to write and create music that emotionally resonates with others. I would not be as good a musician without it.” — Emma, Scotland
“I arrange and write music, and I intrinsically understand the mathematical aspects of it but could never explain it.” — Jennifer, Utah
“I’m currently finishing my 6th album, ‘Neurodivergent.’ Not only did I explore new musical territories, but I experimented with A.I. videos to build narratives around the songs. This track is very ADHD to me.” — Jon, Surrey, U.K.
“I taught myself how to use multiple graphic design programs because I was determined to fix tiny photo errors, make my blog perfect, and have the best syllabus for a class I was teaching.” — Ted, California
“I make handmade birthday cards. It’s a great creative outlet, and I actually use the craft supplies I’ve hoarded over many years.” — Yvette, Canada
“I love design — making flyers with digital art or rearranging my living room 1,000 times to find the perfect Feng shui. I believe my ability to hyperfocus makes me love those tasks.” — Oceann, Colorado
“I’m a writer and performer. My talent derives from my unique way of conceptualizing and interpreting the world, plus my constant curiosity. That’s an ADHD brain specialty.” — Dee, Canada
“During COVID, my young adult daughter chose stand-up comedy to help her cope. She works a regular job and continues to perform on weekends, including hosting shows.” — Pat, Canada
“As a humor writer and comedian, it’s important to have an interesting P.O.V. ADHD allows me to focus on details others have missed and makes my writing more interesting and robust. Additionally, being very observant helps me gather information about my audiences very quickly and relate to them.” — Nicole, Ohio
“I renovated my bathroom and kitchen with zero experience — and they both look professionally done.” — Gretchen, Minnesota
“I refinish furniture to make extra money. It is fun and creative.” — Glenda, Alberta, Canada
“Our daughter fully renovated her home, only calling in plumbers and electricians for vital compliance tickets. She also completed the renovation of a friend’s caravan and is working her way through their home, all while completing a college degree in science communication.” — Anna, Australia
“I think of wonderful inventions to re-purpose everything I’ve purchased over the years. I’m designing and making self-watering raised flower beds and working on an idea for hidden drawers that can slide in and out from under my bed frame.” — Ruth, New York
“My 8-year-old son is amazing. He puts together LEGO kits by himself. Then, a few days later, he’ll take them apart and create something new with the pieces. He created an excavator from a Star Wars set, Godzilla, and several others.” — Meagan, Alabama
“I build websites. When I let my ADHD loose, I can devise incredibly creative ways to accomplish the tasks my clients want. If they want ‘x,’ I can sometimes deliver ‘x,’ and ‘y,’ and ‘z.’ It’s all a matter of using that ADHD focus.” — Andrew, New York
“When my son was 12, he created fidget objects from LEGOS and sold them to friends. My little entrepreneur.” — Tracy, Canada
“I teach university students using rare books and archives. ADHD allows me to connect our collections and subject areas, which wouldn’t normally happen. I also love coming up with new lesson ideas others don’t consider.” — Jo, U.K.
“I’m a dynamic, fun, hardworking teacher. I’m the teacher I always needed. I’m always trying new things!” — Marla, New Jersey
“As an educator, I used my ADHD mind to create novel situations. I sponsored a banana-eating contest to help students understand how the economic system works for a social studies class. The kids had to find a banana sponsor, get contestants, decide the admission price, make advertisements, sell tickets, and determine the profit margin. We held the contest in the school auditorium. It was a blast!” — Jane, California
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Here, ADDitude readers share more stories of when they reaped the rewards of spontaneity. Read more.
“If you can tune into your voice and communicate your story, that’s when you’re going to create something nobody’s ever seen before.” — Hayley Wall
“I would not change my son or husband for anything. We’ll bundle up all the positives and challenges, stick them into our family jetpack, and navigate the steps, bounces, stumbles, and freefalls of this shared diagnosis together.” Read more.
“My creativity has blessed me at every stage of my life. My grandkids and I write songs or make videos, and I do sing-a-longs at my mom’s nursing home. Being ADHD is a rollercoaster ride, but I love the thrills along the way!” Read more.
Imaginative, resourceful, and fast-thinking ADHD brains can often solve problems that stump everyone else. Here, readers share their stories of seeing the solution everyone else missed.
Star of the stand-up comedy special “Big Guy,” Rachel Feinstein talks about her ADHD journey, from adrenaline highs to rejection lows (and how she’s always losing her passport). Meet Rachel
“When I get to engage in an adrenaline-filled experience, like jumping off a 40-foot cliff, I take it.” Learn more about the risky, sensation-seeking activities that ADDitude readers crave.
“I sometimes feel frustrated that the things that seem so simple (turning in homework, putting on BOTH shoes, turning off the stove) can be so hard for the ADHD brain. But the things my son’s brain creates leave me in awe.” _ Kim Holderness
Here’s how ADDitude readers answered our question, “How has your (or your child’s) curious ADHD brain fueled innovation, exploration, and/or opportunity?”
“The more I talk to colleagues about my fresh diagnosis (ADHD, inattentive type), the more I see that others grapple daily with different demons. And some of the things that frighten or frustrate them about teaching come as naturally to me as breathing.” Read this blog post.
“You can’t see my constant struggles to stay on top of employment, housework, and personal affairs; you can’t hear my every thought scream for my total attention as I fail to hold onto a single one; you certainly can’t feel the smaller effects of ADHD pile on top of each other to create a web of executive dysfunction.” Read this blog post.
25 positive affirmations to lift up ADHD brains
Rebecca Makkai is a New York Times bestselling author whose books have been translated into more than 20 languages. She is a Pulitzer Prize and a National Book Award finalist. She teaches graduate fiction writing at Northwestern University, among other places, and she has ADHD.
“When your brain feels, sees, and smells everything, it is more likely than the neurotypical brain to notice something no one has ever noticed before. It is more likely to go down a rabbit hole and discover a new path. It’s more likely to see something in a way no one has ever seen it.”
How to live better with ADHD, according to the experts.
ADDitude readers describe the undeniable signs, symptoms, and strengths of ADHD that may be invisible to others. Read more.
“These mottos have helped me practice self-compassion and affirm my own neurodiversity.” Read more.
From the pragmatic to the profound, readers offer up hard-won wisdom that they’ve found transformative, in the hopes you might benefit from it, too. Read more.
“What if my intense drive is because of — not in spite of — my ADHD?” asks Tracy Otsuka, JD
If you could pay a visit to your childhood self, what words of affirmation, advice, or messages of self-love would you impart? ADDitude readers respond here.
These insights on living and (mostly) thriving with ADHD from the Holderness Family will make you laugh, nod in agreement, and feel a little more understood.
]]>Disorder. Condition. Impairment. These are the words commonly used to describe ADHD. Their accuracy is debatable. What’s for certain: they’re insufficient on their own.
What does ADHD mean to you? Adventure. Gift. Advantage. Creative engine. Superpower and kryptonite, all rolled into one. According to ADDitude readers, this is the essence of ADHD.
This October, we move beyond awareness and acceptance. As we step into ADHD empowerment, ADDitude will amplify the myriad voices comprising our community and share their powerful, telling stories.
What is ADHD? It’s whatever you say it is.
“. . . a kaleidoscope. I see, hear and think in stereo. The beauty of ADHD is how my mind endlessly sees and hears things others around me can’t.” — Jon, United Kingdom
. . .a different gameplay mode, enabled on some brains.” — Mia, New York
“. . . eye-opening.” — Zak, Florida
“. . . like a powerful wild horse — beautiful and strong but untamed. Imagine what it’s like to ride on its back and be taken where it wants to go. You just need to train your horse, and to develop your strength and agility and learn to hold on.” — Giedre, United Kingdom
“. . . complicated.” — Ava, Canada
[Read: Holderness Family Values – 9 ADHD Truths (with a Side of Laughter)]
“. . . an adventure. ADHD is curious. ADHD is playful. ADHD is a roller coaster.” — Emma, Scotland
“. . . exhilarating. There is always something new to learn.” — Erin, Missouri
“. . .wonderfully maddening. Wonderful because of the ability to focus intently on things that interest you and maddening because you’ll need to develop ways to complete tasks that don’t interest you. You have awareness, perspectives and abilities that are likely different from your peers and those skills make you exceptional.” —Becky, Indiana
[Read: 17 Things to Love About Your ADHD!]
“. . . hopeful. People with ADHD can help create a future that has justice, empathy, curiosity, and creativity as the guiding principles.” — Sara, Canada
“. . . liberating.” — Noreen, Oregon
“. . .an uphill and downhill battle.” —An ADDitude Reader
“. . .a horse without blinders. Someone with ADHD can see so many things at once.” —John, Illinois
“. . .both a superpower and kryptonite.” — Tyra, Arizona
“. . . a channel to dream big dreams.” — Tara, Canada
“. . . is the key that unlocks universes. Wanting to know more about topics I’m interested in is a gift.” — Nicole, Ohio
“. . . a hurdle — one that makes you more resilient.” — An ADDitude Reader
“. . .being upside down in a neuro-normative world which is ‘right way up.’” — Rachel, United Kingdom
“. . . a new day every day, sometimes every hour.” — Jana, Tennessee
“. . . differently powerful.” — Betsy, New York
“. . . hyper-focusing.” — An ADDitude Reader
“. . . magical.” — Sam, United Kingdom
“. . . misunderstood.” — Jamie, Tennessee
“. . . multi-faceted and pervasive, affecting all aspects of one’s life.” — Kathryn, Michigan
“. . . something that gives you the energy to accomplish great things. It may be hard to sit in a class, but you are one of the greatest builders of society.” — An ADDitude Reader
“. . .a mixed bag. At times it really does feel like a superpower, like when I’m writing for fun; the metaphors and creativity flow like water. At other times, it really does feel like a curse, like when I lose what feels like the 50th pair of prescription sunglasses. My biggest asset is simultaneously my biggest struggle.” — David, Oregon
“. . . determination, focus, tenacity, and courage.” — Heather, Alabama
“. . . balance.” — Maggie, Michigan
“. . . a beautiful brain in a challenging environment.” — Dee, Canada
“. . . overwhelming — and empowering.” — Ariel, Wisconsin
“. . . something that can both control you, and be controlled.” — Andrew, New York
“. . . not good and not bad. It just is.” — An ADDitude Reader
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Wisdom is the hard-won result of experience; there are no shortcuts. But if you could time travel back to speak with your childhood self, what advice would you offer that tiny, still unformed version of yourself? What lessons about living and thriving with ADHD — school, work, relationships, self-love — would you impart? What words do you most wish you’d heard to avoid some headache and heartbreak, and to find more fulfillment and acceptance?
Here, ADDitude readers reflect on ADHD life lessons learned and offer everything from practical hacks to tender compassion. Threaded together, these words form a brilliant tapestry of self-advocacy, self-empowerment, and, above all, self-love.
“Oh, love, hi there! It’s me, your 34-year-old self. I just want you to know that you are wonderful. Absolutely wonderful! I know you feel like people don’t get you and that you have to be perfect to be liked. But, cute one, you are not weird, your brain is just different and you have something we call ADHD. It’s why you sometimes lash out and why you dream for hours. It’s also why you love so many different things. I know it feels safer to hide these things with your fears, but you are hurting yourself by doing that.” — An ADDitude Reader, Netherlands
“Be kind, be kind, be kind. Especially to yourself. It will feel rebellious, maybe even dangerous, to be kind to yourself, but you must try.” — Laura, Louisiana
“You are not lazy. You are not flawed. The world is just not ready for you yet.” — Adrienne, Virginia
[Read: Birds of a Feather – The Joy of Neurodivergent Friendships]
“Take notes, drink coffee.” — Courty, Pennsylvania
“You’re not crazy — you are different. There’s this thing called rejection sensitive dysphoria. It’s real, it explains a lot of what you feel all the time, and it really freaking sucks.” — Chiara, Oregon
“Post-It notes are your friend! Write things down so you remember to do stuff!” — Lisa, Ohio
[Read: Everyday ADHD – Quirky Productivity Hacks for Easily Bored Brains]
“Tell those you trust about how you feel. The sooner you tell someone, the sooner someone can help.” — Sarah, United Kingdom
“Honey, yes, you are different, but it’s a beautiful kind of different. Nothing great was ever accomplished under the umbrella of normalcy.” — Michelle, California
“Get diagnosed now.” — Karon, Colorado
“Never be quiet, keep taking up space until you get the help and support you deserve. It will be better when you’re allowed to make your own decisions.” — Mariah, Illinois
“You are irreplaceable.” — Remy, California
“Keep taking the next right step.” — Anne, Wisconsin
“You will be a great adult. Hold on until you get there.” — Michele, Texas
“Find whatever sparks joy and live your dreams as fully you possibly can.” — Deniz, Massachusetts
“Learn how to apologize.” —Paul, California
“Connect with those who thrill and want to be thrilled … then go home to calm. I have found that people like me are not the ones I like to live with.” — An ADDitude reader in New Zealand
“Don’t drink or do drugs to soothe, it makes things worse.” — An ADDitude Reader
“Choose a trade. You’re creative, enjoy working with your hands, and find satisfaction seeing the end product of your efforts.” — Matt, Canada
“There’s a reason why things that are supposed to be simple feel like they’re written in a foreign language. There are others out there who can understand, appreciate, and see the value in your own unique language.” — Jessica, Texas
“Don’t worry so much about fitting in with others. You will find your tribe along the way.” — Noreen, Oregon
“Bring a fidget everywhere.” — M., Virginia
“Become comfortable with being uncomfortable.” — Jamie, United Kingdom
“Oh, sweetheart, it’s not your fault. Your brain is built a bit differently from other people, and that’s okay. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad student, or a bad person. It doesn’t mean that you’re a weirdo, or unlovable, or a problem.” — Peyton, Oregon
“It’s not you, it’s the world. Keep doing your thing. It’s going to get complicated and confusing but you will develop some amazing strategies and skills to manage it, without even realizing.” — Lucy, Australia
“Learn about your brain. Teach others!” — Wendy, Canada
“Trust your gut. Pay attention to your needs; they’re not lying to you.” — An ADDitude Reader
“God has a plan for you, sweetheart. You are teary-eyed and alone right now, but I promise a whole world of amazing, creative, heart-centered people across the globe will be at a finger tip’s distance from you in the future.” — Erin, Canada
“Work hard at making nutrition, exercise, and sleep as routine and automatic as possible, to serve as a good foundation.” —Beth, Texas
“Figure out what works and what doesn’t, and then design your life around your strengths. Find a job that fires your passions, which means you’ll work hard at it. Find friends who appreciate your spontaneity without punishing you for poor planning and communication. Find a spouse who pushes you to grow as a person and loves you for your good qualities.” — Josh, Utah
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Parent training didn’t prepare me for this. My husband and I stood there, quietly whispering to each other for an excruciating 20 minutes until our daughter finally calmed down. In that time, I was desperate for the screaming, the stares, and others’ well-intentioned, albeit unhelpful, suggestions (to give her a snack or a drink) to stop. This was not the highlight of my mothering career.
Eventually, all those things did (thankfully) come to a halt. My baby stood up quietly after her meltdown, looking disoriented. Then, she stumbled in my direction and finally held my hand instead of running ahead of us like we asked her to, which is what led to the whole fiasco in the first place.
Emotional dysregulation is not new — to my daughter or to any other person with ADHD. But it was an aspect of ADHD that took me a long time to fully appreciate.
The problem is that the diagnostic criteria for ADHD intentionally exclude emotion dysregulation, despite it being historically conceptualized as a crucial characteristic of the condition. Emotional dysregulation was written about as an issue related to ADHD symptoms as early as the 1700s up until 1968, when the diagnosis of hyperkinetic reaction of childhood was first introduced in the DSM-II. Around this time, emotion dysregulation started to become a forgotten part of the equation for ADHD, and public discussion of ADHD-fueled tantrums and angry outbursts all but halted.
[Get This Free Download: 9 Truths About ADHD and Intense Emotions]
This is why, despite my psychology graduate coursework and training in ADHD, my daughter’s behavior was still confounding. On the one hand, I knew that she struggled with ADHD from an early age because her symptoms were consistent with current diagnostic criteria. On the other, her obvious emotional challenges compared to other girls and children her age, were not reflected in the DSM.
Adding to my confusion was the fact that emotion dysregulation isn’t exclusive to ADHD. For example, children with disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) display irritable mood and emotional outbursts that could be verbal or physical and that occur at least three times per week. It is a condition that goes beyond temper tantrums.
DMDD was added to the DSM-5 because mental health professionals were over-diagnosing bipolar disorder, a condition that causes extreme changes in mood in children. DMDD was meant to account for children who didn’t quite meet criteria for bipolar disorder, and who presented with more general irritability.
Without much mention of emotion dysregulation’s connection to ADHD in my training and in what doctors told me, my daughter’s intense emotional responses made me wonder — could this be a case of DMDD, too?
[Self Test: Does My Child Have Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder?]
William French, M.D., explains that the key to differentiating between DMDD and emotion dysregulation as a part of ADHD is the child’s mood between temper outbursts. Children with ADHD (and adults, too, for that matter) experience emotions intensely, but these emotions are not all negative.
Individuals with ADHD can also be incredibly excited or calm between emotional outbursts. Russell Barkley, Ph.D., says the reason the negative emotions get so much attention is because they lead to obvious social and functional challenges. While someone with ADHD experiences various emotions between periods of intense negative emotional outbursts, a person with DMDD has more persistent irritable mood between episodes.
Without a shred of doubt, I understand today – though it took lots of time and headaches to get here – that my daughter’s intense emotions are part of her ADHD.
But in my own practice, where I see neurodivergent youth, I increasingly see patients come in with an ill-fitting DMDD diagnosis. As I’ve become more and more self-educated about ADHD and emotion dysregulation, I’m convinced that many clinicians, misled by current diagnostic criteria, may be readily misattributing this central feature of ADHD to DMDD.
This is a problem, for one, because inaccurate diagnoses delay access to life-changing treatment and can cause further health complications. In addition. whether we’d like to admit it or not, certain labels carry heavier stigma than do others. Before they see me, many children with the DMDD diagnosis are turned away from other private practices, deemed too “severe” to treat. Children can also be inappropriately judged by schools when they are given labels reflecting severely dysregulated mood.
It’s important to remember that the DSM, in general, aims to simplify. But, far from simple, human beings are nuanced, and so is the way ADHD presents.
If diagnosticians took a step back and actually looked at the ADHD brain and listened to the lived experiences of individuals, maybe then they could start to understand those who are so unnecessarily misjudged, like my daughter could have been.
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Bullying is learned behavior. It results, in part, from living in a world that normalizes bullying. We see this every day in the way certain politicians speak and act, and the way some adults and children express themselves on social media. There is an unspoken belief that bullying gets results. The truth is: From neuroscientific, medical, neurobiological, and physiological points of view, bullying and abuse do nothing positive. They only put the health and performance of kids’ brains at risk.
All forms of bullying — yelling, insulting, shaming, berating, and ignoring — hurt different regions of the brain.
[Get This eBook: How the ADHD Brain Works]
If left untreated, the harm caused by bullying can lead to problems later in life, including substance abuse, anxiety, depression, aggression, conduct disorders, self-harm, suicidal ideation, and relationship issues. That’s the bad news. The good news is that our brains are wired to repair and recover.
From adolescence through early adulthood, neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to change, get stronger and healthier — is intensive. Teaching children to use breathing strategies, mindfulness, visualization, and co-regulation as ways to shift their reactions toward stability and balance is vital.
All of the following techniques are backed by extensive, peer-reviewed, replicated brain science.
When we breathe in a shallow way, quickly, and from our shoulders, our brain believes we are under threat and prepares us to fight, flee, or freeze. We can calm our brains and bodies by breathing from the belly in a slow, rhythmic way. This is how we tell our brains not to worry, to be restful and present, and to feel safe.
[Download: Kid-Friendly Mindful Meditation Exercises]
This approach works for the bully and the bullied. When children are frustrated or feel defeated, work with them to actively imagine a different outcome. For example, if a child feels the impulse to lash out and bully their peers, challenge them to imagine what it’s like to be hurt or humiliated. Relating to the victim, rather than threatening them to increase personal superiority and power, can help in lessening or eradicating bullying behavior.
Likewise, when a child is bullied, ask them to visualize what might be going on in the bully’s life that would cause them to be threatening. The goal is not to excuse the aggressive behavior; it’s to understand that each of us has a nervous system that can put us into fight, flight, or freeze mode as circumstances warrant. Then, have them practice body language that exudes confidence, like walking tall and holding their head high as they ignore and walk away from the bully. Also, tell them not to be afraid to seek out a trusted adult for help.
Help a targeted child feel safe by adopting a loving facial expression, speaking with a gentle tone of voice, offering physical affection, sharing your experiences, and using a melodic speaking pattern. When we speak in a higher-pitched, sing-song voice, as many of us do when we talk to a baby or a pet, it calms the other person.
Those who are targets of bullying can also make their brains more resilient by doing the following:
Each of these practices and self-care choices can improve the brain function of children and teens with and without ADHD.
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Thank you for reading ADDitude. To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. Your readership and support help make our content and outreach possible. Thank you.
From age 8 to 12, children with ADHD experience significant functional changes in the brain regions that control motor and executive function, as well as visual processing and spatial cognition, suggests new research published in the journal Scientific Reports. 1
For the study, a research team from Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) in South Korea analyzed the brain scans of 157 children diagnosed with ADHD and 109 children without the condition using a noninvasive imaging technique that uses magnets to label and measure cerebral blood flow (CBF). The researchers found that brain scans of children with ADHD, ages 8 to 9, revealed lower blood flow in the brain regions associated with motor and executive functions. The researchers also detected significantly lower CBF in children with ADHD, ages 10 to 12, in brain areas related to visual processing and spatial cognition. They did not find any significant differences in CBF between children with ADHD, ages 6 to 7, and their matched control group.
The scans also suggest that children with ADHD experience higher blood flow in specific brain regions, indicating slower brain maturation. This finding supports previous studies suggesting that children with ADHD mature more slowly than their neurotypical peers, especially in terms of executive function.
“It is estimated that children and adolescents with ADHD trail behind their neurotypical peers by a few years,” says Ellen Littman, Ph.D. 2
Ryan Wexelbatt, LCSW, explains that “a child with ADHD has a two- to three-year delay in their executive function (EF) skills, which means a 7-year-old has the executive function skills of a 4- or 5-year-old. A 13-year-old’s EF age is between 10 and 11, and a 19-year-old’s EF age is about 16.”
According to the researchers, the study’s results demonstrate the potential of arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging (ASL-MRI) to diagnose and evaluate ADHD across different age groups.
“Understanding associated changes in brain development may be critically important in treating and mitigating ADHD,” they say. “ASL has the potential to be a good diagnostic and evaluation test for ADHD.” ASL-MRIs may be particularly advantageous for children because the procedure takes approximately five minutes and does not require injections or radiation exposure.
ASL-MRI joins a growing list of Neuroimaging tools (i.e., Brain SPECT, PET and CAT scans, and fMRI) that show promise for identifying the underlying brain systems associated with ADHD.
“Advances in brain-imaging techniques may lead to a better understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying ADHD. However, there are caveats,” said Peter Jensen, M.D., the president and CEO of The REACH Institute, in the ADDitude article “The Future of ADHD Research Looks Like This.” “It appears that single neuroimaging receptor or cellular studies have provided clues about differences in brain structure and functioning in individuals with ADHD, but the brain comprises billions of interacting cells, circuits, and networks that do or do not work together during specific tasks.”
“Neuroimaging tools cannot yet make an accurate diagnosis of ADHD, but we’ll look for important breakthroughs in this area,” Jensen said in discussing how scientific discoveries could lead to the recognition of more than a dozen ADHD subtypes, and the implications of such findings in the ADDitude webinar “Unlocking the Future of ADHD: Advances in Research, Diagnosis, & Treatment.”
The South Korean research team says that more studies involving larger sample sizes and covariates are needed to “delineate the developmental trajectory of ADHD more precisely and to enhance the diagnostic capabilities of ASL-MRI in the understanding and management of ADHD.”
1Lim, Y.B., Song, H., Lee, H., et al. (2024). Comparison of Arterial Spin Labeled MRI (ASL MRI) Between ADHD and Control Group (Ages of 6–12). 14, 14950. Sci Rep .doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-63658-9
2Shaw, P., Eckstrand, K., Sharp, W., Blumenthal, J., Lerch, J. P., Greenstein, D., Clasen, L., Evans, A., Giedd, J., & Rapoport, J. L. (2007). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Is Characterized by a Delay in Cortical Maturation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 104(49), 19649–19654.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0707741104
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