On the journey to my own ADHD diagnosis, I’ve followed others’ posts, and always love to check out the comments and what people are asking or saying. I find it helpful.
Most people are typically quite supportive and curious in wanting to understand and learn more.
And, of course, there is always the odd dick that has to throw out some hate and trolling type of comment.
So, I thought I’d answer one of these comments that I saw. And do this head on.
I saw some guy quite bluntly state that ADHD was a load of bollocks, and why was it that people needed yet another label to identify with?
Fair enough. It’s a valid question that is worth answering. I take this as curiosity disguised with an angry mask.
I’ve come up with 3 ways as to why a ‘label’ is useful for someone.
Medical
From a perspective of mental health and understanding how our ADHD brains work, this is so important as to understand how we get things done. How we operate. How we can use our energy and strengths to the best effect. This is supercharged once ADHD medication is thrown into the mix.
Many relate to my description of the all-or-nothing energy we can experience. Medication has really helped me to minimise the off days, the times when I can’t be arsed, or I struggle to get anything done. It creates a more even and prolonged energy and mental clarity to get more done each day.
Without this diagnosis and label, I wouldn’t get access to such support from a psychiatrist and GP. I might be seen as lazy or hard to manage in a workplace too.
I am now a more productive human and feel I can contribute more to others.
People
If we have a label of ADHD, we can find our people, our crowd, those people who can totally relate to what we are experiencing and get external support, advice, and feel like we are no longer alone. I thought I was a bit weird all my life, and very different.
Now I know a whole crowd of ADHD-ers that have all felt the same. What a great space to be in, to share, to be vulnerable and not actually feel isolated before, during or after an assessment and diagnosis. We’ve all had similar experiences in our careers, relationships and a sense of we could do and achieve more.
Now we are accessing groups with the label that helps to explain who we are, why we do what we do, and ways to get through projects, work, stressful scenarios and life.
Who wouldn’t benefit from that? We all need such social connection and a depth of relationships to experience a happier, more fruitful life.
Self-Awareness
As I am a coach, a crucial foundation to confidence, productivity and a general sense of contentment for each person I meet, is actually understanding who they are; what makes them tick, what they are good at, and what drives them. Who they are authentically. Not what society, a parent, career advisor, partner or boss has told them.
A lot of people I’m connecting with at the moment are adults getting a diagnosis – or considering looking into that. They have had many years in a career and lots of life experience. They have often wondered why they felt different, why they didn’t fit into corporate life (and set up their own business), or are questioning a change in work, for example.
The diagnosis can be such an eye-opening experience – it can be quite enlightening, emotional, even painful uncovering the layers of life and what this has meant for them.
Having said that, working through this and gaining this self-awareness is empowering.
If we know who we are and how to get the best from ourselves then we can all work towards our potential.
This is why, things such as labels, are so important as part of this process. They are the catalyst, and the door opener to self-discovery and even greater things!
Case dismissed.
Comentarios