Making It Work With ADHD
My Story
While I knew in general about ADHD I didn't really think much of it. That all changed however when I learned my children had it. I then did as much as I could to educate myself about ADHD and how I could minimize the effects it had on my children and their lives. This knowledge spilled over into my classroom and changed the way I approached my students and how I taught. ADHD is an invisible disability, often looking like misbehavior, laziness, carelessness or like a daydreamer off in their own world. This perspective gave me an awareness that you can't always tell, based on
someones outside behaviour, that people can really be struggling inside. I worked hard with my children to help them learn how to be successful and advocate for themselves. I wanted my children to be seen and helped, not dismissed as troublemakers or lost causes. Everything I learned I shared with others. I wanted others to benefit from what I had already learned from educating myself, from personal experience working with my own children and those of my students.
The more aware I became of ADHD symptoms the more I realized that I too have ADHD. I had unknowingly been employing strategies and coping skills to manage it without realizing why I needed to do this. I recognized I was putting a lot of pressure on myself to be perfect and to not make mistakes. My ADHD symptoms made it hard for me not to make mistakes. My brain blips, it forgets, it misses things and becomes overwhelmed. By being hyper vigilant I minimized these errors, but in turn led me to avoid taking risks that made me vulnerable to making more mistakes. I was holding myself back from my full potential and opportunities because of it. Eventually the more aware I became of myself, and how I worked with ADHD, the less I held myself back. I embraced who I was without shame or hiding who I was. Yes, some things are harder with ADHD, but I know where my pitfalls are most likely going to be and I can avoid them or plan around them in ways that work for me. This gave me confidence to move forward and pushed me to endeavor to help others discover this about themselves. My friend recognized this in me and encouraged me to become a life coach because as she had pointed out, I was 'already coaching’ the people around me.
Through the iACT Center (International ADHD Coach Training Center, I have learned how to use my experiences and knowledge of ADHD in Coaching to help other ADHD people thrive. I am looking to work with people who want to change their lives; parents, students, professionals, relationships, home life; those who notice that they aren’t living the way the want to. Together we can make specific goals to work towards and identify the things that get in the way. I will walk alongside as you decide and then experiment with the changes you want to make in your life. I will be genuine and honest. I will listen carefully and ask thought provoking questions. You will become self aware and self responsible so that real change is attainable.
Want to learn more about how Coaching can fit into your life?