One of the participants in my PhD study told me one day: "I think I'm learning to make my ADHD symptoms work for me". Although that may sound like a strange concept, it soon became obvious what he meant. He studied his behaviours, and became very aware of his ADHD-related weaknesses. For example, his friends told him that he could be very 'unsociable' at times when he was engrossed in his work, and that he should try not to be quite so irritable when they interrupted him. Their comments got him thinking, and he realised that his hyper-focus, enabled him to get through a great deal of work. "When I'm in the zone", he said, "the room could collapse around me and I wouldn't notice. I've come to value to zone, and work hard to get there." He also realised that once lost, his hyper-focus was difficult to regain. Once he understood that, he was able to explain it to his friends, who agreed to help by leaving him 'in the zone' when they went off for a coffee break.
The core symptoms which cause so much impairment in ADHD include Inattention, Impulsivity and Hyperactivity. There's no denying that they make life very difficult for people who struggle to fit society's mould. However, as authors Kelly & Ramundo point out in their book "You mean I'm not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?" aspects of those core symptoms can be 'turned around' to become an advantage:
Symptoms of Inattention, which include distractibility, can play an important part in the process of creativity, enabling the assortment of disjointed thoughts and ideas that come together in imaginative thinking. Hyperactivity, when purposefully channelled can result in highly productive individuals. Impulsivity symptoms can be translated into a need for action and 'getting things done'.
I'm running a workshop at LADS on Sunday 18th October, called "Making ADHD Work For You". The aim is not to trivialise ADHD. Instead, participants will be taught to recognise the symptoms of ADHD at work in their everyday lives. Such awareness can then be used to anticipate problems and develop strategies to prevent them. Finally, I'll be teaching participants to identify and optimise the 'positive' attributes of ADHD. Contact me on 0411 067 541 for more information.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
ADHD or SOS?
I have given many talks on the topic of AD/HD. I like to think that I leave my audience with a better understanding of how the disorder affects people, as well as some practical strategies for dealing with AD/HD-related challenges. On most occasions, however, I also walk away with new insights thanks to my audience. A talk to youth workers some years ago was no exception. The man in the front row had seen more than his fair share of young people with AD/HD struggling to make sense of a seemingly hostile worl, and he'd observed one of their 'gifts':
"I think Attention Deficit's a stupid name Michele! Theres's no deficit of attention at all. That's why I call it Super Observant Syndrome - SOS for short."
He's right of course - there is no attention deficit - but there is an attentional bias. I've witnessed the uncanny abilities of some people with AD/HD to take in every conversation in a room. Driving home from a restaurant, they fill their families in on all the interesting scenarios that were playing out around them, while most people were concentrating on their lamb shanks! People with AD/HD make fantastic Emergency Room Doctors and nurses, keeping tabs on twenty-five things occurring simultaneously. They also make great chefs, turning out many meals simultaneously. But first they have to survive school! Let's work with these exciting brains to develop their SOS, rather than punish them for it!
"I think Attention Deficit's a stupid name Michele! Theres's no deficit of attention at all. That's why I call it Super Observant Syndrome - SOS for short."
He's right of course - there is no attention deficit - but there is an attentional bias. I've witnessed the uncanny abilities of some people with AD/HD to take in every conversation in a room. Driving home from a restaurant, they fill their families in on all the interesting scenarios that were playing out around them, while most people were concentrating on their lamb shanks! People with AD/HD make fantastic Emergency Room Doctors and nurses, keeping tabs on twenty-five things occurring simultaneously. They also make great chefs, turning out many meals simultaneously. But first they have to survive school! Let's work with these exciting brains to develop their SOS, rather than punish them for it!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
ORGANISING ADHD FOR HIGH SCHOOL
A workshop for Perth high school students on Saturday July 25th at 2pm. Attendees will be taught practical organizational skills which they will then apply to their own situations.
Many students with learning or attentional difficulties face great challenges when it comes to organisation, and often find themselves drowning in sheets of paper. It’s not unusual, for school bags to be jammed full of notes, assignment sheets, assessment papers, excursion slips, etc. The time spent searching through their stash of paper is unproductive for students, not to mention frustrating, and they often feel defeated even before they’ve attempted a task. However, if they’re shown simple methods of organizing paper, their schoolwork can become a lot more manageable.
The workshop will start with some background information for students, providing them with an explanation for their tendencies to be disorganized. Students will then be invited to identify and design a system which best suits their needs and tendencies. Finally, students will convert the paper stash in their school bags into an organised filing system which will be simple to maintain. Although the workshop’s immediate aim is to get students organised for the second semester, it is hoped that the increased awareness of strategies that suit their individual needs will assist students in future study endeavours, as well as other areas of their lives.
To register for this event, please contact Michele on 0411 067 541, or (08) 6460-4690. Bookings are essential, and numbers will be restricted. The cost of the workshop is $44, which includes all filing materials and afternoon tea.
A workshop for Perth high school students on Saturday July 25th at 2pm. Attendees will be taught practical organizational skills which they will then apply to their own situations.
Many students with learning or attentional difficulties face great challenges when it comes to organisation, and often find themselves drowning in sheets of paper. It’s not unusual, for school bags to be jammed full of notes, assignment sheets, assessment papers, excursion slips, etc. The time spent searching through their stash of paper is unproductive for students, not to mention frustrating, and they often feel defeated even before they’ve attempted a task. However, if they’re shown simple methods of organizing paper, their schoolwork can become a lot more manageable.
The workshop will start with some background information for students, providing them with an explanation for their tendencies to be disorganized. Students will then be invited to identify and design a system which best suits their needs and tendencies. Finally, students will convert the paper stash in their school bags into an organised filing system which will be simple to maintain. Although the workshop’s immediate aim is to get students organised for the second semester, it is hoped that the increased awareness of strategies that suit their individual needs will assist students in future study endeavours, as well as other areas of their lives.
To register for this event, please contact Michele on 0411 067 541, or (08) 6460-4690. Bookings are essential, and numbers will be restricted. The cost of the workshop is $44, which includes all filing materials and afternoon tea.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
ADHD Coaching
Coaching helps people with ADHD - first to set goals, then to design and work at the steps required to achieve them.
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