Does having ADHD or autism help or hinder us? We look at how neurodivergence is portrayed in the media and why it doesn’t have to hold us back.
In my work at the National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery, and through my private practice, Serenity Psychology Services, I work with adults and children looking for a diagnosis for ADHD and autism. We work through the testing together and when it comes to sharing the results, naturally everyone involved is apprehensive. The news can be devasting, and upsetting and brings out all sorts of feelings and emotions. For many it’s the start of a journey into unknown territory and the future can feel extremely daunting.
One thing we hear a lot through the media, schools, workplaces and more is that people with ADHD and autism struggle. And this is true. As someone with ADHD myself I can find it difficult to focus on one thing at a time. I can be disorganised, forget things, start new tasks before finishing what I am working on. I sometimes find social interactions a bit overwhelming, and I am known to talk over people when I can’t wait to get out what I need to say.
But I also love some of the personality traits that come with my ADHD. I can be very excitable and spontaneous. I am also creative, funny and have been known to be silly at times – something that works really well for me in my practice, particularly when I am working with younger patients.
Propaganda will tell you that having ADHD and autism are a hindrance, but while people diagnosed will face some challenges as they move through life, there are also lots of positives. If we look back over time, some of the most famous people who have made their mark on society have neurological differences. While he lived in a time before testing, it is widely believed that Albert Einstein was autistic. Emily Dickenson was the same. More recently it is thought that Bill Gates had autism. He displayed some tendencies including avoiding eye contact with others. Clearly, these figures were not held back by their traits. Greta Gerwig, of recent Barbie fame has ADHD. She reports having a really active imagination as a child, something she clearly uses to her advantage now as a leading film director. Justin Timberlake, Emma Watson, Michael Phelps have also used their ADHD to their advantage.
While I can see in my clients’ eyes on diagnosis that it feels like the world is caving in, it doesn’t need to be all doom and gloom. Take it from someone who speaks first hand and has ADHD. I’m not going to tell you that life won’t be challenging, because there will be times when it feels hard, but there are lots of coping strategies that I recommend to help.
Creating a schedule can be really useful. Neurodivergent individuals thrive on structure and routine so keeping a schedule can be beneficial. Breaking big tasks down into smaller chunks can also help things feel less daunting and help concentration. On the same vein, having a clear and tidy space to work or study in with reduced noise can help us to better focus. Getting regular physical exercise and spending time outside has also been proven to improve attention and reduce restlessness. Mindfulness and meditation can also help manage impulsive urges. You could also consider medication. This can help to reduce noise and improve concentration.
I regularly speak about ADHD being my superpower, and I truly believe this to be true. There have been times throughout my life when I realised I was finding things harder than my peers, but I worked hard to achieve what others might say I can’t. If anything it made me more determined to succeed, even if I had to work twice as hard to achieve it.
Over the years I have learnt to manage my symptoms and how to use them to my advantage to achieve whatever I set my mind to. Sometimes the toll of having ADHD can be heavy and I often have internal struggles. But it has never stopped me from reaching my goals. A key characteristic with autism is that it can give someone an intense passion for a certain topic, making it hard to think about different things. But this can also mean the individual is a top expert on this subject enabling them to accomplish great things in their field.
I’m really passionate about providing wider awareness and education around ADHD and autism and I’m on a mission to break down the taboo and stigma to show that our neurodivergent differences are what make us special and help us, not hinder. We each have our own unique strengths and abilities and we must celebrate those.
Dr Sona Kaur is an ambassador for change – to discuss opportunities contact us and learn more.
