ADHD and Adults: How to Use Your Strengths to Succeed

ADHD coach Aaron D. Smith regularly works with clients who believe something is inherently wrong with them. After all, for years, they’ve been criticized, ridiculed and reprimanded—maybe by their parents or teachers or other authority figures, he said. For years, clinicians and doctors have hyper-focused on the problems of ADHD. They viewed ADHD from a deficit-based model, versus seeing positive traits or strengths. People with ADHD feel like ‘they are the problem’ not their behaviors.” They feel inadequate. They feel shame and self-doubt. This is especially true for people who were diagnosed as adults, Smith said. “They grew up blaming themselves, knowing something was different about them, but not having a name to call it and not receiving proper treatment.” But whether you were diagnosed as an adult or a child, you might feel like you don’t have any talents or gifts. “It’s easy to get distracted or ashamed by your weakness and lose sight of what you can accomplish,” said ADHD coach Bonnie Mincu. But here’s the thing: You have strengths. Plenty of them. The key is to identify them and learn to harness them. According to Mincu, “Working on developing strengths takes less time and energy, and you end up with high level performance.” Plus, as ADHD pioneer Edward Hallowell, M.D., Ed.D., writes, “Ignoring strengths tends to extinguish them, or at best, not develop them.” Below Smith and Mincu share exactly how you can harness your strengths. I...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Attention Deficit Disorder Creativity Disorders General Motivation and Inspiration Self-Esteem Self-Help Stress Students Work Issues Adhd ADHD and success harnessing strengths School Source Type: news