Defending Your ADHD Brain  

Key takeaways from ADHD Defense and Self Esteem Webinar 

One of the most recognizable ADHD traits is communicating a point effectively. It takes me 20 minutes to tell a story that should've taken two. Extra details, jumping from story to story, oh look a squirrel...you get the idea.

Those, myself included, with ADHD regularly face people who don't even recognize ADHD as a disorder. I always feel personally attacked and go on the defense. "Are you saying I'm making this up?" or "Do you think I enjoy being forgetful or unmotivated, or on other days utterly obsessed with completing a task?" Trust me bro, it's not ideal.

I often find myself quick to anger or emotionally shut down when I'm faced with ADHD ignorance. It's very disheartening to advocate for awareness when some don't believe there is anything to be aware of.

ADDitude Magazine sent out a newsletter featuring a webinar titled, "The ADHD Guide to Fighting Stigma: How to Defend Your Diagnosis and Build Your Self-Esteem." The speaker was Rick Green (a fellow ADHD-er) — the award-winning TV writer and comedian. His discussion covered how positivity and humor help, "enlighten ADHD doubters, bust myths, eliminate shame, increase acceptance, and transform how people view people with ADHD. Green brings a light touch to a serious subject without dismissing the high costs of ADHD."

Learning to react positively to ADHD non-believers, is the key to educating and curing ignorance. 

If you'd like to watch the webinar, click here.

But if you'd like to skim the key takeaways, I'll share them below. 

1. Don't close doors on those who doubt your ADHD.

I am so guilty of this. Who doesn't automatically get defensive when they feel they are being called a liar? Expressing yourself with anger doesn't bring anyone closer to hearing your side of things. And if you just emotionally shutdown, with no effort to defend your diagnosis you're losing an opportunity to further discuss and educate on the topic. 

Instead, remind yourself this non-believer isn't attacking you. They are uneducated on the topic. Soin this as a positive situation for your cause. Don't let yourself get overwhelmed with frustration or self-doubt. Use the opportunity to reinforce what you know about how your ADHD brain works by enlightening the ignorant. 

2. Arm your self with stats, facts, and resources.

It’s hard to argue when there’s research to prove it. Taking your emotion out of the situation might make it easier to get your point across with logical facts. 

Green shared the helpful hint to be prepared. Keep a word document or in the notes app on your anytime you come across an educational article, facts, and stats about ADHD save the link on your phone. I found this to be an extremely helpful suggestion because when someone challenges me about the topic of ADHD I often feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. Having these resources available at all times makes it easier to back up what you’re saying.

3. It is not your responsibility to change everyone’s mind.

This is probably the most important take away I got from the webinar. 

You can have all the facts in the world. All of the stories to reinforce scientific evidence. You still will not be able to change some people's minds. Those with ADHD might find this particularly hard to accept due to the fact that we need everyone to like us but that it is self-sabotage to your self-esteem if you think everyone will always agree with what you have to say. Preaching to myself here.

Green does an excellent job delving into each of these points deeper in a highly relatable and educational way. To learn more about using positivity to defend ADHD, advocate ADHD, and laugh about ADHD, you can watch a replay here. 

If you have ADHD or you have a loved one or child with ADHD, how do you handle when someone argues the ADHD diagnosis? Do you have any tips on how to advocate ADHD awareness and educations? Please share below in the comments. I love hearing from you. 

XoXo Meg

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