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What am I being told?

Picture
Thanks to author Brett Harrington.

As well as being on the board of ADHD NZ, Brett is an ADHD specialist coach, counsellor and registered clinical arts therapist who has been dedicated to working with adults and children with ADHD since 2011.

Brett says that ADHD can impact us in a range of ways from quite debilitating to barely noticeable.

"Not surprisingly, the people who contact me for help as an ADHD management specialist therapist are the ones who find living with ADHD a bit of a struggle.

"I'm going to talk about the 5 ‘Awarenesses’ which are essential for the management of ADHD, in the life of a person with ADHD, and are also useful for anyone wishing to increase their daily productivity and personal well-being.

"In my work with clients with ADHD, patterns of discovery emerge as clients gradually increase their awareness of the impact of ADHD on their daily lives. At each level of awareness, they understand more about how ADHD impacts their lives, and how to better manage those impacts. 

​"In this series of blog posts, I’ll talk about the 5 key ‘Awarenesses’ those with ADHD need to achieve a less confusing and more productive life. We should approach these 'Awarenesses' with a spirit of curiosity and a big helping of self-compassion.

"This is the third in this series of five blogs." 

What am I being told?

In previous blogs (links to these blogs "What am I doing?" and "What am I telling myself?" are below) I talked about noticing and becoming aware of what we do, what we say to ourselves about it and how we say it; is it kind and is it true?

The messages or “tapes”, that play in our head are often based on things we heard or understood during childhood.

If we were fortunate, the grown-ups around us were understanding and accepting of our ADHD tendencies.

But sometimes different messages came through. These might have included the message that we were being lazy or not trying hard enough, whereas we may have tried very hard to do the right thing but somehow couldn’t quite get there. To be criticised for not trying can feel unjust and devastating. 

It’s not just what we may have heard growing up that influences what we say to ourselves, it’s also the everyday messages we get from the world around us regarding what we should strive for.

In 2021, this message can be summed up in one word: PRODUCTIVITY.

At times, it can seem like we're expected to be nothing more than task-executing machines. I would argue that while some of us can, and don’t mind, cranking out one task after another, we’re not all built for that. Some of us simply need more time to contemplate things, time between tasks to pet the cat, look out the window or just sit!

​It’s important that we are aware of the messages we hear both from within and without regarding how we are expected to function and weigh those messages carefully against our own natural rhythms.

What am I actually doing?
What am I actually doing?
What am I telling myself?
What am I telling myself?
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What's ADHD?

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Why it's good to have ADHD
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​
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Think you're an adult with ADHD?
Think your child has ADHD?
How to get a diagnosis for ADHD

Getting an assessment and diagnosis of ADHD
Self-screening tool for adults with ADHD
Co-morbidities
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FAQs

Succeed with ADHD

Find healthcare professionals near you
The different types of healthcare professionals
Managing ADHD
Families living with ADHD
​Tips on how to support children with ADHD
ADHD in schools
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Tips for adults managing life and ADHD
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  • What is ADHD?
    • Adults with ADHD
    • Children and teens with ADHD
    • ADHD is more common than you think
    • Why it's good to have ADHD
    • Inspiring stories from people with ADHD
    • News and Research on ADHD
  • Have you got ADHD?
    • Think you're an adult with ADHD?
    • Think your child has ADHD?
    • How to get a diagnosis for ADHD >
      • Getting an assessment and diagnosis for ADHD
      • Self screening assessment tool for adults who suspect that they have ADHD​
    • Co-Morbidities
    • FAQs
  • Succeed with ADHD
    • Access ADHD Healthcare Professionals >
      • The Different Types of Healthcare Professionals
    • Managing ADHD >
      • Families living with ADHD >
        • Tips on how to support children with ADHD
        • Parent Support is a Phone Call Away
      • ADHD in schools
      • ADHD in tertiary education organisations >
        • FAQs for staff at tertiary education organisations
        • Feedback from staff at tertiary education organisations
      • Tips for adults managing life and ADHD
    • ADHD Medication >
      • ADHD Stimulant Medication
      • ADHD Non-Stimulant Medication
      • ADHD Anti-Depressant Medication
    • ADHD Support Organisations
    • Become a member of ADHD NZ's community >
      • ADHD Wellington
      • Events and promotions
      • Vlogs, blogs and ADHD news
  • About Us
    • ADHD NZ 2021: past, present and future
    • Our People
    • Help Us By Volunteering
    • Contact Us
    • Sponsors
    • ADHD Ambassador