Having ADHD can feel like restlessness filled with a busy stream of thoughts and ideas competing for attention with real-world activities.
ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (formerly called attention-deficit disorder – ADD), is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by symptoms such as inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
ADHD is marked by problems with attention and a range of behavioral issues and is characterized by unhealthy activity in the brain’s prefrontal cortex (PFC) located just behind the forehead. The prefrontal cortex is involved with forethought, planning, judgment, impulse control, and more.
ADHD is more common in childhood but it often lasts into adulthood. However, the overall prevalence of ADHD among adults in the United States between 2001 and 2003 was 4.4%, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. However, in recent years the increasing rates of ADHD diagnosis among adults over a 10-year period have been noticed.
Also, some adults may have ADHD but lack diagnosed confirmation of this. For adults, ADHD-related hyperactivity may appear as extreme restlessness as the demands of adult life usually increase.
Sasha Hamdani (Author of Self-Care for People with ADHD: 100+ Ways to Recharge, De-Stress, and Prioritize You) has written, “People with ADHD have an unbridled sense of urgency about everything because if it isn't tackled immediately, it is likely to be forgotten or lost. Instead of being able to prioritize based on importance, we start tasks from what is easiest or most immediately engaging, thus making the rest of the process complicated and occasionally redundant. This is why it can be difficult to commence, continue, and conclude tasks without getting totally overwhelmed."
Around half of individuals with ADD/ADHD also have comorbid anxiety disorders, as highlighted by a National Institutes of Health study, emphasizing the importance of understanding the neural pathways in the co-occurrence of ADHD and anxiety. The study points out "The involvement of brain regions important for gating of information could suggest that measures of the combined presence of ADHD and anxiety may capture problems with filtering of information."
Individuals with ADHD may have difficulties with maintaining attention, executive function (the brain’s ability to prioritize and manage thoughts and actions) and working memory (they often forget important things). It all may cause difficulty at work and with keeping relationships as they forget things or may not be able to complete tasks as expected.
While those with ADHD typically tend to struggle in traditional academic and professional environments, they may often be more impulsive and creative due to hyperactivity and impulsivity.
How ADHD influences work results?
People with ADHD may have trouble paying attention and act without seeing or understanding what the result of their impulsive actions might be or how those actions influence others. Such people are often overly active and restless and demand more patience from colleagues and friends than others.
ADHD can have a significant impact on daily functioning, including occupational performance, social interactions and overall well-being.
Individuals with ADHD often experience higher levels of stress due to difficulties with keeping focus, leading their own attention at will or being able to stay calm. Due to this, they may feel overwhelmed by tasks as compared to others they easily lose focus as they struggle to keep their thoughts aligned or fail to regulate their emotions.
The importance of self-regulation
Self-regulation is challenging for people with ADHD, thus they typically demand support. Besides external support, awareness-based intrapersonal skills offer an inner support framework that allows them to manage their trance-like states when they are focused on something they’re passionate about. Without good self-leadership, they are more open to fatigue and burnout.
People with ADHD can thrive when their internal thoughts and external actions are aligned.
Arranging more ample opportunities for them to work independently can support their professional accomplishment. Only when their energy bursts and creativity are aligned can those people innovate and thrive. For example, Richard Branson has turned his ADHD-originated attention-seeking into an advertising power.
People with ADHD need thrills to get their drive going. For example, creative freedom or picking up entrepreneurship can offer more thrills than routine jobs.
Jenara Nerenberg (author of the Divergent Mind: Thriving in a World That Wasn't Designed for You) has said it well, “Despite what the words "attention deficit" imply, ADHD is not a deficit of attention, but rather a challenge of regulating it at will or on demand.”
Even though research supports the opinion that genetics plays a role in having or developing ADHD, there is an opportunity to milden ADHD by learning how our inner domain functions.
Learning to regulate different processes in your inner domain at will or on demand is the key here. Intrapersonal skills offer such regulatory powers.
Learning intrapersonal skills improves coping with ADHD
Learning intrapersonal skills supports the improvement of focus and allows one to understand how to lead attention.
Self-leadership and self-regulation skills improve coping with ADHD.
From first getting in touch with intrapersonal education to learning proper self-leadership may take longer for those with ADHD. While all Wellness Orbit online trainings are designed to improve focus and attention, those aren't designed to replace treatment or therapy.
All available online trainings on this website enables a better understanding of our own inner processes and thus improves mental wellness and can be successfully combined with treatment or therapy.
Stress and ADHD
Stress can often rapidly worsen ADHD symptoms.
When someone with ADHD experiences stress their automatic and quick "fight or flight" reaction may exacerbate their hyperactivity, impulsivity and distractibility. This can make it even more difficult to cope with stress. On this spot, we recommend taking the training "Performing Under Pressure" several times as lack of attention probably doesn't allow people with ADHD to pick up all the wisdom in it as fast as usual.
Stress can also lead to physical and emotional symptoms that can mimic ADHD symptoms, such as forgetfulness, distractibility, and difficulty with concentration. This can make it challenging to determine whether ADHD symptoms are truly present or are a result of stress. So, reducing stress is helpful and supports keeping a calm mind.
Actions to support employees with ADHD
As ADHD is a neurodivergent condition with behavioral symptoms like impulsiveness and hyperactivity, it is necessary to support such employees by an employer. First of all, ensure you have a policy on neuroinclusion and securing overall mental wellness in your workplace and talk to the employees with ADHD and see how they are feeling and how you can help them cope.
Take time to understand with the employee how their job affects their ADHD and how their ADHD affects their job. This truly matters.
Be willing to discuss what reasonable adjustments you can offer as an employer and agree with the employee on possible and reasonable adjustments that have the real power to benefit them. More than expensive measures, it is about minor adjustments and giving the person the needed attention to find individually productive and mental wellness-securing solutions.
Ensure you support the employees with ADHD as and when they require it and review and flexibly adjust working arrangements if and when you both deem it necessary. Also, provide training on general awareness on mental wellness to help the team’s knowledge and understanding.
Also, remember that people with ADHD may struggle with self-esteem, affecting their social interactions, but supporting them through kindness, encouragement, and recognizing their talents can help boost their confidence and improve relationships. Learning intrapersonal comes in handy here, as when self-leadership improves, intrapersonal skills can improve as well.
We recommend watching this video with Employment Law Solicitor Jodie Hill both when you have ADHD and when you as an employer need to help people who have ADHD.
Conclusion
Individuals with ADHD or low ability to keep focus must learn how to manage stress effectively to secure their mental wellness and improve their work results and relationships.
Individuals with ADHD can improve their life quality by learning and using practical intrapersonal skills.
We recommend having a quiet work environment as a supportive environmental condition. People with ADHD can thrive better when they are given more freedom and more creative jobs as routine tasks are hard for them.
We kindly remind you to seek support from a mental health professional and following agreed treatment patterns is wise when you have an ADHD diagnosis. Combining mental wellness training with such professional help has the power to support improving life quality as intrapersonal skills improve the ability to stay focused at work and also improve self-regulation.