Today kicks off the 1st of our “10 days, 10 ways you can Shimmer” campaign, where you’ll get a ton of resources, tips & freebies!
Today we’ll do a brief introduction to ADHD & explore the theme: ADHD Community.
What is ADHD?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is considered a neurodevelopmental disorder. In short, that means the brain develops differently over the lifespan. While it’s typically discovered in childhood, some groups - such as womxn and BIPOC - are significantly overlooked due to differences in symptoms and presentation, and may not be diagnosed until adulthood.
Some of the most common symptoms of ADHD include difficulty with attention/focus, fidgeting or difficulty sitting still, impulsivity and emotional regulation. About 80% of adults with ADHD also have one or more other mental health diagnoses, such as depression or anxiety disorders.
ADHD is still not fully understood, but there are a variety of treatments for both children and adults. Depending on each individual’s unique symptoms and life stage, they might benefit from a combination of treatments such as medication, lifestyle adjustments like diet and exercise, counseling or psychotherapy, and coaching.
What Does That Mean for Me?
If you suspect you have ADHD, or have recently been diagnosed, you may experience a range of emotions. You may feel relieved, scared, angry, confused, or alone. These emotions are all normal and valid. The good news is, you’re not alone! Nearly three percent of the word’s population has ADHD. For reference, that’s almost double the number of people with red hair!
A diagnosis of ADHD doesn’t have to mean anything in particular. Everyone’s experience is unique. You may decide to make changes in your life or goals, or you may decide it doesn’t make much difference, and you’re happy keeping things the same. Here are a few questions to consider:
- Are there challenges in your life that you would like to address in therapy, or with an ADHD coach?
- Would you like to pursue medication?
- Who’s in your corner? Are there people you can talk to about these things without judgement?
Whatever you decide, welcome to the beautifully diverse ADHD community, and happy ADHD Awareness Month!
A note & freebies from our partners
For day 1, our partners are ADDA and Flow Club. Hear from them about why the ADHD community is important:
Join our newsletter to get the following freebies from our partners:
- ADDA: 2 months of free membership to ADDA
- Flow Club: 1 month of free Flow Club membership
Thank you for tuning in, and remember to keep an eye out the next 10 days for more resources, tips, and freebies!
With love,
The Shimmer Team
Thank you to our partners: ADDA & Michelle Price (ADDA, Director), Flow Club & Ricky Yean (Flow Club, Founder & CEO)
And to our content team: Noelle Daoire (Shimmer, ADHD Coach), and Molisha Shah (Shimmer, Founders Associate)