October is ADHD Awareness Month | What is it & how do I get involved?

What is ADHD Awareness Month?

ADHD Awareness Month happens every October. ADHD Awareness Month's goal is to raise awareness, correct misunderstandings, and highlight the shared experiences of the ADHD community.

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Why is it important?

• It’s huge: It affects ~5% of adults and ~10% of children worldwide
• It’s misunderstood: There’s still so much we don’t understand about ADHD, and the empirical data is limited. Populations missing from most studies on symptoms, diagnosis, medication, and treatment include: womxn, adults, BIPOC community, and more
• It can be messy: ADHD co-occurs with other conditions & challenges. “In childhood, oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder are e.g. frequently occurring with ADHD. In adulthood, mood and anxiety disorders, but also substance use disorders are found most often.” —ADDA
• It can be beautiful: Although ADHD comes with many negative symptoms (which are more well known), it also comes with many superpowers: creativity, energy, empathy, out-of-the-box thinking

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Where can I learn more?

Here are some resources to get you started:

• ADDA, CHADD, and ACO’s ADHD Awareness Month website: Here
• ADDitude’s Guide to ADHD Awareness Month 2022 (theme: exploring Complex ADHD): Here
• Watch The Disruptors Film: Here — Get your friends & family to watch it together!

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What can I do to celebrate?

1. Get involved! There are several non-profits to donate to or volunteer with - you can check out CHADD or ADDA for starters.
2. Do some reading. Especially if you don’t have ADHD yourself, one of the best things you can do for a loved one is to learn more about it, and how you can help.
3. Listen! Something else you can do for a friend or family member with ADHD is learn more about their experience, from them, without judgment. Remember, don’t offer advice unless it’s asked for.
4. Spread awareness. If you have ADHD, your voice is SO important in the world. We are excellent problem-solvers with creativity and passion. Let’s show them how we Shimmer!

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What is Shimmer doing to celebrate ADHD Awareness Month?

ADHD Awareness Month is about US. Yes, our experiences are painted by ADHD, but we are also so much more than just our ADHD. So, we’ve planned 10 days of celebrating being a full, thriving human—with ADHD.

Introducing… 10 days, 10 ways you can Shimmer.

Starting on October 10th for 10 days, each day we’ll be partnering with incredible community organizations, wellness services & products, and ADHD experts to bring you awareness, education and FREEBIES (yes, we said freebies!).

Here is a sneak preview of the themes and partners…

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A massive thank you to our community partners: ADDA, Flow Club, ADHD Rewired Podcast, CaveDay, ADHD Money, Sequin, Cultiveit, Zen, Ruth Health, Mina Health, Illuminate Universe, Letters to Strangers, Humans Anonymous, Asian Mental Health Project, Goodie Nation, Minwo, Gaingels, Parallel Learning, Joon, Agape, and 2 of our Shimmer Coaches: Xenia Angevin & Noelle Daoire

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How do I get the freebies?

Join the waitlist (if you have ADHD & are looking for ADHD coaching) or newsletter, before 10.10. Awareness & education content will be shared widely but freebies will be shared through e-mail!

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Curious about Shimmer's ADHD coaching?

Join our waitlist for early access!