Summer vibes
I hope you are all enjoying July!!
Here are a few new of my favourite things to relax
New podcast featuring Dr Jessica Eccles, who I am a huge fan of. https://link.chtbl.com/Anna “It can’t just be me” Podcast by Anna Richardson, episode 13 (Do I have ADHD?) To learn more about Shaparak’s ADHD journey, you can read her book Scatterbrain, available in all good bookshops. And you can find out more information about Dr Eccles’ research at @drbendybrain.
Key messages
- Focus mate http://focusmate.com– Body doubling on zoom. Book ADHD 2.0 by Ed Hallowell (see my page) https://adhdasdinfo.com/keyprofessionals/ – note these are not sponsored links- People with ADHD have difficulty conceptualising time. “now” vs. “not now.” Having someone in the background can make all the difference.
- You are perfectly capable to complete tasks. The environment needs to be right. It will make a huge difference if a friend can sit alongside you help them do a task, rather than take over the task.
- You do not need an official diagnosis in order to request reasonable adjustments.
- Explain to people around you that even though you love them, you do need time for yourself.
- Make time for yourself every day- either exercise, meditation, write down in a diary, doodle, draw mandalas, daydream.
- Make a decision to have an early night as opposed to go out late- you will appreciate it the following day.
Great post by Laura Spence, who challenges the journalists claiming that ADHD is being over-diagnosed in women in 20s and 30s. She also quotes a police constable at Metropolitan police who counter-argues “imagine if the (newspaper name) reported on how effective ADHD medication was in reducing crime?” Unlike boys, who often display symptoms of impulsivity in childhood, girls tend to blend in and not cause any issues in class. It is a hard journey to self-diagnosis and then clinical diagnosis of ADHD, among women. In contrast, teenage girls and young women often receive antidepressants for anxiety and low mood, as well as labels such as personality disorders. Emotional sensitivity is not among the diagnostic criteria of ADHD, but is a core feature of people with ADHD.
http://nhsbsa.nhs.uk/ Annual summary of medications per category.
New LinkedIn post by IoPPN showcasing research on how women are affected by ADHD differently likely because of the effect of their hormones. https://buff.ly/3DbWADd
“The project, entitled ‘A life course approach to understanding ADHD among women’, will investigate what features characterise girls who show ADHD for the first time in adulthood, whether ADHD symptoms increase for some girls in adolescence, and whether hormonal changes associated with the menstrual cycle worsen symptoms for women with ADHD. This project will collect information from women with ADHD about ADHD symptoms, medication and problems, such as low mood, via daily questionnaires on their smartphones and a promising wearable called the ŌURA ring.”
Great podcast by Jessica Kidwell on Neuroversity pod (available wherever you get your podcasts from) Defying the Odds: How Ellen Busch Turned Her Dyslexia to Her Advantage. Extremely interesting interview with a woman who was diagnosed with dyslexia in early years of primary school, at a time when dyslexia was thought to be synonymous with low IQ. With the support of her parents, she defied the prospects of low educational attainment made by the administrators at her school, and went on to become a paramedic, achieve an MBA (masters in business administration) and write a book.
“Meet Ellen Busch, an inspiring memoirist whose lived experience with dyslexia has transformed her into a strong advocate for neurodiversity. In her memoir, Disempowered: How I Turned an Academic Death Sentence into My Life’s Greatest Adventure, Ellen recounts the struggles she faced throughout her education and how she eventually earned not only a bachelor’s degree in Health Science but also an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University. As a former EMT and adventurer with hobbies ranging from scuba diving to skiing, Ellen is determined to uplift other dyslexic individuals and help them embrace their unique strengths.”
That’s all for now, I will be back soon, enjoy the sun!