The Gifts of ADHD

My life has been touched by ADHD in so many ways — from siblings, to nieces, to daughters, to clients! (And….I may have a little of it myself!) It became a specialty of mine, mostly because I could recognize it so easily. But one of the best things about knowing people with ADHD is that there are sooo many positive traits associated with it.

Yes, there are the struggles of having difficulty paying full attention; some people are scattered and feel like they want to always jump from one thing to the next; some people forget things— like appointments, keys, laptops, or what time they were supposed to meet you for coffee. And some just run out of energy faster than “normal” because their brain has worked so hard all day with all the of the executive functions skills to keep life organized, be on time, and get work done or the kids to their activities, that they are exhausted and fall asleep on the couch at 8:03pm. I do not want to discount these struggles because, depending on how severe your ADHD symptoms are, these struggles can truly be disruptive to your life, your work, and your relationships.

But here I want to share and acknowledge some of the strengths that people with ADHD can have, that makes them fun, unique and exciting to know!

  • Sensitivity or Deep feelings and emotional processing — You probably already know what I am talking about if you know someone with ADHD or have it yourself. Neurodivergent people have a remarkable ability to emotionally sense and respond to things that others cannot see, feel, or notice. This makes them sensitive to their surroundings, and can get their feelings hurt easily, but the plus side is being able to intuit and empathize in ways that make others feel truly seen and heard. This is a quality that is valuable in a partner, best friend, and/ or parent because this is the person you want to talk with, have understand you, and love you in such a deep and powerful way.

  • Creative, right brain, funny — I sometimes wonder if artists have ADHD, or if people with ADHD are great artists. Who knows? But I do know that most people I meet that have ADHD have some time of creativity intertwined in their being! Some are closet artists, whose anxiety gets the best of them and they don’t want to expose their talents. Others were raised by parents who thought “practical” careers make more sense in life (yep, that was why I became an accountant out of college) and creativity is left for hobbies and fun, outside of work. But those with ADHD, who embraced their creativity and artistry and went on to live their life expressing it, have blessed us in unimaginable ways. Think of your hairstylist, your favorite painter, musician or chef! Or maybe you work with someone who has amazing ideas popping into their head at random that have helped your department or your company think outside the box when moving forward on projects. Like I said, not all creative people have ADHD, but find me a person with ADHD who is not creative or artistic in some way, and I will bet my money you will have trouble.

  • Lots of energy (I wish I had this one!). Those on the hyperactive side of things, and maybe with some extroversion thrown in — can be the life of the party. They can be incredibly energetic, love to hike, run and have fun all day long. They are energizer bunnies and can bring incredible fun and stamina to anything they are involved with. Often, I find that in couples, the non-ADHD partner was very attracted to these qualities in the beginning of the relationship — the spontaneity, the fun, the excitement. And I encourage couples to not forget to highlight these qualities in their relationships, when some of the struggles of ADHD present themselves day to day!

  • Thirst for knowledge and willing to figure it out! — From your ER doctor to your accountant and computer guru, if these people in your circle have ADHD, you know they know their stuff. Their desire to learn, to hyperfocus, and to solve the problem are qualities that make a person with ADHD in these fields tenacious and extremely effective. There is often an uncanny ability to go beyond the extra mile to get it right and “figure it out” and you want them on your side.

    These are only a few of the many gifts of the person who has ADHD. Having a person with ADHD in your life can be fun and exciting, and our world, our companies, and our communities are blessed if they recognized more neurodiverse people!

I work with people who are neurodiverse, mostly those that suspect they have ADHD or have been diagnosed already! I understand the unique strengths and struggles and would love to help! Check out my webpages here and here!

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An Oregon Therapist’s Guide to Understanding ADHD in Women: Strengths, Struggles, and How to Thrive