Hi Oana! I totally relate as someone who has dyslexia. The first thing I would say is that you say 'fixing it' but one thing that really helps me is to remember that your brain is not worse, or slower, or lazier, it simply works differently in a world that is only orientated to one kind of brain. A lot of energy will have been used on tr…
Hi Oana! I totally relate as someone who has dyslexia. The first thing I would say is that you say 'fixing it' but one thing that really helps me is to remember that your brain is not worse, or slower, or lazier, it simply works differently in a world that is only orientated to one kind of brain. A lot of energy will have been used on trying to adapt and conform to the world how it is as opposed to embracing your strengths and the way you work. For example, did you know our brains are not actually wired to work 9-5 hours. Research has actually shown the working week is unproductive as our brains are designed to work in shorter (more like 4 hour) chunks. You are allowed to feel angry about the time and opportunities lost due to a late diagnosis. Let yourself feel that anger because again, that will be draining you if you don't let yourself feel it. Suppressing anger takes energy, whereas actually feeling anger elicits energy because anger is the only negative emotion that creates energy. Instead of 'tricking' yourself, I want you to see it as you motivating yourself in different ways to others. Yes, you will have days where you are less productive than others but you will also have days you are more productive and if you allow yourself to not feel guilty on your unproductive days, that will allow you to maximise the time when you do feel focused. I would also say a big piece of removing the shame and guilt around it is you need to start looking at what it means you if you are less productive than others. We live in a world that emphasises productivity so much that sometimes we attach our self esteem to how much we can get done in a day and instead you need to build your self esteem around who you are as opposed to how much you do! I want you to start noticing all the benefits and positives that ADHD brings. Your brain does work differently, but as long as you compare it to how others work, you will only see the negatives. You will have strengths that others with ADHD won't have, just like I do with dyslexia. For example, I believe my dyslexia means my writing is so much more accessible to readers because for it to make sense in my brain, I have to make it simple and therefore people can learn from me because I keep it simple! Hope that helps and you've got this. Your diagnosis was only recent and you are currently still adjusting so let the dust settle and allow yourself to adapt to the new change! M xx
Hi Oana! I totally relate as someone who has dyslexia. The first thing I would say is that you say 'fixing it' but one thing that really helps me is to remember that your brain is not worse, or slower, or lazier, it simply works differently in a world that is only orientated to one kind of brain. A lot of energy will have been used on trying to adapt and conform to the world how it is as opposed to embracing your strengths and the way you work. For example, did you know our brains are not actually wired to work 9-5 hours. Research has actually shown the working week is unproductive as our brains are designed to work in shorter (more like 4 hour) chunks. You are allowed to feel angry about the time and opportunities lost due to a late diagnosis. Let yourself feel that anger because again, that will be draining you if you don't let yourself feel it. Suppressing anger takes energy, whereas actually feeling anger elicits energy because anger is the only negative emotion that creates energy. Instead of 'tricking' yourself, I want you to see it as you motivating yourself in different ways to others. Yes, you will have days where you are less productive than others but you will also have days you are more productive and if you allow yourself to not feel guilty on your unproductive days, that will allow you to maximise the time when you do feel focused. I would also say a big piece of removing the shame and guilt around it is you need to start looking at what it means you if you are less productive than others. We live in a world that emphasises productivity so much that sometimes we attach our self esteem to how much we can get done in a day and instead you need to build your self esteem around who you are as opposed to how much you do! I want you to start noticing all the benefits and positives that ADHD brings. Your brain does work differently, but as long as you compare it to how others work, you will only see the negatives. You will have strengths that others with ADHD won't have, just like I do with dyslexia. For example, I believe my dyslexia means my writing is so much more accessible to readers because for it to make sense in my brain, I have to make it simple and therefore people can learn from me because I keep it simple! Hope that helps and you've got this. Your diagnosis was only recent and you are currently still adjusting so let the dust settle and allow yourself to adapt to the new change! M xx