The Ultimate ADHD Gift For Adults With ADHD (2024)
Photo by freestocks.org on Unsplash
Published: December 12, 2024 (Thursday)
What could you possibly gift to about 366+ million adults with ADHD worldwide?
I’ve been asking myself that question.
At first, I thought of writing about the usual list of high-tech gadgets and tools that ADHDers can use to make their lives easier.
I even wrote one like that last year.
But, I felt something was amiss.
My heart has been heavy learning about the struggles of members of my online community about their ADHD.
I also read about similar struggles of other ADHDers across other platforms.
Many feel hopeless for a different reason than I expected:
People who know they have ADHD cannot get a diagnosis.
Many want to be diagnosed, but their countries have a long waitlist - some up to 3 to 8 years!
Imagine being in limbo with your life for eight long years (for both children and adults).
Many don’t have health insurance to cover a diagnosis.
Many don’t have money for a diagnosis.
Yet, we still hear false claims: “Everyone is getting diagnosed with ADHD!”
This is that rare time when I wish that were true.
[Self-Test: Could you have ADHD?]
Many need treatment but can’t get it without a diagnosis.
Many need accommodations at school or work but can’t get them without a diagnosis.
No diagnosis means no treatment, accommodations, resources, etc.
The problem is not that we have insufficient public awareness about ADHD.
Many are now aware of ADHD.
Many are talking about it.
Many are seeing it.
Many are experiencing it.
Yes, the information about ADHD could be better.
A new problem about ADHD has emerged, though.
And we must raise awareness about that, too.
The problem is not that people are unwilling to get help for themselves.
But that they cannot get it.
Parents who want to get their kids diagnosed cannot get it.
Adults who want to get diagnosed cannot get it.
People who need a diagnosis cannot get it.
Yes, I used the word “need” because it is a necessity for those struggling with ADHD, similar to needing food, air, and water.
I hear the cries of many.
They don’t know how to proceed with their lives.
They feel hopeless.
One of them even asked, “Am I doomed?”
That’s why I found myself writing something different than a typical blog post.
I wrote a letter instead to all adults with ADHD - both diagnosed and those who think they have ADHD but can’t get diagnosed.
This is the ultimate ADHD gift I can give to any adult with ADHD:
To my dear fellow ADHDer,
ADHD is not your fault.
ADHD cannot possibly be your fault because…
ADHD is 𝗕𝗜𝗢𝗟𝗢𝗚𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗟 (in your brain structure) and
ADHD is 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗬 (in your DNA).
This means…
ADHD does not have a cure.
ADHD cannot be outgrown (symptoms can go into remission).
That does NOT mean…
ADHD is an 𝗘𝗫𝗖𝗨𝗦𝗘 for your past behaviors or struggles.
Instead, ADHD is an 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 for your past… and future.
Luckily…
𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒊𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒕.
How can you change your future?
While ADHD is not your fault…
𝗔𝗖𝗖𝗘𝗣𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 your ADHD is your responsibility.
This means…
You must take the time to 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡 about your ADHD.
You can 𝗥𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗘 the unfavorable effects of ADHD in your life.
You can 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗣𝗦 to improve the underlying symptoms of your ADHD.
You can 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥 many things that can change your life for the better.
Doing all of these things is 𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗗.
I know.
I experienced all that for over 20 years after I was first diagnosed with ADHD.
Now, I’m a thriving ADHD Mom raising two compassionate human beings.
How did I 𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗩𝗜𝗩𝗘 and 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗩𝗘?
By doing all of the things I mentioned above 𝗣𝗟𝗨𝗦…
𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒑 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉𝒔,
𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒚 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔,
𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑 𝒎𝒆 𝒅𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕, 𝒕𝒐𝒐.
I didn’t do it alone.
So this holiday…
I invite you to give yourself the 𝗕𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗚𝗜𝗙𝗧 an ADHDer could have 🎁…
𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗚𝗜𝗩𝗘 your Past Self.
𝗔𝗖𝗖𝗘𝗣𝗧 who you are today as you understand yourself to be.
And move forward with 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡…
𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗦 who may not understand who you truly are…
And compassion for 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 - 𝗬𝗢𝗨.
Happy holidays. ☃️❄️⛄
I appreciate you 🙏,
Katherine
CLOSING REFLECTIONS
If you want to do something kind this holiday, gift this letter to any other ADHDer you know.
Forward it, copy, paste, or plagiarize it as your own.
The message is what’s important.