Unfortunately, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is often misunderstood in society; but it’s crucial to see that individuals with ADHD are not broken or lazy, their minds are simply wired differently, and it’s perfectly natural to celebrate such difference. After all, the world is filled with such unique and interesting individuals who all think and feel in their own unique way, and that’s what makes the tapestry of life so rich and rewarding.
As an ambassador for the Autoimmune Support And Awareness Foundation, I have had the honour of hosting an ADHD awareness campaign with influencers from Sintillate Talent to encourage discussion on social media around ADHD. Let’s take a closer look…
The “Different” In ADHD
- Neurodiversity: Just as we have different eye colours and hair textures, our brains also exhibit incredible diversity. ADHD is one expression of this neurodiversity, of which there are many.
- Unique Strengths: Individuals with ADHD often possess unique strengths:
- Creativity and Innovation: Hyperfocus can lead to bursts of intense creativity and the ability to think outside the box. I can personally spend an entire day working on a project without noticing it’s dark outside and the day has ended, or forgetting to eat because I’m so caught up in what I’m doing.
- Intense Curiosity: A driving force of exploration and a thirst for knowledge. As a child I loved education, and as an adult I study annually because I have an insatiable thirst for knowledge and understanding of the world.
- Passion and Enthusiasm: A deep passion for their interests can fuel remarkable dedication and drive. I turned one of my hobbies into a business which hit six-figures in its first year!
- Problem-Solving: The ability to think flexibly and find unconventional solutions. As a mother I’m always thinking on my toes, coming up with plans A, B, C and beyond, as it helps me to have a can-do attitude and be resourceful when challenges occur.
The Harm Of “Masking”
Many individuals with ADHD spend years “masking” – trying to suppress their natural tendencies to fit in. I get it, nobody wants to be labelled as the odd one out or made to feel like they don’t fit in, but equally, pretending to be something that you’re not -to try to please others or avoid judgement- is tiring. It’s like trying to sail the ocean in a chocolate canoe, it can’t last!
Masking ADHD can lead to:
- Burnout and Exhaustion: Constant self-control is incredibly draining. Fighting and suppressing your thoughts, feelings, emotions and bodily responses is beyond exhausting and doesn’t solve the issue itself.
- Anxiety and Depression: Feeling like you don’t belong or are constantly failing can take a significant toll on mental health. I often compare this to a duck on a pond, on the surface it looks calm and relaxed, but beneath the water its paddling its little feet like crazy just to stay afloat. The harder we fight just to look like we’re “ok” the less energy we have for other things such as being at ease, catching up with friends or having a relaxing day doing things that we enjoy.
- Low Self-Esteem: Believing you are inherently broken can severely impact self-worth. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being unique; millions of people across the world live with ADHD, whether they’ve been diagnosed or not, so you’re not alone in feeling different. It’s more than ok to be you.
Embracing Individuality
The key here is to love, embrace and accept the “different” in ADHD. This means:
- Self-Acceptance: Acknowledge your unique strengths and challenges. A personal strength of mine is having bags of enthusiasm to try new things and multi-tasking, but sometimes I can do so much at once that I become forgetful, burn out and make mistakes which is a challenge that I try to be aware of and consciously slow myself down to become more mindful of what I’m doing in the present moment.
- Finding Your Own Rhythm: Develop strategies and routines that work for your brain. I have a white board where I make lists and reminders of every task and deadline throughout my day. My calendar is always in view and I set reminders and timers to keep me on track when I would otherwise be at risk from distractions.
- Building a Supportive Network: Surround yourself with people who understand and accept you for who you are. The more open and honest we are about the reality of our life, the sooner our loved ones, friends and colleagues can truly understand and support us.
- Advocating for Change: Creating a more inclusive and understanding society for all neurodiverse individuals is key. Being able to participate in social media awareness campaigns, checking in with friends, families and colleagues and watching awareness videos online help us to better understand our own minds as well as have patience, kindness and acceptance for others.
The Autoimmune Support And Awareness Foundation + Sintillate Talent ADHD Awareness Campaign
Fashion plays a key part in social media, so I decided the best way to visually represent difference of the mind was to use an outfit styled in a variety of different ways. The same outfit, with small differences show side by side, allows us to visually represent that neither version is superior or inferior to the other, just unique, like our beautiful minds.
This upbeat and positive content provides an instantly recognisable spot-the-difference challenge, which doesn’t cause either outfit to have anything missing or deficient, but simply suggest an alternative option. In making this visual fashion connection, and sharing information about ADHD within an awareness campaign, I hope that it triggers a penny drop moment for those who may have previously considered ADHD to be a negative or undesirable condition or disability that they wish they didn’t have, or felt ashamed of and hid from others.
The Autoimmune Support And Awareness Foundation have very kindly created easy-to-share information regarding ADHD which I hope that you may feel inspired to copy and paste from here to share on your own social media platforms or with friends and family.
What is ADHD?
-Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition characterised by:
-Inattention: Difficulty focusing and staying organised.
-Hyperactivity: Excessive movement or restlessness.
-Impulsivity: Acting without thinking or interrupting.
Challenges Faced:
-Academic and Work: Trouble staying organized and meeting deadlines.
-Relationships: Struggles with impulsivity and emotional regulation.
-Mental Health: Higher risk of anxiety and depression.
The Bottom Line: Understand ADHD as a difference, not a deficit.
-We are all genetically different, and so are all our brains.
-Some people are more sensitive, some are more artistic, and some find science or languages easy to learn and understand.
-People with ADHD have the same brains; however, different areas are more active than in other individuals.
-People with ADHD tend to have a higher brain wave ratio between the two common brain waves — theta and beta — compared to people without ADHD.
ADHD Stats:
-Affects approximately 8–10% of children and 4–5% of adults globally.
-The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) estimates that 3-4% of adults in the UK have ADHD.
-The Global Prevalence of ADHD in Children is estimated to be around 5%.
-These numbers are higher as many are still waiting for a diagnosis, have been misdiagnosed, or have not even gone for an assessment.
-Our Aim Is To Educate: At schools, workplaces, amongst friends and families, and in the public
-We aim to debunk myths, explain the science, and encourage empathy and support for individuals with ADHD.
ADHD Link To Autoimmunity:
-Studies suggest that people with ADHD might be more likely to have autoimmune conditions.
-This could be because inflammation from autoimmune disorders affects brain function and behaviour.
-Inflammation Impact: High levels of inflammation in the body can impact neurotransmitters, which help transmit signals in the brain. This could potentially lead to symptoms like those seen in ADHD.
-Both ADHD and autoimmune disorders may have genetic factors, and environmental factors (like stress or exposure to toxins) could play a role in increasing the risk of both conditions.
A Call For Understanding
Ultimately, a truly balanced society embraces diversity in all of its forms, like a beautiful wild flower meadow filled with blossom and blooms in every colour of the rainbow. We must move beyond the “deficit” box of disability and recognise that differences in thinking and feeling are not weaknesses, but rather valuable contributions to the human experience, which we may all benefit greatly from when sharing our reality openly and honestly.
So, let’s celebrate neurodiversity and build a world that values and supports all individuals, regardless of how their brains are wired. Remember, we are all unique and deserving of understanding and acceptance.
Wherever you are in the world, and whatever part of your life journey you are on, whether you have and ADHD diagnosis already, suspect you may have it or know somebody who does; I welcome you to take part in raising awareness for ADHD through fashion. Let us be a collective voice of acceptance and understanding, help to share information and raise awareness to educate and inform others so that nobody feels the need to mask or be ashamed for being an individual. Thank you x
