ADHD in parents is rising.
ADHD diagnoses are surging among older adults. Research by health care and data analytics company Truveta shows that ADHD diagnoses have been on the rise since 2021, but the increase has occurred only among people thirty or older – women especially.
Whether you were diagnosed as a child, or more recently, we understand that ADHD can have significant impacts on your daily life. Studio 5 Parenting Contributor Heather Johnson helped you understand your diagnosis more fully. Specifically through the lens of motherhood, because Heather believes mothers with ADHD have unique strengths that should be celebrated.
ADHD in Adults vs. Children
ADHD manifests differently in adults compared to children. While children may exhibit hyperactivity and an inability to sit still, adults, especially women, face challenges with time management, task management, restlessness, and impulsivity. These difficulties can interfere with daily responsibilities such as raising children, managing a household, or maintaining a job, Heather explained.
Navigating Parenting with ADHD
Parenting with ADHD can be particularly challenging. If one parent has ADHD and the other does not, it can lead to difficulties in communication and division of responsibilities. However, these differences can also complement each other, bringing balance to the family dynamic.
“An ADHD brain is going to be really good at bringing the novelty and the change and a non-ADHD brain is going to bring the stability and the security – the routine. When you bring those two parents together, you have everything you need,” Heather said.
The Emotional Impact of a Late Diagnosis
A late diagnosis of ADHD can bring relief as well as discomfort. Understanding the reasons behind past challenges can be liberating, but it can also lead to feelings of regret and concern about the future. Heather said, “When a mom is diagnosed and she can say, ‘Oh. Well, this makes so much more sense. This is why these things are challenging,’… but there’s also this other side, which feels kind of uncomfortable, where it’s, ‘Man, but look at all these things that have been hard, that I’ve missed out on, or haven’t handled appropriately.'”
Thriving as a Parent with ADHD
- Get Educated
Understanding ADHD and how it specifically affects you is crucial. This knowledge can help you manage your symptoms more effectively. “Understand it better. Do all that you can to understand how ADHD impacts you personally,” Heather encouraged.
- Normalize the Challenges
Recognize that everyone has challenges, and ADHD is just one of many. Normalizing these difficulties can make them easier to manage. Heather said, “We all have different ways of thinking… When we normalize it and keep it flat and recognize that everyone is dealing with different challenges… then my challenges become okay.”
- Celebrate Your Strengths
ADHD comes with unique strengths such as creativity, energy, and flexibility. Celebrating these strengths can shift your focus from weaknesses to what you bring to your family. “You are creative in beautiful ways. You have energy, sometimes energy over the top… You have a beautiful flexibility about you that is new and unique to that way of thinking,” Heather reminded.
- Support Your Weaknesses
Identify your weaknesses and find tools or strategies to manage them. This proactive approach can help you turn challenges into manageable tasks. For example, “What app do I need that gives me reminders about daily routines that I need to stick with? What can I do to better manage my time?”
You Can Do It!
Parenting with ADHD presents unique challenges, but with understanding, normalization, and celebration of strengths, it is possible to thrive. Heather hopes you’ll embrace the differences and work towards a balanced family dynamic.
çTo contact Heather for counseling, email blog.familyvolley@gmail.com, or visit www.familyvolley.blogspot.com
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