Recognizing ADHD Support Needs
For people who have ADHD or who have trouble regulating focus, it can be helpful to understand that we may struggle with both over-stimulation or under-stimulation. Understanding our needs better can help us to work with an ADHD coach, ADHD Business Coach or Life Coach or find other ADHD support like an ADHD Executive coach or Somatic Coaching. How to find an ADHD Coach
Overstimulation happens when we are overwhelmed by our own internal sensory experience, such as that related to emotions, or we can be overstimulated by external sensory input.
For example, we can often feel overstimulated or overwhelmed when faced with a task that feels too large or difficult.
We can feel under-stimulated when we lack the sensory input needed to maintain our interest and focus. That sensory input could also be internal or external.
Asian creative business women are writing on sticky notes on glass wall while planning a project with colleague
For example, you may feel under-stimulated while listening to a lecturer with a really boring voice or to someone who is not particularly excited about what they are reading. The consequence of that for someone with ADHD is often that we are unlikely to be able to complete tasks when we are under-stimulated.
Dopamine seems to play an important role in regulating emotions and focus for most people, and ADHDers are thought to have a deficit of dopamine in the brain. And if you think about it, what types of stimulation offers a dopamine reward, it would be the following:
External Sensory Input
Pleasant sounds such as music or nature sounds
Other pleasant sensory experiences including tactile, smells or tastes
Green landscapes
Attractiveness to the eye
Pleasant colors
Internal Sensory Input
Doing tasks that are meaningful, that are interesting to us or that we value in some way
Appealing to our sense of competition
Doing things that make us feel positive emotions
Praise
Novelty
Coregulation with people or animals Try this tool!
Understanding what how over- or under-stimulation play a role can help you to better organize your day, optimize your focus and productivity, understand your support needs and tailor your life or work environment to meet you needs better. Don't just settle for buying another planner. Understanding more about ADHD can help you in ways that really work! Consider an ADHD Coaching or look for resources to find other ADHD support, like an ADHD Life Coach ADHD Business Coach or Somatic Coaching.
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