Destigmatising ADHD medication
Given how conversations around neurodivergence have moved more into the mainstream, most people will be familiar with the term “ADHD”, and will know that it is a neuro-developmental disorder. But for all the word has appeared more frequently in day to day conversations, ADHD remains commonly misunderstood.
I know from my own professional interacts how often people make assumptions about the way my brain works based on those four little letters, without ever actually considering my personal experience of the condition.
Having ADHD is like my “brain is switching between thirty different channels simultaneously and somebody else has the remote.” (ADHD coach, Brett Thornhill).” It is not that I am “not trying hard enough”, or that I just need to “be more disciplined” and “focus more”. I physically can’t.
That’s where medication can help: how amazing is it that treatment is widely available for those who need it? So why then is it still stigmatised? Taking stimulant medication to treat ADHD is sometimes seen as "cheating", or - to the ill-informed - "basically taking meth". These lazy and insensitive attitudes create a stigma that causes many people to resist taking something that could help them.
When I take medication, I can recognise fundamental, visible and measurable differences in my brain. It’s a life-long diagnosis, impacting executive function of my brain such as:
Organising, prioritising, activating for work.
Focusing, sustaining and shifting attention to tasks.
Regulating alertness, sustaining effort and processing speed.
Managing frustration and regulating emotions.
Utilising working memory and accessing recall.
Monitoring and self-regulating behaviour.
For all the challenges ADHD can cause, it’s also very manageable: through therapy, coaching, meditation, exercise, and…yes, stimulant medication. Medication is no silver bullet cure. You still have to work a lot. And work hard! Stimulant medication just helps me, and 80% of people with ADHD, enormously.
So let’s say it together:
IT IS OKAY to take medication ‼️
IT IS OKAY to seek out advice to help with your mental health ‼️
If you’re struggling to manage your ADHD alongside your job, or you're a business owner or team leader looking to create a more neuroaffirmative working culture, I’m here to help. I offer coaching to help neurodivergent individuals advocate for their needs within the professional environment.
If you’d like to learn more about how I can support you, you can book in for a free thirty-minute kick off conversation. I’m looking forward to talking soon!