How To Make Life Work When You Or A Loved One Has ADHD
ADHD is recognized by all major medical associations and government health agencies, as a “real” medical condition.
It is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder and it has been documented for over 200 years.
Despite these facts, ADHD remains under-recognized and under-diagnosed in Canada.
And although there is increased awareness overall, when many people think of ADHD they often think of a hyperactive little boy, who is unable to focus, is impulsive and struggles with behavioural difficulties.
And while there are different sub-types of ADHD, it essentially involves difficulties with executive functioning in the brain.
A simple definition for executive functioning would be cognitive abilities that are needed to achieve goals, and when it comes to ADHD, there are 6 main areas that are typically affected.
Very briefly, the first area is activation, which involves the ability to get started on a task.
This can be particularly difficult if the task is considered boring.
The second aspect is focus, as in maintaining focus and shifting focus to a new task when needed.
This can be particularly challenging when the task is monotonous.
If the task is considered highly interesting, there can be a tendency to “hyperfocus” and the person with ADHD can find it difficult to stop.
The third skill is effort, as in sustaining effort over a long period of time, as there can be a tendency to lose motivation and extra energy is required to continue with the task.
The fourth skill involves managing emotions.
With executive functioning challenges, there can be a tendency to feel overwhelmed, which can lead to difficulties with emotion regulation, as well as feelings of anxiety, anger and depression.
The fifth skill involves using working memory and accessing recall.
Working memory is the ability to hold one thing in your mind and remember it, while doing something else, which can be highly challenging, especially when attempting to complete schoolwork or multi-task at work.
And the sixth and final skill is being able to monitor and effectively regulate your own actions.
So, there is so much more to ADHD than most people realize and these 6 areas of executive functioning aren’t the only areas of functioning that can be compromised.
Needless to say, difficulties with managing ADHD can lead to challenges in many areas, such as socializing, home life and school/work.
So, it’s important to understand what ADHD is, what areas of daily functioning it can negatively impact and how to effectively manage these difficulties for yourself or a loved one.
Key topics covered in this free workshop include:
- Understand what ADHD is and how it differs from Autism
- What the current research says about the brains of people with ADHD
- Learn more about executive functioning and how difficulties can negatively impact daily functioning, such as socializing, home life and school/work
- Discover strategies you can use to better manage ADHD symptoms in different areas of life to be able to help yourself or a loved one
- Q & A session
- And much more!
When: Thursday, Oct 10, 2024
Time: 7:00 – 8:30pm
Where: Online (via Zoom)
Cost: Free
This free 1.5 hour workshop will be presented by Peter Senften, MSc (Clinical Psychology Doctoral Resident)
To register: Please call us at 807-768-0660 or toll free at 888-2690237