ADHD Empowerment Month: Latest News

Rachel Feinstein finds herself in some ridiculous situations courtesy of her ADHD. Because she’s been gifted with a razor-sharp sense of humor, she takes these unlikely, sometimes absurd moments and turns them into comedy gold in her stand-up routine.Rachel is a nationally touring comedian and actress whose newest hour-long comedy special, Big Guy, is now streaming on Netflix, where it premiered in the Top 10.

When solving a particularly sticky problem, it helps if your brain is adept at divergent thinking — that is, generating original ideas by considering diverse and unprecedented possibilities.Unsurprisingly, neurodivergent brains tend to be aces at divergent thinking. Folks with ADHD tend to think fast, dream big, and innovate solutions that are totally unexpected and brilliant, making them perfect people to turn to when there’s a problem that stumps everyone else.From software snafus to construction conundrums, tough problems are no match for ADHD brains. Here, ADDitude readers share their problem-solving success stories.“When I was buying a new mattress, the sales person told me I needed to rotate it top to bottom, once a month.

“My ADHD curiosity sends me down rabbit holes that cost me on occasion but, wow, the things I learn.” — John, FloridaThe ADHD mind is not satisfied with ‘what’ and ‘where.’ As one reader told us, “I am a solution detective, always driven by the ‘why’ and the ‘how.’” And that natural intellectual curiosity regularly unlocks innovation.Here’s how ADDitude readers answered our question, “How has your (or your child’s) curious ADHD brain fueled innovation, exploration, and/or opportunity?”Share your own stories of where ADHD curiosity has taken you in the comments section!“My child’s curiosity has fueled her soccer progression. She wants to know the ‘how’ and ‘why’ for every play, making her the best strategist on the field.” — An ADDitude Reader“I saw a queue of people with instruments in Glasgow, Scotland. I couldn’t not ask what was going on! Turns out it was open auditions for a TV show, which I joined and went on to win. Completely serendipitous, but that seems to happen to me a lot.

Credit: Hayley Wall, illustratorArt is Hayley Wall’s love language. Since Wall was a young child, she has found her footing as a communicator through drawing.

My 9-year-old son has always been a firework, from the very second of his surprise existence. If my pregnancy test could have displayed two zigzags instead of straight lines, it would have.He has never followed the path well-trodden. Instead, he has swung from the trees shadowing its path, spinning and tumbling over it like a Ferris wheel free from its hinges.

LIVE WEBINAR WITH KIM & PENN HOLDERNESSRegister for this free webinar on Tuesday, October 1, and get an opportunity to ask your questions to Kim & Penn Holderness live. Plus, get the replay link to share.I have a pretty cool job.A few years ago, I was sitting in an office at Velcro International. They needed a creative ad that would persuade their customers to stop calling their product Velcro.Yes, you read that right.I learned the product they sell is actually called Hook and Loop, not Velcro.

Simone Biles is the most decorated American gymnast ever and arguably the greatest American gymnast of all time. In 2022, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom — becoming the youngest person at the time to receive the nation's highest civilian honor.When hackers leaked confidential medical records about her use of prescription drugs, she said, according to ESPN, “I have ADHD and have taken medication for it since I was a child… having ADHD, and taking medication for it is nothing to be ashamed of nothing that I’m afraid to let people know.” Bravo for normalizing the condition, Simone!Irish actor Barry Keoghan always suspected that he had ADHD, but it wasn't diagnosed until he was in his late twenties.

Disorder. Condition. Impairment.

These insights on living and (mostly) thriving with ADHD from the Holderness Family will make you laugh, nod in agreement, and feel a little more understood.If you could pay a visit to your childhood self, what words of affirmation, advice, or messages of self-love would you impart? ADDitude readers respond here.“What if my intense drive is because of — not in spite of — my ADHD?” asks Tracy Otsuka, JD

When my son Markus was diagnosed with ADHD at the age 12, I met with a psychologist to learn more about it. Instead of answering my questions, she told me to scale down my very ambitious son’s expectations so he wouldn’t be disappointed in life. Who would ever tell a child that? Not me.

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We hear a lot about the challenges that ADHD dumps on the backs of those who live with it, and how tough it is to bear the weight of these struggles sometimes. Seldom discussed are the strengths and abilities that ADHD brings — like being incredibly resourceful, resilient, and clever problem solvers.So we asked ADDitude readers to put their creative ADHD brains to work by brainstorming the most important lessons they’ve learned about living well with ADHD.

When my husband and I published a book called ADHD is Awesome we knew we’d have some explaining to do. After all, so much of ADHD is not… awesome. We used the word for its true meaning.

This October, ADDitude is shifting the focus from ADHD awareness to empowerment. From educating others to lifting up our own community.

Rebecca Makkai is a New York Times bestselling author whose books have been translated into more than 20 languages. She is a Pulitzer Prize and a National Book Award finalist.

During perimenopause and menopause, many women experience cognitive changes that mimic and may be confused with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD). But how do the hormonal changes of menopause uniquely affect women who have ADHD? The science, unfortunately, is simply not there.

September 21, 2024This October, ADDitude is shifting the focus from ADHD awareness to empowerment. From educating others to lifting up our own community. From seeking external acceptance to celebrating self-knowledge.