Reflections on ADHD Empowerment Month

Twenty years ago, the U.S. Senate established a national ADHD Awareness Day to spur greater understanding of the condition that affects an estimated 7 million children (11.4%) and 8.7 million adults (10%) in the U.S. ^{1 2} Over time, ADHD Awareness Day became a month-long observance focused on an external mission: dispelling myths, disseminating truths, and advocating for support among neurotypical populations. The campaign was a success. Virtually everyone now knows about ADHD.

This is why ADDitude shifted the focus inward this October, from awareness to empowerment. From educating others to celebrating our individuality. From pursuing external understanding to embracing internal acceptance. Each day of ADHD Empowerment Month, ADDitude highlighted a different ADHD attribute through stories told by our readers. You said ADHD is creativity. ADHD is curiosity. ADHD is solving problems. ADHD is resilience. And so much more.

Perhaps you’ll relate to a few of the vibrant reflections on ADHD here, and to many more at additu.de/empowered

Disorder. Condition. Impairment. These descriptors are debatable — and woefully inadequate in capturing the lived experience of ADHD. So we asked ADDitude readers to describe the essence of ADHD in their own words at: additu.de/colors

“ADHD is a kaleidoscope. I see, hear, and think in stereo. The beauty of ADHD is how my mind endlessly sees and hears things others around me can’t.” – Jon, United Kingdom

"The brilliance of ADHD is that our minds and talents can be a playground. ‘Not possible’ isn’t a thing when something captures our interest. Want to learn how to build furniture? Done. Make macarons? Sure. Run a marathon? Got it. We absolutely thrive when we can chase the dopamine high associated with our areas of interest.” – Suzanne, Tennessee | additu.de/playful

Wisdom is the hard-won result of experience. There are no shortcuts. But if you could time travel back to speak with your childhood self, what advice would you offer that tiny, still unformed version of yourself? ADDitude readers told us here: additu.de/innovative

Be kind. Especially to yourself. It will feel rebellious, maybe even dangerous, but you must try.” – Laura, Louisiana

I have always wanted to know how, what, where, and why things work. Over the course of my life, I have learned how to restore and play old violins, sing, lead a choir, write music and poetry, sculpt, draw, paint, collect and categorize insects, ride and train horses, raise peafowl and chickens, grow a garden, grow trees, and the list goes on and on. Everything is fascinating!” – Kathleen, Arizona | additu.de/curiosity

ADHD is often tied to sensation-seeking, risk-taking, and impulsive behaviors. Sometimes, this quest for adrenaline not only unlocks a fulfilled life, but serves the greater good: additu.de/wild

“In my youth, I became an instructor for the Air Cadets so I could go flying, gliding, and firing rifles.”– Lynda, United Kingdom

“I’m a flight paramedic, so I combine flying in a helicopter with emergency medicine. I love it, and I’m extremely good at it.” – An ADDitude reader, Colorado

“I have fallen on my face so many times over the years, but each time, I climb back up and get a little more success — money, lifestyle, health, etc. I have ‘endurance’ tattooed on my back (I should add ‘resilience’).” – Angie, Virginia | additu.de/resilient

Admittedly, ADHD brains do not typically excel at making and following through with plans. But they can expertly pivot, devise ingenious solutions on the fly, and infuse their work with passion: additu.de/spontaneity

“I wrote a poem for my parents’ 25th wedding anniversary in the bathroom of the banquet hall 20 minutes before the toast. It was so well received that my parents still gush about it 30 years later!” – Beth, Colorado

“I kept getting fired from everything — waitressing, bartending. Then I started nannying for this 5-year-old boy with autism… It was the first successful experience I had with following something through. He taught me a lot more than I taught him.” – Rachel Feinstein, stand-up comic with ADHD |  additu.de/funny

ADHD Awareness Empowerment Month: Next Steps

• Free Calendar: 31 Days of ADHD Empowerment
• Read: What Does ADHD Mean to You?
• Read: Famous People with ADHD

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Sources

¹Danielson, M. L., Claussen, A. H., Bitsko, R. H., Katz, S. M., Newsome, K., Blumberg, S. J., Kogan, M. D., & Ghandour, R. (2024). ADHD Prevalence Among U.S. Children and Adolescents in 2022: Diagnosis, Severity, Co-Occurring Disorders, and Treatment. Journal of clinical child and adolescent psychology : the official journal for the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, American Psychological Association, Division 53, 53(3), 343–360. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2024.2335625

²Schein, J., Adler, L. A., Childress, A., Gagnon-Sanschagrin, P., Davidson, M., Kinkead, F., Cloutier, M., Guérin, A., & Lefebvre, P. (2022). Economic burden of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder among adults in the United States: a societal perspective. Journal of managed care & specialty pharmacy, 28(2), 168–179. https://doi.org/10.18553/jmcp.2021.21290