The article is developed in partnership with BetterHelp.
Have you ever found yourself hopelessly distracted from all things productive? Or maybe as a child, you were much more hyperactive than other students. Individuals with this common frustration may be living with ADHD. ADHD has a way of disrupting every aspect of your life. You may find it hard to improve your academic performance or even struggle to make social connections with others. ADHD does not have to limit your experiences or stunt your achievements despite being a disruption. Learn more about ADHD, its symptoms, and how you can overcome it!
What is ADHD?
ADHD is shorthand for Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder. As stated previously, this neurodevelopmental disorder is widespread in our world today. Many people can be quickly diagnosed as a child. Those diagnosed at a young age are likely to feel the effects that last into their adulthood. This is known as Adult ADHD. However, others do not feel the effects as they grow older. ADHD is known as a mental disorder that affects a person’s ability to pay attention, impulse levels, and excitability.
ADHD is typically caused by genetics and development. Most people with this disorder often have close family members that also have a similar disorder. Their environment, such as home life, can also play a role in its development. Lastly, a child may experience difficulty in crucial parts of their development and is also more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD later in life.
Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder is typically treated with prescribed medications, therapy, and helpful management skills. Medication will vary based on the intensity of a person’s symptoms, background with medication, and general practitioner.
If you want to read more advice on ADHD and how you can manage it better, consider reading BetterHelp articles: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/adhd/
What are the Symptoms of ADHD?
It can be difficult to know the difference between ADHD symptoms and occasionally feeling distracted and unfocused. Because ADHD symptoms can be found in individuals without the disorder, it often goes undiagnosed.
Common symptoms of Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder are impulsiveness, difficulty focusing on a single task, mood swings, feelings of being overwhelmed, restlessness, and inability to prioritize consistently.
Because of these symptoms, a person with ADHD may find it hard to multitask at work, focus at school, keep up with deadlines, maintain lasting relationships, and upkeep healthy self-esteem. Most people are diagnosed with ADHD when there are consistent issues with work, school, relationships, playing around fire or water, and self-view.
How to Overcome Your ADHD to Focus Better
If you have been diagnosed with Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder or you feel that you exhibit the symptoms regularly, you could benefit from the following helpful management tips!
Create an Outlet for Your Distractions
Living with ADHD can feel exhausting and overwhelming. You probably feel that your mind never rests and you are always thinking about something. It may be time to create an outlet for your distractions. For example, let’s say you are trying to complete an important project for work, but you can’t stop thinking about a weekend camping trip coming up. Find a journal or piece of paper to write down all the things you have on your mind; this will help you take your mind off of your distracting thoughts and it will help you focus on more important tasks.
Shorten Your To-Do List
When you have a thousand things to get done in twenty-four hours, it may be tempting to give yourself an impossible to-do list. To avoid overwhelming your mind and overexerting yourself. Consider only assigning yourself the most important tasks first. For instance, organize your to-do list from most important to least important, and only look at three tasks at a time. This will help keep you focused on the crucial tasks.
Forgive Yourself and Move On
If you are living with ADHD, you may also experience the effects of perfectionism. Wanting everything to be perfect from paint to decor and having the energy to do it can ruin your self-esteem quickly. You must let go of your vision of perfection. Putting away perfectionism and accepting yourself as you are is the first step in focusing and overcoming your symptoms. Try going with the flow and doing your best every day, and that will be enough!
