{"id":27022,"date":"2024-10-01T10:00:26","date_gmt":"2024-10-01T00:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/?p=27022"},"modified":"2024-10-07T09:21:44","modified_gmt":"2024-10-06T22:21:44","slug":"adhd-awareness-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/explorecareers.com.au\/adhd-awareness-month\/","title":{"rendered":"Learn About Neurodivergence at Work This ADHD Awareness Month"},"content":{"rendered":"
There are a lot of misconceptions out there about <\/span>ADHD<\/span>, and the brilliant minds orchestrating <\/span>ADHD Awareness Month<\/span> are on a mission to bust these harmful myths and misconceptions! With <\/span>their mission<\/span><\/a> centred upon their belief that \u2018Awareness is Key,\u2019 they\u2019ve dedicated the month of October to educating others by spreading more accurate, scientific information on the topic. This way, more and more people will be able to embrace, support, and uplift <\/span>neurodivergent<\/span> minds and create a more inclusive society. If that\u2019s not a worthwhile cause, we don\u2019t know what is!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n According to the National Institutes of Health, <\/span>ADHD<\/span> occurs in approximately 6-10% of Australian children<\/span><\/a> and adolescents, so it\u2019s by no means a rare disorder. However, the stigma surrounding <\/span>ADHD<\/span> persists. This is why it\u2019s so important to increase public education via events such as <\/span>ADHD Awareness Month<\/span>; we\u2019re all interacting with people who have <\/span>ADHD<\/span> more than we realise, so we want to make sure we\u2019re accommodating alternative ways of thinking and removing any obstacles for neurodivergent people!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n ADHD<\/span>, otherwise known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a mental disorder that impairs one\u2019s ability to keep focus. While it\u2019s considered a <\/span>chronic and debilitating<\/span><\/a> disorder, receiving an <\/span>ADHD diagnosis<\/span> doesn\u2019t mean you aren\u2019t destined for success. Sure, academic and professional pursuits will require added effort and focus, but excelling is absolutely possible (especially if you have a great support system)!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n There isn\u2019t a one-size-fits-all set of symptoms that suggest that someone may have <\/span>ADHD<\/span>. After all, there are multiple variations of the disorder (inattentive, hyperactive\/impulsive, and combined), and it presents differently in women than it does to men. However, if you\u2019re thinking of scheduling an assessment, these are <\/span>some things to look out for<\/span><\/a> and share with your doctor:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you relate to these symptoms, it might be time to get a professional opinion. And remember, seeking support isn\u2019t a sign of weakness: <\/span>ADHD<\/span> is hard to live with, so you may as well give yourself a leg up by accepting all the help you can get!\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t until 1999 that <\/span>one of the first real attempts to understand how <\/span>ADHD<\/span> appeared in young girls was published<\/span><\/a>, and at that stage, the world still thought of it as a \u2018boy\u2019s disorder.\u2019 Unfortunately, this doesn\u2019t come as a surprise: after all, the overwhelming majority of research on <\/span>ADHD<\/span> was <\/span>based on the symptoms of boys and men<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Kathleen Nadeau, the author of <\/span>Understanding Girls with <\/span><\/i>ADHD<\/span><\/i>, argues that young girls work harder to hide their symptoms and are often very high achievers, but that it comes at a price. <\/span>She states that<\/span><\/a>:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThey have to put in at least twice the effort of other people if they\u2019re determined to do well.\u201d<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, there has been a big change recently, as <\/span>more and more young women are receiving <\/span>ADHD diagnoses<\/span><\/a>. With platforms like TikTok and Instagram becoming super popular, women with <\/span>ADHD<\/span> are starting to share their own experiences with their diagnosis and helping others realise that they have the same symptoms.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Basically, what we\u2019re trying to say is that you don\u2019t experience the traditional symptoms, but still think that there\u2019s a possibility you have <\/span>ADHD<\/span>, it\u2019s worth getting checked out!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In short, there isn\u2019t a difference between <\/span>ADHD<\/span> (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) and ADD (attention-deficit disorder). In <\/span>1994, doctors decided that all forms of the disorder would fall under the umbrella term <\/span>ADHD<\/span><\/a>, so ADD is essentially just an outdated term.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n ADHD symptoms<\/span> can create issues in the workplace (just like they create issues for those in school), however, that doesn\u2019t mean that they can\u2019t be overcome! Because the disorder presents differently in different people, there isn\u2019t a single set of issues that fits everyone with <\/span>ADHD<\/span>. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve listed some of the most common complications for those dealing with <\/span>ADHD in the workplace<\/span>, and how to combat them. Simply look for the ones that apply to you and go from there!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s no secret that those <\/span>ADHD<\/span> aren\u2019t the best at staying focused, and when they\u2019re spending 9-5 around the office yapper, it\u2019s easy to lose track of time and leave tasks unfinished. Instead of just letting this happen, try:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Memory problems are another common <\/span>ADHD symptom<\/span> that can impact performance in the workplace. However, there are a tonne of super easy fixes that\u2019ll have you working at full capacity in no time:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When working with others, there will no doubt come a time when you end up feeling frustrated with one of your coworkers. Because a common <\/span>ADHD symptom<\/span> is impulsivity, you\u2019ll want to be prepared to manage your emotions when these situations arise. A few ways to do so are:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n All of us a guilty of a little bit of procrastination from time to time. However, for neurodivergent individuals, it can be much more difficult to break out of (check out <\/span>ADHD paralysis<\/span><\/a> for more information on why this is). To break out of an unproductive lull, try to:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Those with the hyperactive variation of <\/span>ADHD<\/span> usually do super well in jobs requiring lots of movement and variation, but office jobs can present some issues. Try the following strategies to feel more centred in your sedentary position:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nWhat is ADHD<\/span>?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
ADHD Symptoms<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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ADHD in Women<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
ADHD vs ADD:<\/span> What\u2019s the Difference?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
How ADHD Affects Work<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
Distractibility<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Poor Memory<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Impulsivity<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Procrastination<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Hyperactivity<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
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