What they wish you knew...

I asked 13-17 year old students what they wish their teachers understood about their ADHD. While on the surface this speaks to those working in schools: there's not a single one I don't relate to as an adult, so late-diagnosed adults - and managers - this is for you, too! 

When I work with adult coaching clients, especially those who were diagnosed ADHD/AuDHD as adults, I often notice echoes of the impact of the ways teachers (and parents) spoke to them about their challenges. 'Careless mistakes' - ouch! 'Meet your potential' (You mean my 600% when in a hyperfocus? All the time?) ...So often, the voice of the harsh inner critic grew from the things we heard at school. We internalised them, ramping the judgement up and off the scale. Which of these do you relate to, looking back? Did your inner critic take its lead from your teachers way back when?