Being successful with ADD/ADHD/LD

Last week, group discussed what it means to be successful for someone who has learning disability and/or attention deficit. Group pointed out that today's media narrowly defines success by accomplishments and monetary gain, giving such examples of "successful" individuals with ADD/ADHD/LD as well-known public figures like Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Airlines, David Neeleman, founder of Jet Blue Airways, or Michael Phelps, an Olympic medalist in swimming. While these stories of success can inspire someone with ADD/ADHD/LD by demonstrating that their disability does not have to hold them back, they can also put undue pressure on individual who might feel that without achieving such high goals, he or she is not truly successful and lacking in something.

Group members gave their personal, more expanded, definitions of success:

• having a "straight flush" and winning
• "doing things that are satisfying"
• "living on the same planet as others"
• experiencing "inter-connectedness of all beings"
• having achievements that allow to do what a person wants to do
  
• gaining "balance between wellness and productivity"
• "living life I choose and want to live"

Group discussed barriers to being successful. Over-thinking and hyper-focusing sometimes does not allow them to "see forest for the trees." Disorganization and difficulty prioritizing can make them feel tired and give up. Tendency to maximize (believing that one should always try to derive THE highest benefit from every choice/option, such as trying to get "the biggest bang for the buck" when buying sneakers or to find the shortest possible route to work) can raise anxiety and in worst case, can prevent individual from taking the necessary action. Self-doubt that is unfortunately so common for individuals with LD/ADHD/ADD can also be rather debilitating.

Members talked about some of the strategies for overcoming the above barriers and achieving personal success:

• Diversifying self-esteem - avoiding putting all self-esteem "eggs" into one basket; acknowledging various areas in which you have competency instead of narrowly focusing only on what does not come easy to you
• Checking in with someone when start over-thinking and over-complicating
  
• Breaking things down into small concrete steps to transform abstract idea into action plan