Tips on Living With ADHD From Mental Health Wellness Coach Brian King by Renee

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is still widely misunderstood, even by many professionals in health care and education. No matter if you are an adult or a child, managing ADHD and the daily details of life is hard. Brian King, 30Seconds contributor and mental health wellness coach, who also has ADHD, gave us insights on what it is like to live with ADHD and offered strategies to help balance personal and professional responsibilities. 

Q: Do you have personal experience with ADHD? What made you want to become an ADHD coach?

My sons were diagnosed with ADHD and subsequently so was I. I took responsibility for modeling how to live well with ADHD for my boys, which means I needed to learn how first! Others watching me live my life were amazed how well I managed my parenting and professional life with ADHD and began asking me to teach them. I decided to start coaching others to help them successfully navigate life with ADHD.

My 2nd son was diagnosed when he was 8, my youngest when he was 7 and my oldest at 18. #30Seconds

— The Mindset King (@brianrking) August 23, 2018

Q: What is ADHD coaching and how is it different from therapy?

Therapy for ADHD is focused on solving a problem usually rooted in emotional conflict. Coaching is solution focused, forward looking and focuses on building beliefs and skills to improve outcomes. ADHD coaching is a collaborative and goal-oriented process. The coach and the client work together to identify the client’s goals and then develop the self-awareness, skills and strategies to help the client achieve those goals. Coaching can be conducted in person, online, by phone, by e-mail or by text message depending on the client’s preference.

That's right. I was in my late 30's before I was diagnosed. #30Seconds

— The Mindset King (@brianrking) August 23, 2018

Q: What are some common day-to-day challenges for teens and adults who have ADHD?

• Time management is a big one!
• Remembering appointments and keeping personal space organized are also common challenges.
• Practical daily living tasks can also be a struggle. Managing money, maintaining a home, having healthy relationships, exercising and sleeping consistently are other challenges that are faced by people who have ADHD.

It's often hard for us to feel time passing so conceiving of something other than right now can be difficult #30Seconds

— The Mindset King (@brianrking) August 23, 2018

Q: What can I do to keep myself from being overwhelmed by simple tasks?

The feeling of being overwhelmed is caused by focusing on the size or number of tasks before you have a plan to tackle them. It is helpful to have a checklist of some kind that helps you approach any task step by step so you know where you are in the process even after you become distracted. Remaining calm and solution focused when your child is focused on the problem is critical. Don’t rescue. Ask if they’d like help creating a plan so they’re less overwhelmed.

Hard indeed, we don't like watching our child struggle. We also don't want to send them into the world feeling helpless because we solved too many problems for them. #30Seconds

— The Mindset King (@brianrking) August 23, 2018

Q: What are some things that I can do to help me focus on everyday household tasks?

• List what they are, add them to your schedule so they become prioritizing and completing them becomes habit. Use music to make it more fun and increase focus.
• Using a digital calendar with reminders and strategies for breaking down tasks to solve these problems can be helpful to some. This is especially helpful for keeping track of appointments and/or homework assignments.
• When working with your child, accountability is huge! Don’t accept excuses! Children need to learn to push through their resistance and discover that with the right plan they can create consistent results!

I like using a calendar that the whole family can see! It helps us all stay on track! #30seconds

— Renee (@HerrenRenee) August 23, 2018

What a great idea, Toni! #30seconds

— Elisa All Schmitz (@elisatalk) August 23, 2018

Hi. Katherine here signing in very late. The brag book is a wonderful idea! Another friend of mine also suggested I make a page in my scrapbook for each friend and loved one to remind me of all the love in my life when I'm having a bad day. #30Seconds

— Katherine Ast (@KatherineAst1) August 23, 2018

Q: About 50 percent of adults and up to 30 percent of children with ADHD also have an anxiety disorder. What are some ways that people can cope with anxiety?

• Anxiety is typically a bi-product of the hyperactivity that comes from a racing mind and a nervous system that doesn’t know how to rest. Mindfulness and exercise are very helpful here.
• Perfectionism is another culprit. Self-criticism makes for worry that your efforts will always be criticized and can lead to anxiety and inaction.
• Identifying triggers and being aware of what anxiety looks like for you is a great first step in creating an action plan. Talking through scenarios can help you begin to work through your anxiety so you can continue the task at hand.

In regards to those with #autism...I once heard that if you meet one person with autism- you've met one person with autism. I think it is the same with #ADHD too. #30Seconds

— Renee (@HerrenRenee) August 23, 2018

Q: How can people learn more about you and your services?

You can follow @brianrking and, of course, you can follow me at 30Seconds! You can also find more info on my website, BrianRaymondKing.com and on my Facebook page.