Coping skills for adults with ADHD- From a Gal who knows exactly what to do but doesn't always.
I’ve always had to work twice as hard as my classmates just to scrape by with average grades. Social anxiety? Yeah, that’s been a lifelong companion—though you’d never guess it since I’m usually the one cracking jokes and playing the class clown. (Seriously, check on your funny friends—there’s usually more to the humor than meets the eye.) Even something as simple as a massive restaurant menu can send me into full-blown panic mode—not just “Hmm, what should I get?” but more like, “Nope, let’s just leave.”
Welcome to my chaotic little world—where managing ADHD as someone who just doesn’t listen is a daily adventure.
My mom has always said there’s a reason behind every outcome—good or bad. Like, “I’ve been on a diet for two weeks, but I didn’t lose nearly as much as I thought I would!” Well, let’s play detective real quick. Did you skip any workouts? Did you actually drink all that water, or just think about drinking it? Were you measuring your food, or were you just spiritually connected to the portion sizes? And let’s be real—did Friday night turn into Fri-YAY with an accidental side of snacks? Because 9 times out of 10, we can find the “why” if we really want to.
This same logic applies to why some weeks, as a neurodivergent person, I’m totally on top of things—and other weeks, I accidentally wear two different shoes for a full hour before it even registers.
Let me start by saying—ADHD can totally be a superpower if you learn how to harness it. One of my biggest ADHD traits (which sometimes gets mistaken for autism characteristics) is HYPERFOCUS. Now, does it always lock onto the right things? Absolutely not. But when it does? Oh, you better believe I become a self-proclaimed expert in record time!
A prime example? I can rattle off every single supplement I take for ADHD like I’m giving a TED Talk—forward, backward, probably in my sleep. (You can check that out here if you’re curious, but this article is really about the tools and tactics to survive the daily chaos)
A perfect example of hyperfocus gone wrong—I can recite my entire supplement routine like a pro, but somehow, I completely ignored the cable disconnect notice. Not because I couldn’t pay it, but because my brain just decided it didn’t exist. You know, despite the minor detail that I literally can’t blog or work without internet!
And there it is—the ADHD Catch-22 in all its glory! But wait, there’s more! ADHD isn’t just about hyperfocus and missed cable bills—it’s like a sensory overload buffet for your brain. There are quirks that can really crank up your anxiety and send your senses into overdrive. But don't worry, I've got some tricks up my sleeve. I’m about to share the tactics that help me survive those best weeks when things actually feel somewhat under control.
**I don’t have a ton for this blog, but just a heads-up—I’m an Amazon Affiliate! So, whenever you use my links, I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Now, help me boost my dopamine levels naturally and give those links a click or two!**
1) You cannot expect the world to conform to your needs, so you have to find ways to limit distraction on your own.
For me it is noise canceling ear muffs- Not music though. It is almost always Focus beats or white noise.
If you're looking for some focus jams of your own, search "Focus Beats" on Spotify or YouTube. I listen to these all day through my Beats by Dre (Seriously, click here and check them out!)—mainly because they’re noise-canceling. As you can tell, I’ve been loyal to the same brand for about 10 years now. They're the best for us neurodivergent! They're comfy, they don’t overload my ears or head by shifting too much, and if you know me at all, you’ve definitely seen them hanging around my neck.
If you are reading this as of 2.13.25, I have set my alarm that I cannot hyper fixate on blogging past 1:30pm- and I will be back tomorrow 9am with more ;-)
