Adderall or mindset coaching? A client interview
My client had an ah-ha experience with mindset coaching and she agreed to an interview. I'm sharing this in case you or someone you know has been diagnosed with ADHD and are looking for alternative ways to manage it.
Me: When were you diagnosed with ADHD?
Shannon: Eight years ago. I was with my son, who was being diagnosed. That’s when I realized that I had all the same symptoms.
Me: What did ADHD look like for you?
Shannon: There are two types of ADHD: Hyperactive and inattentive. Hyperactive is high energy where you can’t sit still and always need to be doing something. And inattentive is when your mind is going 100 MPH and you can’t focus because of all your thoughts. Or sometimes, you do the opposite and hyper-focus.
I was a combination of both.
Me: What did you do to alleviate the symptoms?
Shannon: I took Adderall for seven years. I was the creative director for a large company and thought that this med was important to keep me zoned in and focused.
I was laid off a year ago and decided to stop taking it because I wanted to get deeper into my art and it felt like Adderall was hampering my creativity. However, I didn’t know how to control my ADHD once I stopped taking it.
My indecisiveness was out of control. I was frazzled and had a hard time deciding on my next career path and what my art journey would look like. I made a lot of lists but would freeze up when it was time to take action or make a decision.
That’s when I hired you. I knew I needed help and was interested in learning new tools instead of just medicating myself.
Me: What happened after you hired me?
Shannon: I was actually surprised during our first meeting when you didn’t focus on my diagnosis. That was my identity! I thought it was my superpower but I realized that I was using it more as a crutch.
The tools you taught me have been invaluable! I have learned how to manage my ADHD by understanding and managing my mind and reconnecting with my body.
I have clarity. I am intentional.
For me, the tools you have given me have replaced my need to be on Adderall!
Me: What tools helped you the most?
Shannon:
These three:
1. Being NOW.
This was profound! I never realized how ‘not now’ I living. I was always up in my head overthinking, worrying, anxiety-ing, controlling, perfecting, or self-judging. Being present and in my body felt foreign at first because I had never experienced it before but what a gift! It slowed down my mind and gave me a new perspective. I always thought I was such a positive person and I realized how many of my thoughts were negative and limited. It was eye-opening!
2. Creating powerful pauses.
Being NOW naturally creates pauses in my mind. It’s like a mind exhale. It’s me managing my mind instead of it running the show and running me into the ground. In addition, I’m also taking real pauses during the day to stop and breathe and check in with my body. Before, I never thought I could take a break (without feeling guilty) because I had to prove to myself and others that I was productive and useful. This is a big deal that I can adjust and be flexible.
3. How to trust myself and flow.
Living with ADHD depleted my self-trust and so for as long as I can remember, I have started my days making one or more lists. However, I noticed that around the fifth week of coaching, I stopped making them! I realized it was because I had started to trust myself to know what needed to happen. And because I am NOW, I naturally do the things as they need to be done and I trust myself to do them.
Me: What insight do you want to share with people who have ADHD?
Shannon: Do your own research — how many successful people have ADHD? You have the power to do great things!
If you are looking for alternative ways to manage your ADHD, the tools Kelly teaches may be the answer for you.