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October is for ADHD!

At Home with ADHD
OCTOBER IS FOR ADHD!

By: Lannette Guerra | October 4, 2023

Happy October, SMMC family! It's been a while since I last wrote to all of you; what can I say? I've been busy at home with ADHD' - get it? The name of this column…while also recovering from ChatGPT and Midjourney threatening my existence as I know it. All jokes aside, I've missed you all so much and couldn't let this month pass without sharing some informative nuggets on neurodiversity and book recommendations.

First things first, October is ADHD Awareness Month; during this time, you may notice an upsurge in advocacy—case in point: me popping in after a long hiatus. Though ADHD people are often hilarious and some of the kindest humans on the planet, they do have challenges. This is why ADHD is recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Despite many neurodivergents not seeing themselves as having a disability, their condition can hinder them such that they need protection against discrimination at work or in school. Yet, as all neurodivergents know, we are all within a spectrum of the beautiful ADHD rainbow, and our differences help keep life interesting.

Additionally, there are plenty of individuals with ADHD who are high-functioning, and some you may not even expect are part of the neurodivergent club. Here is a list of a few famous names you may recognize: Bill Gates, Leonardo Da Vinci, John F. Kennedy, Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking,Jessica Alba, Lisa Ling, Emma Watson, Ryan Gosling, Ashton Kutcher, Simone Biles, Michael Phelps, and Justin Timberlake.

However, there is an even more extensive list of people you may not recognize, the people all around you - the ones who keep contributing beautiful scientific discoveries and works of art for all of us to enjoy. Such as the following writers who help pull me through my and my daughter's neurodivergent limits.

"A Radical Guide for Women with ADHD: Embrace Neurodiversity, Live Boldly, and Break Through Barrier": This book is written by a psychologist and a psychotherapist and is explicitly targeted at women with ADHD. It is extremely helpful to those diagnosed later in life.
"My Brain Needs Glasses - 4th Edition: ADHD Explained to Kids": This book is written from the perspective of a 3rd grader whose parents have just informed him about his neurodivergency. He proceeds to explain it to the reader as a peer. It was the book I used to explain to my daughter her diagnosis and her unique brain. There were tears, hugs, and laughter.
"Scattered Minds: The Origins and Healing of Attention Deficit Disorder": This book is well-rounded. The best part, it’s written by a doctor who wasn't diagnosed until his 50s and had three officially diagnosed children at home, talk about being “at home with ADHD!” Wowzers! He does a great job of using his personal experience to explain ADHD and the science behind the neurodivergent brain. He also discusses some behavioral and cognitive traits of a person with ADHD and the methods we use to thrive.

So there you have it, a list of neurodivergents who have all left us with great works and contributions. Yet, before I disappear again, I want to give a big warm hug and shout out to the regular or 'weird' Barbies and their amazing neurodivergent brains. Cheers to you and your future for all the beautiful things you've done for your family, community, and loved ones and the things you will continue to do. Cheers to you, Mom, the undiagnosed who might be suspecting she's part of us right now. It's your month, and hopefully, all those years of self-shaming for sometimes acting out in nonconforming ways are finally behind you. Society norms are meant to be broken and challenged sometimes; society needs the outliers, and you, my friend, are a linchpin; we need you.

Happy ADHD Awareness Month, Mommies!"

Lannette Guerra has a decade of experience working for large and small high-end residential firms, throughout Northern California. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture, a Bachelor of Arts, and is a LEED accredited professional. Before moving to California, she spent 4 years as an Exhibit Designer in Kansas City, MO.

She resides and virtually works for her current employer, from her home in San Rafael, CA. When she is not hyperfocused on work she enjoys hikes in the Marin headlands and couch cuddles with her family and furry friend. She is currently staying away from engaging in any new hobbies except for being a mentor & advocate of mental and physical well-being.

She is also a strong believer that the only way to build yourself to personal fulfillment and reach your true potential is to quiet the mind, eliminate distraction, and listen to what your heart has been telling you all along. Only then will you be able to see your authentic self reflected within your home, your soul, and in the workplace.