17 nov How mindfulness helped me get to grips with ADD symptoms
By Jose Schrijver
I was 27 when things went completely wrong: suddenly I was at home with a burnout. During that period I worked full-time for several employers and followed a part-time HBO study. That was no longer possible; I could barely move from my bed to the sofa in the morning. After many conversations with my GP, the mental health counselor in the GP practice and various psychologists, it slowly became clear: the cause of my burnout was (largely) ADD. The diagnosis came as no surprise. I felt a lot of recognisability, and I gained more understanding for myself.
In the meantime, more than 8 years later, I have largely got a grip on the symptoms of ADD, which is now called ADHD-I (attention deficit type). I experienced too many side effects from medication, so I started looking for other methods, which I now write about on my blog. An important practice that has changed my life is mindfulness.
Wat is mindfulness?
Mindfulness is a training in attention; perfect for people with ADHD, who have trouble concentrating. During mindfulness you learn to be in the here and now with your attention. You learn this mainly by practicing different forms of meditation. But also, for example, by eating with attention. This feels a bit crazy at first, but you soon notice the benefits.
During mindfulness exercises, for example, you focus completely on your breathing, or on what you feel, see, think or hear. In this process you learn to observe what is happening, without judging. So you learn to feel better and to listen to what is at that moment. But you also learn that you don’t always have to react, and you don’t have to find something about everything.
I took a course
During my burnout period I followed an 8-week mindfulness course through PsyQ. “Mindfulness is difficult for people with ADHD”, one of the counselors told me. I gladly accepted this challenge.
I soon realized that this would change my life with ADD. Not only did my concentration improve and I started living more and more in the now. But I also gained insight into which bad habits aggravated my ADD symptoms. For example, I noticed during one of the first days of training how shallow my breathing is. This quickly improved. I started breathing better, and this had a positive effect on my brain. When you become aware of something, you can do something about it. And this is exactly what mindfulness brings you: awareness.
What did it bring me?
Mindfulness has set everything in motion for me: I gained more insight into the needs of my ADD brain and into how I can best organize my life. But also in what I should and shouldn’t eat, which people give me energy, and from whom I should distance myself and so on. Below is a small overview of what mindfulness brought me.
• A better concentration. With mindfulness we train our attention.
• Rest, by meditating daily, observing and feeling what I need.
• Grip on impulsiveness, because now I think about what’s happening inside me before I react.
• I live more in the moment, instead of in my (busy) head.
• Better grounding: instead of ‘in my busy head’ I feel grounded more often. Mindfulness exercises help me with this.
• Self-love and understanding for myself: I don’t judge so quickly anymore. I am softer to myself, and therefore also to others. You will also learn this during a mindfulness course.
Mindful living: it doesn’t come naturally
“I can’t meditate. It’s not for me”, I often hear. I do not believe in this: meditation is for everyone. What I see around me is that everyone has a hard time meditating in the beginning; ADHD or not. We are not used to being silent and observing. It may be even more challenging for children and adults with ADHD than for someone with a neurotypical brain. But if you practice daily – during the course we practiced for at least an hour a day – I dare say it will have a hugely positive impact on your life. After a while, mindfulness becomes more of a lifestyle; you will live your life more consciously, more attentively – more mindfully.
I don’t have a disorder, but a Wandering Mind
I am very grateful that my GP allowed me to take a mindfulness course. This started everything. For example, I quickly came to realize that I don’t want to approach my brain as a brain with an attention deficit disorder. Perception is important. “I, like many others, have a unique brain. A brain that works differently,” I said to myself. I started using a different name for this brain, and now call it the Wandering Mind. This Wandering Mind faces challenges, but also has many qualities. This is what I write about on my blog: Wandering Minds.
A ‘happy life’ with ADD, without medication
I don’t take medication for ADD, but I’ve discovered many other things besides mindfulness that help me get a grip on my wandering mind. Think of nutrition, exercise, lifestyle and supplements. My blog (which was first called Fun Living with ADD) originated from the desire to share my experiences; a few years ago there was not much information available about alternative ways to deal with ADHD.
I think it would be nice if you take a look at Wandering Minds! You are also welcome in the Facebook community and on Instagram, where many other ‘Wandering Minds’ share their experiences.
Over by author
I am José Schrijver from ’86 and I live in The Hague. But I prefer to travel around in my camper, stay in nature or visit nice communities. When I was 27, while sitting at home with a burnout, I was diagnosed with ADD. Medication was not a (long-term) solution for me, so I started looking for alternatives.
I share my experiences on my blog: Wanderingminds.world. This blog has now grown into a platform where I regularly come into contact with like-minded people: other adults with a unique, creative, inventive and wandering brain. As a ‘multipotentialite’ I work as an (independent) SEO content specialist, copywriter, course provider and blogger. But I also like to work on organic farms or in people’s gardens. The more varied, the better. ????