This month, there are a lot of ways to increase awareness around mental health. For starters, it is World Mental Health Day on October 10th. On top of that, it is also ADHD Awareness Month. Finally, Thanksgiving lands on Monday October 12th. As different as these may seem, there is a thread that runs through them; one that invites us all to reflect and show gratitude no matter what we are managing with regards to our mental health.
The theme for World Mental Health Day is Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change. Ultimately, this means that those living with mental health issues are the people that must have a voice for us all to hear. There is a vast wealth of information out there from those with lived experiences, especially with regards on how best to listen to them, support them, and understand them. Oftentimes those who manage mental health issues are relegated to the sidelines, seen but not heard. If this changes, it opens up a new vantage point to design programs and supports that are impactful to everyone. This is especially true for those living with ADHD, especially in schools and workplaces.
There are approximately 1.8 million Canadians that have diagnosed ADHD, and many more that are likely managing it undiagnosed. Chances are you yourself or someone close to you is dealing with the symptoms every single day; adjusting expectations, dealing with unmet deadlines, and feeling frustrated from feelings of perceived failure. Listening to people living with ADHD day to day can challenge assumptions that we may have, and open up conversations that can lead to real, lasting, and positive change.
For those managing ADHD symptoms, life can be harried, difficult, and oftentimes overwhelming. Taking a pause in the day to reflect and breathe can be just the thing to provide some much-needed solace and focus. During that pause, naming something you are grateful for can make a big difference in shifting something negative into something positive. Gratitude might look different for someone with ADHD: maybe not a long handwritten journal entry, but a quick text to a friend saying how much you appreciate them might be manageable, or a sticky note on the fridge as a reminder of a recent win you may have experienced. These small moments of gratitude and reflection build up overt time to something tangible and life changing.
During this Thanksgiving season, try to find something or someone in your life to be grateful for, [LN3.1]and show it in a way that is meaningful to you. Check in with your friends, family, and loved ones, especially those that deal with mental health issues. Remind them that they have a voice and are heard and valued. Like a delicious Thanksgiving meal spread across the table, gratitudes are best when they are shared.
Rob Baker, MA RCC