Guest Post - from ADHD Coach Wan !

“I’m not ADHD enough to need help/support.” I feel a strong need to correct this sentiment, but I’m not sure I have what it takes. I often say, “Doesn’t EVERYONE deserve help and support?” and the answer I receive is a stubborn, “Yeah, but not me. I don’t need help.” often with an added, “I wouldn’t want to take it away from someone who needs it more.” But who can even make the decision as to who needs help more? Even engaging with this train of thought is fighting the wrong battle and forgetting the greater purpose of the war.

How have we as a society grown to become so allergic to help and support? Is this natural selection, the theory of evolution, survival of the fittest? We can’t bear to show weakness lest we become outcast? It’s time to shine the limelight on these subconscious thought processes. We as individuals love to help people, but as a society we’re conditioned to look down on those who have greater socioeconomic needs, who rely on the state/government for welfare, when we should be celebrating the progress of society in being able to improve the welfare of our brothers and sisters. It’s time to separate from the collective unconscious and group biases. That’s what I think is going on.

Back to my question of what do I have to offer, or what message am I trying to spread? I think the answer is wider understanding, acceptance, tolerance, kindness and compassion, especially towards ourselves. I liked the message from Emily Nagoski of supporting self-care with we-care. If everyone cared more about each other, maybe we wouldn’t have to struggle so much to care about ourselves.