14 May
Trish May Blog Post

Art for ADHDers

Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Art for ADHDers

Let’s dive into the dynamic world where ADHD and art intersect, exploring how creative pursuits can offer unique benefits and strategies for managing ADHD symptoms…

For those navigating the challenges of ADHD, expressing thoughts and emotions can sometimes feel like trying to untangle headphone wires. Art steps in as a liberating alternative, offering a canvas where words are optional!! Through colours, shapes, and textures, we can communicate with depth and nuance, bypassing the limitations of verbal expression which we sometimes get stuck on.

Life with ADHD can often resemble a rollercoaster ride with twists and turns. In the midst of this chaos, art becomes a calming escape. Engaging in creative activities acts as a soothing balm for the restless mind, providing a much-needed break from the whirlwind of daily stressors. Whether it’s the rhythmic strokes of a paintbrush or the meditative process of collage-making, art offers a “serenity” where individuals can find peace amidst the storm.

But it’s not all about serenity; there’s a healthy dose of triumph too! Completing an art project isn’t just about making something pretty; it’s a testament to resilience and creativity. For individuals with ADHD, each finished masterpiece is a confidence (dopamine) boost, a reminder of their capabilities and potential for growth.

The benefits of art extend far beyond the realm of creativity. Engaging in artistic pursuits hone essential skills like organization, time management, and attention to detail—skills that are often challenging for ADHDers. By flexing these cognitive muscles through art, individuals can enhance their ability to navigate daily tasks and responsibilities with greater ease and efficiency.

It is clear that creativity offers a myriad of benefits for individuals seeking to manage their symptoms and thrive in their daily lives. By embracing creative expression, individuals can tap into a wellspring of self-discovery, resilience, and personal growth. Grab your paintbrushes, unleash your imagination, and let the artistic journey begin!

04 May
Trish May Blog Post

Unlocking Productivity: The Power of Body Doubling

In the realm of productivity hacks, one lesser-known yet highly effective technique has been gaining traction: body doubling. Rooted in psychological and behavioral principles, this method offers promising benefits, particularly for individuals grappling with ADHD or executive functioning challenges. Let’s delve into why this approach works and how it can transform the productivity game.

Social Facilitation
Ever noticed how having someone around can spur you to perform better? That’s the magic of social facilitation. Research underscores that the mere presence of others can amp up our performance, especially on tasks we’re familiar with. Body doubling capitalizes on this phenomenon by providing a supportive environment for task completion. Whether it’s tackling projects requiring sustained attention or sheer effort, having a companion in the room can make all the difference.

External Accountability
Accountability serves as a potent catalyst for behaviour change and task accomplishment. With a body double by your side, there’s a palpable sense of external accountability, even if they’re not actively involved in the task. This external presence can help individuals with ADHD stay anchored and focused, knowing that someone else is privy to their efforts. It’s a subtle yet powerful motivator that can nudge you toward your goals.

Reduced Feelings of Isolation
The journey of battling ADHD often feels solitary, with waves of isolation and loneliness crashing in, especially during challenging tasks. Enter the body double, offering companionship and social support. Their presence not only alleviates feelings of isolation but also uplifts mood and motivation. It’s like having a silent cheerleader by your side, making the arduous journey seem less daunting.

Accountability and Feedback
While your body double may not be actively engaged in the task, their presence serves as a beacon of accountability and feedback. They offer words of encouragement, praise, or gentle reminders, steering you back on track when distractions loom large. Their silent yet supportive role can be instrumental in maintaining focus and productivity.

At its core, body doubling taps into the power of social support, external accountability, and modeling to bolster focus, motivation, and productivity, particularly for individuals navigating ADHD or executive functioning hurdles. While further research on body doubling itself could be illuminating, its underlying principles find firm footing in empirical evidence from related fields of psychology and behavioral science.

In a world brimming with productivity hacks, body doubling stands out as a beacon of simplicity and effectiveness—a testament to the profound impact of human connection on our ability to thrive in the face of challenges.

By Kaleigh Smith, RP

17 May
Kaleigh Smith May Blog Post No Comments

What is attachment and why is it important in relationships?

If you’ve been struggling with relationships, there may be a few reasons why. Getting to know what attachment means is an important starting point if you’re looking to find a safe and long-lasting relationship. As you read… remember that although your attachment style is typically stable, it can be plastic. It can change for the better!

Attachment theory is focused on relationships and how we bond to one another. Everyone has an attachment system, and this system develops throughout your life, beginning at an early age with how your needs were met by your primary caregivers. This continues to develop throughout your life and generally falls into two categories. A secure or insecure attachment system. Insecure attachment can further be broken up into either an anxious or avoidant attachment style. If you are having a hard time in relationships, you may be insecurely attaching to others.

So, what do each of these three styles look like?

A secure attachment is a comfortable relationship style that is consistent and trustworthy. People with secure attachment often have little drama in relationships. Secure attachment doesn’t typically get “riled up” or “shut down” the way an insecure attachment style might. Effective, assertive communication is the pinnacle of moving towards a secure attachment.

Anxious attachment is classified as living in the sixth sense of danger. If you have an anxious attachment style you may preoccupied with your partners behaviour, feel insecure or uncertain of your own needs. You likely begin using protest behaviours such as picking fights, threatening to leave, or having inconsistent expectations of your partner. When you use protest behaviour you continue the cycle of anxiety, because you never know whether your partner is responding to your needs or your protest behaviours. Of the clients I work with, anxious attachment seems to be the most common I see. So, remember you’re not alone.

Avoidant attachment can be categorized as keeping love at an arm’s length. You may feel emotionally unavailable, shut down in conflict or avoid deep connections altogether.

Now that you know some of the basics… how can you move from an insecure attachment style to a secure one?

Becoming emotionally brave by figuring out what your needs are in a relationship is the first step. Focus on your needs by using effective communication with others in a very specific way. For example: “I want __”, “I need __” and “I feel __”. Learning to be non-apologetic for your needs, and assertive with them takes some learning and practice. Understanding how to not place blame on your partner and avoid accusations by centering communication around your needs is equally important. Once you learn what you need in a relationship, you become better able to set boundaries for yourself and can then filter out partners who can or can’t meet your needs. This will save you from wasting time or energy on relationships that don’t serve a purpose for you.

If you want to learn more about attachment theory and how your attachment style may have developed reach out to myself (or another professional) who can help you with this in the context of therapy. There are several resources you can find outside of counselling as well, any of which I am happy to recommend to anyone reading!