“Why don’t you just try harder?”

“Why don’t you just try to focus. Try to concentrate. Try to stay on task . . . Just. TRY. HARDER!”

If you have ADHD, you’ll almost certainly have heard something along these lines before. In school, at home, and especially at work, neurodiverse people are often encouraged to work harder to adhere to neurotypical models of thinking and working, and can often be seen as difficult, stubborn or deliberately disruptive when they’re unable to do so.

But it shouldn’t be that hard to just focus, right?

🗣️ It’s a flippant enough statement, but would you tell someone with impaired vision to just try and see better?

👓 Imagine handing a pair of glasses to someone with 20/20 vision. No matter how much they try, they won't be able to read.

💭 Telling a person with ADHD to "just try and focus harder" has the same effect.

💡In both situations, the offered solution is not addressing the underlying issue.

🧠 ADHD isn't a result of not trying hard enough; it's a nuanced neurological condition with a complex interplay of factors.

🔑 If corrective lenses are the solution to accommodate for people with impaired vision, the equivalent for people with ADHD is awareness, support, and sometimes intervention.

🌍 Even if it's difficult to fully comprehend what ADHD feels like to those without it, empathy goes a long way.

If you’re interested in learning more about how I can help you create a healthier, happier working culture - one that understands and celebrates difference in all forms - I’d love to hear from you. Get in touch, and let’s talk about it…