Overwhelmed? ADHD coaching may help you too

Coaching to help manage sensory overload, attention span difficulties and concentration is increasingly prescribed as a tool to help neurodivergent people. But as REBECCA LEY reports, it’s not just for those with a diagnosis of ADHD

- By REBECCA LEY

Is your concentration a bit shot? In today’s world of endless apps and multiple tabs, the answer is probably yes.

And if you've got ADHD, it can be even harder to find focus. This is where neurodiversity coaching comes in — an increasingly popular option to help the record numbers of Brits with a diagnosis of neurodivergence, and those languishing on waiting lists.

Amy Lynn Degner, a senior assistant psychologist and neurodiversity coach for the online mental health platform, HelloSelf, explains: “Neurodivergent people are just like everyone else but their brains work a little differently.

“Neurodiversity coaching provides practical ways to figure out the difficulties someone is facing and the practical tools that can be put in place to help. A lot of coaching is around helping people become aware of patterns in their behaviour and environment, which is the first step they can take to support themselves effectively.”

Whether you've been recently diagnosed with ADHD, or just want some advice for boosting your focus, here are Amy's top 10 tips:

1 SET TIMERS Many people with ADHD suffer from ‘task paralysis’. As Amy explains: “Executive functioning - the brain's tools for planning, organising and initiating tasks — can work differently for people with ADHD.” While neurotypical brains control these functions consistently, ADHD brains are driven by interest, urgency and immediate reward rather than the importance of a task. Amy says that one key strategy to improving focus is setting timers. “You can set timers for anything from five minutes up, and build in ‘reward break’ rituals, like grabbing a cup of tea or a walk.”