The Gift and Curse of ADHD What is in Your Wellness Toolbox?
Editor’s note: I met Harris Rosen when both of us were deeply involved in the music business; me for BMG Music, and Harris the owner and editor of a monthly magazine showcasing the best of Rap and Hip Hop as this was exploding in the early 90’s. As often happens in life you can know a lot about someone and yet know nothing about them. I never knew about Harris’ life and journey with ADHD and so when we caught up again and I heard what has been happening for him in the last 20 years I asked him to write his thoughts and experiences down. I believe stats and facts only reveal a small part of what it is like to live with a mental health condition like ADHD and if you really want to ‘know’ what it’s like you have to hear it first person. Thanks to Harris Rosen for having the courage and passion for enlightening and championing what it’s like to live with ADHD.
The Essential 8
I’m standing on the tip of the African continent where the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean meet. The pass of the warm and cold waters below balance the meaning of life. I am whole. Boundless intrepid self-determination of potential that won’t take no for an answer. Acceptance, validation and success; denial, rejection and alienation. I identify as an Alien. Is my mind playing tricks on me?
Seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years of self-medication and isolation. Wretched tales of personality faults and tendencies. Honest psychological anger, joy and pain. There is no box. Why can’t you see this! What is wrong with you! Is there something wrong with me?
ADHD is easily the most treatable of mental health challenges; Paradoxically, it is the least treated. The path to diagnosis a lifelong expressway to your skull. The medical model split between those trained in the basics and costly, organised professionals, clinicians, coaches, and, of course, the pharmaceutical industry. Precise diagnoses that range from the time it takes to cook an omelette and intense, multidisciplinary study. Indeed, the prevailing response; stimulant, non-stimulant, and antidepressant medication.
ADHD affects millions worldwide enacting a staggering socioeconomic toll. Untold diagnosed and misdiagnosed individuals forced by essential cognitive function to suffer in isolation. The severe lack of quality free remedy producing more harm than good. I often wonder why and how it got to this point. https://caddac.ca/adhd/understanding-adhd/in-general/socioeconomic-costs/
The power to manifest wellness is paramount to your lifestyle. ADHD medication provides the cognitive function. The combination of the correct medication with psycho-educational courses is proven to facilitate change. It is your duty to self to discover, learn, develop and practice internal techniques to lead a better life.
Here are eight proven tools to help enable a balanced life.
• Sleep for a minimum of 7 hours daily
• Drink a minimum of 2L water daily
• Eat a healthy diet
• Exercise to block stress, and improve memory, sleep and mood
• Meditate to significantly reduce negative triggers and balance thoughts • Get out in the community, go for a walk and avoid isolation
• Identify, engage with and pursue your passion.
• Be compassionate, express gratitude and practise empathy
Harris Rosen is the co-founder of ADHD Toronto and facilitator of the 12- week Accountability/Keys course.
Through community, connection and compassion, ADHD Toronto facilitates free courses and meetings that simplify how to apply the fundamental internal tools to thrive in life. adhdtoronto.com