LIVING WITH ADHD - PART 4

Amy Byers
Apr 18, 2024
7 min read

PART 4: MORE THAN CONQUERERS

"In all things we are more than conquerers through Him that loved us." Romans 8:37

Treatments and “Life Hacks” to make us “more than conquerors” of ADHD.

When ADHD is well-controlled and symptoms are managed effectively, those with the disorder can lead successful lives that bring glory and honor to the Lord.

"By your endurance you will gain your lives." Luke 21:19

All who are in Christ, regardless of the obstacles their life circumstances may present, can allow the Holy Spirit to work in them to bring them to spiritual maturity, bearing the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23).

No matter the medical issue, the Bible is clear: Jesus has the power to work through and use physical ailments for His glory and the benefit of His people.

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

But even in knowing God has the power to heal any infirmity and any issue of the heart/mind, it is perhaps tempting for the believer to ask God, “Why was I made like this- why do I have to wrestle with this issue?”

The Bible cautions us against this thought process in Isaiah 45:9: “Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker-- An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth! Will the clay say to the potter, 'What are you doing?' Or the thing you are making say, 'He has no hands '?” The question to God should not be “Why Lord?” but rather, “What would you, Lord, have me do/know from this point moving forward?”

"When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken." Psalm 34:17-20

Each believer, even those with disorders or diseases, has an important role in the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:11–26).

In fact, it is important to consider the unique strengths and gifts those with ADHD have to offer in service to the body of Christ.

Many with ADHD tend to be outside-the-box thinkers with creative solutions. They make great artists, musicians, designers, and inventors.

Those with hyperactivity have ample energy that can be used to serve others. They make great firefighters, paramedics, and police officers.

And those with impulsivity have a burden to get things done and try new things. They make great salespeople, soldiers, and public relations professionals.

Understanding the ways ADHD can be managed helps equip us to follow godly standards. Knowing our own reliance on God's mercy for our own sinful tendencies gives us grace for ourselves and others suffering from ADHD.

Preparing yourself to live a godly life involves many factors. Certainly, if anyone diagnosed with ADHD should seek the advice of a medical professional experienced in managing ADHD.

Most importantly, utilize the Word of God, which is profitable for teaching, reproving, correcting, and instructing (2 Timothy 3:16).

The Bible describes the Christian life as being a “one another” experience. Believers are encouraged to motivate and encourage one another (Hebrews 10:24–25).

Rather than giving ourselves a pass on our behaviors or condemning ourselves for them, we should ask those in our lives (parents, pastors, mentors, coaches, youth ministers, teachers, doctors, etc.) for help in changing our behaviors. In fact, the church is called to support one another in love.

For many people, living with ADHD means adopting new tools to help them manage their symptoms, which helps them to thrive in their emotional health, personal relationships, and careers.

Your quality of life will likely change for the better after your ADHD diagnosis.

Additionally, everyone’s experience of ADHD is unique. There are many ways to manage the symptoms, and what works for one person might work not for another.

Finding the system that works best for you can take some trial and error, and that’s OK. There are plenty of methods to try!

Medical Treatments

Medical and psychological professionals widely agree that a combination of Behavioral Therapy and professionally managed medication is a successful treatment plan for individuals who have been diagnosed with ADHD.

Additionally, for ADHD treatment plans to have long-term success, they must include close monitoring, medical follow-ups, and flexibility/making necessary changes along the way.

Alternative treatments include elimination diets, the use of supplements, parent training, memory training, and neurofeedback.

Successful Symptom Management

Every person with ADHD has different routines and needs, which also means that they have different approaches to managing their daily lives.

Use organizational and time management tools consistently.

ADHD can make it very tricky to stay organized and manage your time in the way that you’d like to. Find one or more tools that are useful and easy to use and work for you, whether it’s a/an:

Paper Diary
Bullet journal
Notepad
App that helps you manage your tasks (i.e.: Trello or Todoist)
Time-management method (i.e.: Blocking time using Google Calendar)
Set up a reminder system at home to help you stay on schedule and remember projects that are due. Be sure to include homework and leisure time in the schedule. Individuals with ADHD benefit from a visual representation of their schedule, such as a calendar or list. Review this often.
Pomodoro Technique: Working in 25-minute intervals with breaks in between (i.e.: plenty of productivity phone and tablet apps have Pomodoro timers, or you can use a simple one in your browser, like the Tomato Timer)
Tricks like using sticky note reminders, setting timers and alarms, and eliminating audio/visual distractions can also help.

You must be your own best advocator.

Research shows that academic interventions, when combined with medication, behavioral therapy, and classroom behavioral interventions, are beneficial for students diagnosed with ADHD.

Students whose ADHD impairs their learning may qualify for special education under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act or for a Section 504 plan under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Classroom accommodations and support after school can help teens with ADHD succeed.

Schedule a meeting with the school-based treatment team to discuss the following academic accommodations:

Extended time on tests.
Preferential seating.
Test-taking in an alternate environment.
Peer helper with note-taking.
Written and oral instructions for assignments.
Frequent breaks.
Academic tutoring.
Organizational tutoring.
Daily/weekly progress reports.
A set of books to keep at home.

You can greatly benefit from study skills instruction, changes to the classroom setup, alternative teaching techniques, and a modified curriculum.

"Gamify" your to-do lists.

This means you turn your tasks into a game in order to complete it.

You can gamify tasks by giving yourself rewards, trying to finish a project in a specific time frame, or simply checking it off your to-do list.
Crossing something off a physical to-do list can bring a real sense of accomplishment.
Many organizational tools, like Habitica, do this for you.

Make tasks meaningful.

To complete tasks, most of us usually need to be excited and engaged.

Think about why you’re doing your task.

What good are you getting out of it?

For instance, a work task might be motivated by your passion for a broader cause or simply your desire to save up for a car or vacation.
A school or college task might be motivated by the excitement of the project itself or your desire to graduate.

Whatever it is, keep your eye on the prize.

Avoid "multitasking".

While some people do thrive while multitasking, many of us don’t. Try to eliminate distractions around you that entice you into doing other tasks. For example:

If you’re working on one subject, pack away your textbooks for other subjects.
If you’re trying to focus on driving, put your phone away! (P.S.: It’s the law in most states!)

Limit your screen time.

Spending too much time staring at a screen can make you lose track of time, which can take your focus away from another task or errand.

You can download apps on your phone or tablet that help you limit your screen time or limit your time spent on specific apps that you find are a major distraction or time drain.
Alternatively, set a timer. For example, give yourself 15 minutes on social media at a time, then move on to your next task.

Develop healthy eating habits.

Such as eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and choosing lean protein sources.

These nutrients support brain development, concentration, and neuro health.

Move your body!

Exercise helps you to work off some energy, which can reduce hyperactive states.

It’s also great for boosting your mood, focus, and overall feeling of well-being.

Make sleep a priority.

ADHD symptoms can get worse if you haven’t been getting quality sleep.

Try finding a relaxing activity to slow down your brain before bed.

If you find yourself overthinking things in bed, try writing down all of your thoughts and plans in a notebook to get them out of your system before turning out the lights.

Absolutely no technology for a minimum of 30 minutes before bed.

Bluelight which comes off of every screen stimulates the brain to think it is daytime and thus ruins the natural circadian rhythm our body needs to have to remain healthy.

The following sleep requirements may shock you! The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has recommended that:

Individuals aged 6–12 years should regularly sleep 9–12 hours a night.
Individuals aged 13–18 years should sleep no less than 8–10 hours a night.

PRO TIP: Though it’s tempting to hop onto the next productivity tool that catches your eye, try sticking one out for a while. Consistency is key.

General Tips

In addition to the above ideas, there are a few general strategies you can try to make your ADHD more manageable.

Work to develop a servant’s heart. Learning to serve others helps individuals push through unpleasant tasks and be more patient (Philippians 2:3–4).
Learn to take control of your own thinking.The Bible talks of renewing the mind (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:23). God instructs us to focus on eight godly attributes in Philippians 4:8. Those who wrestle with fantasy can be encouraged to think about those things that are true.
Constantly renew your minds as to what God teaches about their behaviors.
Establish structure. “But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way” (1 Corinthians 14:40).
Find a Christian mentor who also struggles with ADHD and model your behavior after them. Paul modeled godly actions for Timothy (2 Timothy 3:10–11). Undoubtedly, we all learn better by seeing than by hearing.
Identify the positive qualities God has already blessed you with. By embracing the special place that you hold in the Body of Christ, you can tap into the gifts God has given you to offer.
Take note of patterns. If you’re able to be more focused, productive, and feel good in certain situations, make a note of that.
For example, if you had a productive studying session, was it a quiet room? Were you studying in a group? Did you put your phone away? Did you exclusively use pen and paper?
Different situations work better for different people, so it’s a good idea to pay attention to what works for you.
Focus on discovering your strengths and passions.Many creative and successful people have ADHD. Research athletes and other movers and shakers that have the disorder if you don’t believe me (and hey, maybe grab some tips from them too!)
Ask for help. This could include getting help from family, teachers, professors, coaches, and friends.
Celebrate your achievements. Many people with ADHD find that it affects their self-esteem. To stay confident, try to focus on your achievements and avoid comparing yourself to others. Celebrate your own achievements, even the baby steps. Sometimes, it’s the baby steps that end up making the most impact.
Show up. If you’re unable to focus, your first instinct might be to skip class. It may be a better idea to go anyway, and you can feel good about the fact that you showed up. That alone is worth celebrating!
Have a plan for the worst. Worst-case scenarios are unlikely to happen, but you might find some peace of mind in thinking about what could go wrong and taking steps to prevent it.
For instance, if you’re afraid of losing your work, keeping the info on both your computer and cell phone or printing out a hard copy, can put your mind at ease.
Make regular time for relaxing activities. Research has found that spending time in nature could help with the symptoms of ADHD including improved behaviors and symptoms of ADHD, along with better mental well-being, attention, and memory, as well as reduced stress. A regular relaxing activity could even be something like having a mug of tea in a green space if you can, or in a cozy corner of your house, every morning.
Advocate for your own success (who else will?):
Ask others to provide you with clear expectations, directions, and limits.
Set consequences for bad behavior.
Keep a structured daily routine with the same wake-up time, mealtime, and bedtime.
Organize everyday items. You need to have a designated place for everything and keep everything in its place. This includes clothing, backpacks, and school supplies.
Use homework and notebook organizers. Use these to write down assignments and bring home the needed books. A checklist can be helpful to make sure items like schoolbooks, study notes, forms that need to be signed, etc. are brought home with you each day.

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES IN TREATMENT

Following a treatment plan can be tricky because you might need to create new routines, such as attending regular therapy appointments and taking medications consistently.

Once you get into the rhythm of treatment, these things can become like second nature. But it might take some trial and error to get there.

Here are some tips for overcoming common challenges in ADHD treatment:

Create calendar reminders. You might find that you’re missing therapy appointments because you get distracted or forget. Creating calendar reminders and alarms for appointments can help. This is also useful for remembering to take your medication.
Take notes during therapy. If you find that you’re forgetting to complete tasks between sessions, it can help to take brief notes. You can also work on action points with your therapist to complete during the week.
Talk to your doctor about medication side effects. Some people worry that ADHD medication can have serious side effects or is addictive. But at the right dosage, side effects tend to be fairly mild. Talk with your doctor about what to expect.
Don’t try to do too much at once. Pick one or two habits to work on at a time.
Don't go overboard.

PREPARING FOR LIFE ON YOUR OWN

Make a plan for how you can and will manage your meds on your own.
How will you make sure to order new medication before it runs out?
If you are moving away or leaving for college, make sure you have another doctor or ADHD professional near your new home so you can get help when you need it.
Plan ahead for the daily responsibilities you will face when you’re on your own.
For example, how will you manage meals and do laundry? Which bills can you expect to pay, and how will you pay them?