10/22/2025
October is ADHD Awareness Month. How much do you really know about ADHD?
On our blog this week, we are diving into a modern understanding of what ADHD really is.
ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is more than just trouble focusing — it’s a neurodevelopmental condition that affects motivation, attention, and self-control. It can look like inattention, impulsivity, hyperactivity, or a blend of all three — and it often continues into adulthood.
While ADHD comes with challenges, it also brings remarkable strengths: creativity, passion, intuition, and the ability to hyperfocus on what truly matters.
💡 Drs. Hallowell and Ratey, in ADHD 2.0, reframe ADHD as VAST (Variable Attention Stimulus Trait) — a difference in how attention is regulated, not a deficit. This shift helps us see ADHD as a unique wiring of the brain, with both obstacles and powerful gifts.
🧠 Dr. Russell Barkley describes ADHD as a challenge with executive functioning — the brain’s management system that helps us plan, organize, and follow through. When this system struggles, it can feel like time slips away, tasks stay half-finished, and emotions run high.
ADHD isn’t about knowing what to do — it’s about doing what we know, consistently and on time.
Understanding ADHD through this compassionate, science-informed lens allows us to move from frustration toward empowerment and self-acceptance. 💛
Curious and want to learn more? Come talk with one of our therapists or read more on this week's blog.
