Are You ADHD and Reluctant to Accept Good Advice?

by Cynthia Hammer, MSW

Over 20 years ago I learned about the benefits of mindfulness for people with ADHD, but I didn’t listen.  It was a new age-y thing, the in-thing to do. Why follow the crowd?  The thought of undertaking a new activity, even one that promised to improve my life, overwhelmed me. There were too many steps and I didn’t know where or how to begin. Would I have to read a book and self-instruct it?  What book should it be?  Did I need classes?  Where are the classes?  How expensive?  How time-consuming?  Would they be worth it? There were too many roadblocks. On top of that, I believed it was impossible for someone with ADHD to stay in the moment.

But three months ago, I learned about a free app for mindfulness. This made trying it simple and I was willing to try. I listened a few times to the program but didn’t like the instructor. It is important to find an instructor who resonates with you. I found another free app called  “UCLA Mindful.”  The instructor was calm and accepting.  She said, “You can close your eyes, or partially close them or leave them open.  Whatever works for you.”  “You may want to sit up or lie on the floor.  Whatever you decide is perfectly fine.”  There was no way I could fail with her accommodating instructions. 

Mindfulness, I wrongly thought, meant spending 30 or more minutes a day thinking of nothing.  Having no thoughts wasn’t attractive to me as I feel most alive when my mind buzzes with ideas. But I was game to try. 

At first, I was discouraged.  “I can’t do this!  My mind keeps wandering away.” I got annoyed, unable to do this simple thing. I challenged myself to improve—and I did.  After a few months of following the teacher’s instructions, I tired of her guidance. I struck out on my own.

I already spent an hour a day exercising, first on a rowing machine, then on an indoor bicycle trainer. Instead of listening to mindfulness classes while exercising, I switched to deeply listening to classical music (Amazon music on my iPhone) while rowing, and fully listening to rock and rock songs while cycling.  I am even learning song lyrics I never knew as I never listened carefully in the past.

Don’t wait 20 years to follow this good advice—practice mindfulness.  The changes are subtle but significant.  You will become more present with others; more relaxed, more at peace and happier—and you will look forward to your daily time spent in mindfulness.