Confidence & ADHD, the Connection and Strategies for Success

Everyone, regardless of who they are or what they do, experiences periods of self-doubt and struggle. However, these moments can feel more intense for those dealing with ADHD. Nonetheless, the path to reclaiming your power and boosting your confidence is within reach.

The Dual Face of Confidence

Confidence is more than just a positive sentiment. It's a state of being that gives you the power to face life's hurdles head-on. Confidence:

• Facilitates clear thinking and decision-making
• Enables high performance with less effort
• Equips you to withstand challenges more resiliently

However, there are moments when this confidence is hijacked by stress, or for individuals with ADHD, by an overactive Default Mode Network (DMN). Our ability to think clearly and act confidently can be hampered in these instances.

Confidence and ADHD: A Complex Relationship

ADHD and confidence share a complex relationship. A common challenge for people with ADHD is an overactive Default Mode Network (DMN), which is one of the two key networks in our brains. The DMN is the part of our brain responsible for dreaming and creativity. However, staying in the DMN for extended periods can lead to negative thinking and catastrophizing, ultimately eroding our confidence.

To manage this, one must learn to switch from the DMN to the Task Positive Network (TPN) - the part of the brain that gets us into action and helps accomplish tasks.

Short brain science

• Default Mode Network (DMN): Fuels creativity and dreaming. However, staying too long in DMN mode can lead to negative thinking and catastrophizing, especially for those with ADHD.
• Task Positive Network (TPN): Activates and helps us accomplish tasks effectively.

For those with ADHD, we tend to get stuck in DMN often; we actually don't have an auto switch to toggle back and forth between these two networks. So we need to be extra aware when we get stuck in DMN and learn techniques to switch back to TPN.

Knowing how to switch from the DMN to the TPN can help to prevent negative spirals and regain focus.

A Three-Tiered Approach to Confidence

Confidence isn't about achieving specific goals or tasks—it's about your perspective on approaching them. This can be best described through a job interview scenario, showcasing three approaches to increase your confidence:

1. Goal-Oriented Approach: This perspective focuses solely on getting the job. It's attached, result-driven, and burdened with pressure, potentially hindering your confidence.
2. Skill-Enhancement Approach: Here, the job interview serves as an opportunity to hone your skills - communication, presentation, or the art of selling yourself. The focus shifts from the result to personal growth, lightening the pressure and reinforcing your confidence.
3. Self-Discovery Approach: The most liberating perspective of all, it transforms every interview into a learning journey. Regardless of the outcome, each interview teaches you something about yourself, furthering self-awareness and increasing confidence. This approach cultivates a calmer mindset, removing the fight-or-flight response and allowing curiosity to fuel your confidence.

Boosting Confidence: Strategies to Combat ADHD

To tackle the impact of ADHD on confidence, consider these strategies:

1. Interrupting Negative Patterns: When you notice negative thoughts overwhelming you, change the scenario. Switch tasks, do something different to reset your DMN and activate your TPN.
2. Manage Your Mindset: Mindset management precedes goal-setting. Adopting the right perspective towards achieving a goal can ease the journey and make it less daunting.

Everyone experiences moments of self-doubt and struggle. But with these strategies, you can better manage these instances and emerge stronger, especially with #ADHD

So, keep exploring, learning, and, most importantly, keep on shining!

Please share this post if it was helpful, and extend the help to another person who might benefit.

If you enjoyed this content and want to explore confidence and ADHD, I invite you to join our ADHD Community starting this Sept; only a few spots are left for this bi-weekly group coaching.

• More on DMN talk can be found in my interview with Dr. Hallowell on Proudly ADHD Podcast.
• The original content of this post was published on ProudlyADHDPodcast.com.