Learning to lead with well-being, to turn burnout into breakthrough.

I started VAST coaching in 2018. By 2019, my practice was full of creative, passionate leaders, small business owners, and weekend warriors. They were burnt out physically, mentally, and emotionally.

They had a strong drive and were willing to work long hours, so it was not surprising that they experienced burnout. However, what surprised me at the time was that more than half of them had been formally diagnosed with ADHD .

My other clients’ frustrations and fears were remarkably similar to those with a formal diagnosis for ADHD. This was even more surprising.

I started to re-evaluate what was really driving my clients frustrations. Which lead to a lot of reading for me. Studies show that 10% of adults have ADHD . Shockingly, 80% of them don't know . Small business owners, leaders, and entrepreneurs may have ahigher rate of ADHD than the general population .

Joanne Steer wrote a book called "Understanding ADHD in Girls & Women." The book tells stories about women who found out they had ADHD when their children were diagnosed. These women had also hard time in school.

One popular meme by Hannah Berner wonders ""Does anyone else feel like they are a lazy perfectionist, with ADHD and chronic fatigue; who is pretty chill, besides the occasional panic attack and loves their friends, but hates people?"

These women did not realize that their experiences were indicative of ADHD. They thought their symptoms were "normal." And they are right. ADHD includes "normal" experiences that we all might have at some point in our lives. It is the frequency and intensity of the symptoms that tip the scales into the realm of diagnosis.

The Diagnostic criteria is part of the biomedical model. It sees psychiatric conditions as diseases or disabilities. This model focuses on the differences in "being" that make it challenging to maintain employment and daily living activities. Many people who are academically high-achieving, passionate about their work, and able to support themselves and loved ones have interest based nervous systems. These people often never receive a formal ADHD diagnosis in the biomedical model. Their nervous systems function similarly to those of their diagnosed peers. But, they have systems and structures that reduce friction for them enabling them to function well, enough. So, they do not meet the criteria for a diagnosis. Like being deaf in a society where everyone signs . Deaf people do have a physical difference in how they feel vibrations in their ear, but in a society where everyone signs their difference in vibrational sense does not prohibit them from communicating.

Many people with ADHD do not recognize it in themselves or others because we have the wrong idea of what ADHD looks like. Some people think a boxers fracture is a sign of ADHD. Studies link driving records with ADHD, and other studies show specific behaviors on Twitter that are consistent with ADHD. But it's important to note that you can still have ADHD even if you have a perfect driving record, no broken bones, and don't use social media. A core part of the diagnosis criteria is hyperactivity which is more common in children than in adults, so it was thought that ADHD only affects children . However, in adults, hyperactivity is often experienced mentally as racing thoughts, conflicting emotions, and feeling unfulfilled.

One possible reason for differences with ADHD is the rate that regions of the brain develop . It's estimated that the prefrontal cortex in people with ADHD develops fully around the age of 35. Dr.Russell Barkley , estimates this to be a developmental delay of 30%. In Hallowell's influential book "Driven to Distraction," he compares the ADHD brain to a Ferrari engine with bicycle brakes. Because of this, we might expect to see a higher rate of ADHD in certain populations. It is interesting to note that 12 step programs like AA , NA, FAA, GA, SAA, and CoDA are also associated with a higher rate of ADHD in participants. Some studies show that the same behaviors seen in people with high ACE scores also overlap with ADHD .

Leaders, owners, and entrepreneurs have a higher than average percentage of ADHD. Although there is some evidence to support this claim, it aligns with common themes for people with ADHD. We have a higher tolerance for "risk." We seek more stimulation. It also relates to the mismatched needs of traditional job roles and the way someone with ADHD functions best. As an owner or leader you have more authority to structure how you get work done vs in less autonomous roles.

About 10% of the general population has ADHD. And about 80% of those people don't know they have ADHD. Leaders, owners, and entrepreneurs have an even higher rate and percentage. So, out of the over 4.2 million small business owners, there might be 350,000 individuals who don't realize that their struggles come from a neuro-developmental difference in their nervous system.

Knowing what I know now about ADHD it is not a surprise that a majority of my clients were small business owners with an ADHD diagnosis. Frustrated with their business, themselves and their life. They were burning out and their well intentioned efforts seem to be intensifying their symptoms. These over-achievers are tired of feeling as though no matter what they do, it's never enough . This is a population that I understood. (It takes one to know one.)

There is a running concept that I am always a client first long before I am ever a practitioner.

I worked with a personal trainer three years before I enrolled in a Personal Training Certification program.

I was on DC Bill’s treatment table for chronic groin pain from over-use and chronic-stress well before I became a certified manual therapist and an ART , NKT , and P-DTR provider.

Before I enrolled in the Certified Clinical Hypnotherapy program at HMI , I was a client seeking to improve my performance, get support for my sleep issue, and manage my chronic stress symptoms.

I experienced somatic therapy well before I pursued my Certified Trauma Professional designation.

I started working with my coach before I enrolled in the College of Executive Coaching's Positive Psychology Coaching Certification.

With ADHD being a common occurrence in my practice I decided to enroll at ADDCA . ADDCA is the most respected vocational ADHD coaching organization. Edward M Hallowell M.D. ( often credited for bringing Adult ADHD into mainstream consciousness) speaks to the effectiveness of coaching for ADHD and recommends ADDCA as an effective educational organization.

By the end of the ADHD program, I had decided to undergo my own formal neuropsychological examination . Just like the mothers in Joanne Steer's book, I only understood my own experiences as ADHD after empathizing with others who were diagnosed. The evaluation also showed evidence for other conditions, dyslexia etc.

As a professional I do not diagnose or treat ADHD (or other mental and medical health conditions). However, I do assist frustrated professionals who need personalized solutions for work-life balance, time management, executive functions, limiting beliefs, and sensorial accommodations. Developing systems and structures that support your passion and accommodate your individual needs is essential in combating chronic stress and burnout.

I partner with therapists, psychiatrists, mental health nurse practitioners, couples counselors, and addiction specialists. I also work with M.D.'s, endocrinologists, functional medicine doctors, doctors of physical therapy, and acupuncturists. In addition, my clients also like working with nutrionists , diaticians, strength coaches, executive coaches, and massage therapists for personal and professional reasons.

I am amazed to see which interventions and approaches help me, my clients, colleagues, and their clients. It is fascinating to see what studies and evidence support these interventions, strategies, and approaches to increasing well-being, especially for leaders with interest based nervous systems. I love being able to stay flexible and open to what might best support my clients. Even if clients have the same diagnosis, or not, an intervention that helps one may not necessarily help another. Getting collaborative and staying curious about my clients fears, frustrations hopes and aspirations is exiting and rewarding.

There are a lot of similar themes for these clients. But, everyone has their very own unique experience that informs how those themes affect them. And they may change day to day or from one season of their life to the next. It's exciting to get creative and co-create a compassionate system that adapts with them in real time.

I love seeing leaders learning to lead with well-being, being able to turn their burnout into a breakthrough.