ADHD and the Global Pandemic
This last year has led to a global reset on multiple levels. Our “normal” has been completely redefined. Jobs have been lost, family members have been sick or died, relationships have drastically changed, and the way that we work, parent, and live our everyday lives has shifted. As we move into this “new normal,” it is important to reflect on this past year and the changes it’s brought. As an ADHD therapist, I have observed many consequences on my clients’ basic everyday functioning due to life during the pandemic. Moving forward, we should think about what we can bring with us, and what we need to leave behind.
The Work from Home Impact on ADHD
We all know how COVID-19 has sent our world into a panic. Those of us who could work from home transitioned to telecommuting and doing most everything else from home as well. Over my counseling sessions, my clients have discussed both the negatives and positives of WFH this past year. There have been some good things that have come from working from home, like gaining an extra hour or two in their day now that they do not have to commute to and from work. Likewise, working from home also can allow for added breaks, lunchtime workouts or long walks, and extra time with the family. These benefits of life at home have helped some of my clients, specifically those diagnosed with ADHD.
On the other hand, the lack of structure can and has been incredibly difficult for many of my clients with attention issues. For example, when working in the office, we have access to adult human interaction. There are in-person meetings with peers, lunch breaks with co-workers, and a set time of day when work usually starts and when it ends. But, when working at home, the line between personal and work life often becomes blurred. It may seem as though you’re always working, yet never working enough. Some of us are parenting and/or engaging with our partners. Others are living alone and taking the late-night international work calls, while filling their afternoons with errands, responding to emails, or other personal tasks. All of these moments of our lives that used to have a daily structure are now competing for attention throughout our day. As I often discuss with my clients, boundaries are essential to staying balanced and keeping the ADHD brain on track and productive.
Pandemic Parenting and ADHD
My kids have just returned to in-person school for the first time in a year. As a mother of three young children, I have myself experienced some of the challenges and feelings of burnout that the pandemic has caused for many, yet I can only begin to understand how this tragedy has devastated families across the world. There are truly no words for how challenging it is to parent in a global pandemic.
There is so much anxiety and fear that comes along with all of the decisions we make for our families, like whether or not they should play with friends or at the playground, participate in team sports, or go back to in-person learning. We are in a constant state of decision making and negotiating, with ourselves and our partners. These are only a few of the questions that parents have been forced to answer in this last year. Add to the mix: Zoom-schooling your kids, taking care of the home, making additional meals, AND working a full workday. The pressure that parents have faced during COVID has been very intense. But if you’re reading this and have gotten this far, then you are one step closer to making it through. We all need to collectively pat ourselves on the back. This has not been easy.
As I touched on earlier, for those with ADHD, working from home has provided benefits, but also costs. There are new sources of distraction. And being so close to our housemates and family members has caused the realization of symptoms and stressors. Many of my clients have noticed symptoms of ADHD in their children, perhaps due to the pandemic or due to spending more time with them. Likewise, parents of children diagnosed with ADHD are noticing they are struggling with some of the same issues themselves, and are reaching out for therapy or assessment of their ADHD.
The Return to “Normal”
Now that the circumstances are changing and many people are receiving the vaccine, the urge to get back to “life as usual” has drastically increased. Many of us want to get back out into the world to see friends and family, go to dinner gatherings, and even start dating new people. Yet, on the other hand, some people are nervous about getting back out there and have felt solace in the closed-off-ness of the past year, even learning to lean into the thoughts of being a true introvert. It makes sense. Our home has been like our safety net – a contained place where we feel safe and content.
There are many reasons people are having anxiety about the world moving more toward normalcy. It could have to do with the hesitation you feel in having to interact with certain hard-to-work-with individuals at work, or a fear of running into a pre-pandemic ex-boyfriend or girlfriend. It could also be that you feel you’ve gained weight, and the thought of putting on business attire from last year is panic-inducing. The idea of interaction outside of the inner social circle that you’ve spent the last year with can be frightening. And given the uncertainty and hopelessness we all felt this last year, it makes sense that we’d feel the same way about the future.
ADHD Post-Pandemic
What I continue to notice is the need for people to connect with others. I encourage all of my clients to regularly text and call friends and family members to stay connected through all of this. But sometimes connection alone isn’t enough. Our therapists have all noticed a trend of loneliness in our clients. They find that the relationships closest to them – usually in their homes – can be stressful and overwhelming, and they long for the connections within the greater community. For those living alone, the lack of physical touch, whether it be romantic or not, has added to the feelings of loneliness. And factors such as this have contributed to clients’ existing issues of depression, insomnia, and anxiety.
Additionally, the diagnosis of rejection-sensitive dysphoria (RSD) has been on the rise. Often, after monumental world events, the medical and mental-health worlds embark on new discoveries. As specialized ADHD therapists, we have known and understood RSD for years. The rest of the world is becoming more aware of RSD and its impact on those with ADHD, as the pandemic has certainly helped get the word out.
2020 and the COVID era have impacted how we feel about ourselves and the world around us. Those with RSD have experienced the effects of this pressure long before the pandemic, but now many others are experiencing it too. As we move into a post-pandemic world, I believe that we may see an uptick in ADHD and RSD diagnoses. As much as I do not want individuals to suffer from either of these disorders, I also want people to know that having ADHD is not always a negative experience. Many of my clients have heard me claim that ADHD can be your superpower!
Reach Out to Others
Moving into a new era of this pandemic, I encourage you to reach out within your communities. Get in touch, find time to actually sit together (as far apart as the CDC currently recommends!), have a picnic or go for a hike, and just be outside! On the other hand, now is the time to take care of yourself, make the doctor's appointments you’ve been putting off doing, and think about the opportunity to get involved with supporting your mental health. Due to the pandemic, there are now many ways to access mental healthcare. You can meet with a therapist online or join an online support group. This can help decrease feelings of social anxiety as you start a new experience.
Considering ADHD Treatment in San Francisco, CA?
At the California Integrative Counseling Center, we will continue to offer online therapy sessions even after the pandemic has ended and are excited to get back to our counseling office in downtown San Francisco for those clients who would like to meet in person. We all have been in this place of stagnation for over a year, but as we come out of it, I encourage you to grow towards a greater version of yourself. And perhaps ADHD treatment is a part of your growth. If you have any questions about ADHD therapy or our practice, please book a free 20-minute consultation call.
Additional Services at California Integrative Counseling Center
Here at our San Francisco, CA area counseling center, we want to prioritize your goals for therapy. Our therapists are highly trained in ADHD treatment, but offer other therapy services as well. If you are amidst a major life change, we can support you in counseling for life transitions. And if you would like support in your relationship, we offer couples therapy and marriage counseling. Additionally, all of our services will be available virtually using online therapy in California even after the pandemic.
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