AANHPI with ADHD

Being Filipino or Asian American and having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can be extremely difficult, frustrating and confusing! Many of us were diagnosed as adults. Some of us want to be assessed for ADHD but can’t afford neuropsychological testing. And some suspect we have ADHD but are afraid being told to take medications.

Regardless of where you are in your ADHD journey, our experiences may sound similar. We have a lot of difficulty regulating our emotions which may cause a lot of relationship issues. We tend to snap at people, say things impulsively, talk too much, zone out when someone is speaking to us, talk over people, overshare, and let anxiety spiral out of control.

We also have a lot of difficulty with executive functioning. Executive functioning refers to a set of cognitive processes that are essential for controlling and regulating behavior, particularly when working towards goals or adapting to new or complex situations. These processes include a variety of mental skills that help individuals manage time, pay attention, switch focus, plan and organize, remember details, and control impulses.

We don’t want to use ADHD as an excuse but the symptoms of ADHD cause havoc at work, home, friendships, relationships, and families. Partners often end up sick and tired of reminding us to do our chores. Our parents assume we never applied ourselves to school or work despite being highly intelligent. Maybe you procrastinate so hard that the only time you complete work tasks is when there are deadlines and serious consequences. Your friends may think you dominate conversations and they don’t say anything because they don’t want to hurt your feelings. People feel frustrated at us but they fail to realize that we are seriously frustrated with ourselves.

We want to be able to be successful in all areas of our lives. And you certainly can! You can learn how to manage symptoms of ADHD so it doesn’t have such a negative impact. We can undo the cycle of shame to make way for self-acceptance. You will still forget your keys but at least you won’t beat yourself up over it. If you’re curious about therapy and how it can help you, contact us to ask questions. You can also set up a free no-pressure 15-minute phone call.