ADHD and ARTISTS
I have particular interests in adults with ADHD and artists. Often there is an overlap between the two.
Some people self-diagnose after hearing or reading about ADHD or after their child has been diagnosed. The condition in adults, when undiagnosed and untreated for years, frequently has led to feelings of low self-worth, anxiety, depression, and even despair at not fitting in with the people around you, not being able to develop a satisfying career, and difficulties in close relationships. The good news is that ADHD is the most treatable of all mental diagnoses. A combination of medication and skills training can greatly improve the problems ADHD’rs have with time blindness, disorganization, procrastination, impulsivity and distractibility.
The person who identifies as an artist often feels their identity is split between two equally important worlds: the outer world of work and commerce, and the inner world from which many artists’ creations emerge. The tension between the day job and the artist identities is painful and challenging to an authentic life in our society. Talking in a psychological way with a therapist who is also an artist can help bridge that split.