THAT’S A WRAP: ANNUAL ADHD CONFERENCE 2019
Last Saturday 26 October, more than 140 people came together to share and better understand their experiences with ADHD.
The ADDults with ADHD Annual Conference is about bringing together leading Australian experts with those who might be affected with ADHD to provide information, strategies and tips. The conference is just one way ADDults with ADHD is working to create a community that fully supports, understands and accommodates ADHD.
The day kicked off with a talk from Mark Brandtman, ADHD Coach and former President of ADDults with ADHD who addressed the differences between therapy and coaching when managing and treating ADHD. While everyone’s treatment is unique and tailored for what works for them, Mark highlighted a number of practical day-to-day strategies that can assist with some of the daily challenges that can come from living with ADHD. Coaching can be a useful tool to keep us motivated, identify triggers, and implement strategies to progress us forward.
Psychiatrist Dr Keith Chee followed, providing an insightful presentation on co-morbid conditions in ADHD. According to Dr Chee, co-morbidities are disorders that co-exist with ADHD and occur frequently, affecting 50-80% of those diagnosed with ADHD. Most commonly, depression, anxiety, impulsivity and behavioural disorders tend to show a prevalence with those impacted with ADHD.
Psychiatrist Dr Peter Hoey delved into why ADHD can be effectively treated and managed, with extensive research demonstrating how those affected show a good molecular response to medication available.
Joining us via video link, ADHD Coaches Monica and John Hassell from CONNECT ADHD discussed the importance of perspective – highlighting how symptoms and behaviours associated with ADHD can be strengths to use to our advantage, particularly through cognitive dynamism, courage, energy, humanity, resilience and transcendence.
“[People with ADHD] enjoy working socially in two different ways; we can be brilliant collaborators, [and] competitive with others, challenging ourselves to succeed” – John Hassell
Clinical Psychologist Dr Amanda Mullin outlined the three secrets of emotional intelligence for those with ADHD to consider - including self-awareness, other awareness and emotional regulation.
According to Dr Mullin, our emotions fire off 2.5 times more rapidly in the brain than our thoughts – and when you have ADHD everything tends to move a lot faster. It’s therefore important to take time to understand our emotions, before acting out on them.
“You need to NAME it before you can TAME it” – Dr Amanda Mullin on emotional regulation.
Dr David Hong a Credentialed Mental Health Nurse and practicing Family & Couple Therapist, spoke about 'expanding the system when working with the ADHD Adolescents and their Families', and about looking for competence, as well as 'how to mobilise resources' and leverage the school and family system to have a better outcome.
David's presentation included two videos, one that demonstrated his approach to engaging with teachers to support students with ADHD, and a second that was an interview with one of his clients, Jason, who had turned around his relationship with education and successfully taken on an apprenticeship in the face of his ADHD.
SEE ALL PHOTOS OF THE 2019 CONFERENCE! GO TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE or CLICK THIS LINK: https://www.facebook.com/pg/ADDultswithADHD/photos/?tab=album&album_id=3197537503653367
STAY TUNED!
FULL DETAILS of the next "ADHD AWARENESS AFTERNOON" seminar. It will be held on Saturday 7 December 2019. We will post more details on this site and our Facebook Page very soon. Don't miss it! It is a great event to learn, mix and share with others who have ADHD as Christmas approaches.
