Lost Your Confidence with ADHD? Here’s How to Get It Back (and Thrive Creatively)

Discovering you have ADHD as an adult can feel like stepping into a whirlwind—relief, validation, excitement, and yes, even some sadness. But here’s the great news: it’s also your golden ticket to finally understanding yourself and reclaiming your creative confidence! If you're feeling uncertain or discouraged, remember—you’re not alone, and your journey is just beginning.

Sure, the creative industries can feel overwhelming, especially if you've battled constant feedback, struggled with consistency, or doubted your capabilities. But here's a little secret: your ADHD isn't a setback—it’s a superpower. It's time to unlock your incredible potential.

Katie Feder, a compassionate psychotherapist specialising in Process Oriented Psychology, and Wez Hawes, an innovative Executive Creative Director at Innocean Australia, join forces to offer uplifting advice for creatives navigating ADHD. Facilitated by Andy Wright, Host and CEO of Streamtime, their conversation is brimming with encouragement and practical tips to help you thrive.

Look Back with Curiosity, Not Criticism

Step one: Transform how you see your past self. Katie gently advises: "We all kind of have a tendency for the current us to criticize the past us. But the thing is, I believe that the past us did the best with the information that they had to hand."

Celebrate your resilience! You were doing your best with what you knew. Let Maya Angelou inspire you: "When we know better, we do better." Embrace your diagnosis as the chance to finally understand yourself deeply and compassionately.

Reframe ADHD as Your Creative Edge

Wez boldly reframes ADHD as your personal advantage: "This is your superpower. This is what makes you you." He highlights that creativity thrives on uniqueness: "This version of normal doesn't really exist for anyone, especially for creative people, we're all weird. There's always something about us that isn't perfect, that doesn't make us fit in."

Your ADHD gives you exceptional creative skills—hyperfocus, innovative ideas, and remarkable intuition. Far from holding you back, these traits set you apart and make you invaluable.

Build Evidence of Your Success

Katie's got an empowering exercise for you: "Find all the evidence of all the stuff you've done really well, like write a list of all the things you've done really beautifully in the past 12, 24, 36 months."

Don’t just make a list—celebrate it! Keep it where you'll regularly see it, update often, and let it remind you how amazing you truly are.

Create Confidence Through Action

Confidence is contagious and thrives through action. Katie highlights: "For your body to tap into a state, you need to do things that elicit that state. So outside of work, what are you doing that's making you feel inspired, what's making you feel creative, what's making you feel confident?"

Dive into passion projects, surround yourself with supportive collaborators, or immerse yourself in creative hobbies. Let these experiences reignite your excitement, passion, and confidence.

Use Your Diagnosis as a Reset Opportunity

Your diagnosis isn’t just an explanation; it’s your chance to hit reset! Katie beautifully frames it: "With this new information and the new diagnosis, it's also an opportunity to kind of reset, reframe, and start from a really positive basis, self-supporting basis, not self-critical basis."

Choose empowering self-talk. Instead of focusing on perceived weaknesses, celebrate your unique rhythms and powerful focus. Speak kindly to yourself and embrace your new chapter.

Find Your Tribe

Wez champions community: "I've always embraced that about myself and other creatives, always give creatives a chance." Surround yourself with mentors and friends who embrace and celebrate neurodiversity. Building these connections will uplift you and reinforce your confidence.

Connect with NNC Circles

Never Not Creative Circles are a game-changer—peer support groups tailor-made for creatives like you. In these supportive, confidential communities, you'll find understanding, inspiration, and real-life mental health strategies. Connect monthly with facilitators and peers who truly get it. Discover NNC Circles.

Know When to Seek Professional Support

Sometimes a helping hand makes all the difference. If ADHD significantly impacts your life, reach out to professionals familiar with neurodiversity in the creative sector. Tailored strategies can supercharge your wellbeing and creativity. Explore professional resources.

Access Legal Support if Needed

Facing workplace discrimination due to ADHD? Never Not Creative’s Support Line has your back, offering free initial legal advice to empower you. Knowing you have this support can make advocating for yourself less daunting. Check out the Support Line.

Your ADHD Brain Belongs in Creative Work

Never forget Wez’s inspiring reminder: "Creative people are forced to look at the world differently. They can't be controlled or put in a box." Your ADHD isn’t something to hide; it’s exactly what makes your creativity shine brightest.

Forget outdated notions of "inconsistency." The creative industry is rapidly evolving to embrace diverse working styles. Your diagnosis marks the beginning of an exciting journey of self-discovery and limitless growth. You're exactly where you belong, and your unique creativity is exactly what the world needs right now!

‍

‍