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Discovering the Upsides of ADHD

Reviewed by Heather Cashell, LCSW · November 04, 2020 ·

When you hear people talking about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD, you mostly hear about the bad effects it can have on your life. But what about all the benefits of ADHD? There are a lot of them, and many people are unaware because they are too focused on many stereotypical or negative symptoms of ADHD.

Learn the Benefits of ADHD

Some of the benefits of ADHD include extra energy, hyperfocus, having a fun personality, generosity, creativity, a love of new things, and many more. A lot of people with ADHD are very social because they are often so energetic and want to do something fun. Although it may not always feel like it, your ADHD is a good motivator for whatever you want to do.

  • Extra energy: Who doesn’t want extra energy? So many people complain about being tired or worn out. You will hardly ever hear that from someone with ADHD. The main symptom of ADHD is hyperactivity so that explains a lot.

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  • Hyperfocus: Being able to focus and persist in one thing is a big bonus in most cases. Although some people with ADHD can have trouble with this trait, others have found that putting all of their attention into one thing can make a big difference in your life.
  • Personality traits: Those with ADHD often have that charismatic personality that attracts everyone. Whether it is the energy, fun sense of humor, constant generosity, or one of the other traits, others just seem to be drawn to you.
  • Generosity: One of the most notable traits in children with ADHD is generosity. Nobody is certain why those with ADHD are more generous but it sure is a nice benefit for those around you.
  • Creativity: It seems like you are always coming up with new ideas. It may be from your overactive brain that is always working or your ability to see things from a different perspective. Whatever it is, it is certainly a plus.
  • Impulsivity: Although being impulsive may not be great in some situations, it is fun for anyone who happens to be around you. That constant sense of adventure and excitement is beneficial to you and everyone else too.
  • Excellent sense of humor: Many people with ADHD use humor to deal with difficult situations, which makes you a lot of fun to be around. Always looking for the fun in things, you are the life of the party.
  • Persistence: Once you get an idea in your head, it may be difficult to get it out of there. Sometimes this may seem like a negative aspect, but it is a benefit. Persistence is especially great for your career.
  • Compassion: It may be because those with ADHD have had to deal with so many obstacles in life, but compassion is one thing that almost all people with ADHD have a lot of. You may seem to understand because you have had to go through so much in your past.
  • Motivation: It does not take much to get you motivated. It is almost impossible to get rid of that motivation. This makes you an excellent self-starter and team player because you are always motivating others with your energy.

Celebrities with ADHD

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But it does not stop there. Those with ADHD are not just excellent friends, team members, and coworkers, you are also part of a group that is known to be extremely intelligent and creative. For example, some of the famous personalities with ADHD include Justin Timberlake, Adam Levine, Howie Mandel, Ty Pennington, Channing Tatum, and Michael Phelps.

What Are the Signs of ADHD?

You can take an ADHD test online anytime and it only takes a few minutes. There are many different signs of ADHD and they can vary from person to person, but there are a group of the most common symptoms that almost all people with ADHD have experienced. Some of these include:

  • Inability to focus
  • Racing thoughts
  • Forgetfulness
  • Talking too much
  • Trouble sitting still
  • Not being able to manage time properly
  • Hyperactivity
  • Having exaggerated emotions
  • Not being able to pay attention
  • Inability to follow directions
  • Interrupting others who are talking
  • Losing things all the time
  • Very easily distracted
  • Does not like to wait for anything
  • Tapping feet, fingers, and humming
  • Getting bored easily

Who Gets ADHD?

Researchers and scientists are still trying to determine what causes certain people to develop ADHD when others do not. It is baffling when one child out of several in one family develops the disorder while the others do not. Some experts believe it is genetics, but that would mean that all the children in the family would be more susceptible. Here are some other risk factors for ADHD:

  • Having a mood disorder, anxiety disorder, or addiction
  • Exposure to toxins or pollution
  • Some type of injury to the brain or developmental disorder
  • Family history of ADHD or other mental health conditions
  • Having a low birth rate
  • Mother smoked, drank, or did drugs during pregnancy
  • Central nervous system problems
  • Certain nutritional deficiencies

Career Choices and Goals

Now that you know some of the benefits of ADHD, you can put them to good use in determining your goals and future career. Some careers are excellent for those with ADHD while others are not so great.

  • Chef: Any kind of artistic or creative job such as being a chef is a good choice for anyone with ADHD. Nowadays, meals are more than just making food with a good recipe. It is an art form where chefs make your food look like a masterpiece. It is often so pretty, that you don’t want to mess it up by eating it. ADHD can provide you with creative skills to become an excellent and successful chef.

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  • Cosmetology: Another way of expressing your creativity is by being a cosmetologist. Not only is it a fun and exciting job that lets you be an artist, but it is also constantly changing because your clients are typically in and out in 30 minutes or less. That allows you to have a lot of different challenges and tasks.
  • Entrepreneur: Because those with ADHD can sometimes have trouble following directions or being told what to do, being your boss can be an excellent idea. This allows you to work on your terms and you can use all that energy working on something you like to do.
  • First Responder: Emergency medical technicians (EMTs), firefighters, and police officers have very exciting jobs, and that excitement is attractive to those with ADHD. Constantly being on the move, helping others, and engaging in risky behavior are all things that people with ADHD love to do.

Jobs You May Not Enjoy

Any kind of job that requires you to sit in one spot, stay focused on one job all day, or do something that you do not find interesting can be troublesome for people with ADHD. Your overactive brain may cause you to try to multitask all the time, which you should avoid. That just encourages you to work on too many things at once and then you may not finish any of them. Some of the common jobs you may not like to include:

  • Assembly line or factory work: This is a repetitive job that will annoy anyone who does not flourish in a job where you do the same thing over and over again. People with ADHD will likely get bored easily and start drifting off.
  • Stockperson: Similar to assembly line work, a stock person has to do the same or similar things over and over as well. You may get bored in this type of job as well.
  • Truck driver: Sitting in one spot driving hour after hour and day after day can be monotonous to anyone. There are not many people who are cut out for this kind of work. However, some people with ADHD may find that they enjoy the different scenery and being out and about instead of sitting at a desk.
  • Customer service: It takes a special person to work in customer service. You must have patience, empathy, and a lot of restraint to listen to people complain all day long. Tie that in with sitting all day at a computer and you may find yourself wanting to flee.
  • Librarian: Being in a quiet environment all day can be tough on someone with ADHD. It may be hard for anyone. But those with ADHD sometimes have trouble keeping a low profile or working quietly all day. And there is not much stimulation at the library.

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  • Accountant: Even if you love math and working with numbers, accounting can be a monotonous job. Those with ADHD may find concentrating on number-crunching all day to be too much for them.
  • Executive assistant: What used to be known as a secretary, the executive assistant has the job of planning everything for their boss ahead of time and even anticipating their needs before they even know what they are. It requires a lot of organization and very little excitement.

Benefits of Talking to a Therapist

Another benefit of having ADHD is that you get to talk to a professional mental health expert who can help you organize your life or whatever else you may need. Talking to someone about your accomplishments as well as your struggles can be beneficial for anyone. If you are questioning if you have ADHD, and these symptoms sound familiar, take an online ADHD test to learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Does ADHD have any benefits?
Why Is ADHD a superpower?
Does ADHD have upsides?
Why ADHD is a gift?
What are adults with ADHD good at?
Do ADHD brains work faster?
Are ADHD smarter?
Why do I work better at night ADHD?
Is ADHD a form of autism?
Does ADHD worsen with age?

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