October is ADHD Awareness Month

October is ADHD Awareness Month, so I thought it was a good opportunity to talk about why raising awareness of ADHD still matters.

Although ADHD is talked about far more openly than it was when I was diagnosed, there are still plenty of misconceptions about what ADHD actually looks like. It isn't simply being distracted, hyperactive, or forgetful, and it certainly isn't something that only affects children. ADHD can affect people in very different ways, and the difficulties can often be far less obvious than people realise.

For me, one of the biggest benefits of better awareness is that it can help people understand themselves and those around them a little better. Someone who constantly loses things, struggles to start tasks, interrupts conversations, becomes overwhelmed by everyday demands, or appears inconsistent isn't necessarily lazy or not trying hard enough. There can be a lot going on underneath the surface that other people don't see.

Awareness can also make it easier for people to recognise that they might have ADHD and seek the right support, whether that means pursuing a diagnosis, finding practical strategies, accessing workplace adjustments, or simply learning more about how their brain works.

This is one of the reasons I organised my ADHD Extravaganza in September; I wanted to bring people together, raise awareness, give neurodivergent businesses and speakers a platform, and raise money for ADHD UK. We raised £540 for the charity, which is something I'm incredibly pleased about.

ADHD Awareness Month is a good reminder that we still have plenty to learn, but also that talking openly about ADHD can help reduce some of the misunderstanding and stigma that people with ADHD continue to experience.

If you have ADHD, know someone with ADHD, or simply want to understand it better, October is a good time to learn a little more.