This year, we’re shining a light not on struggles or stigma, but on acceptance, empowerment, and possibility. At Minnesota Neuropsychology, we’re working to change the mindset around ADHD — moving away from shame and self-doubt and toward understanding, self-compassion, and growth. In honor of the courageous kids, teens, and adults we’ve had the privilege to meet, this week’s newsletter is dedicated to your strength, resilience, and creativity.
Below is a collection of some of our favorite ADHD topics from the past.
📚 ADHD Basics
ADHD isn’t something people “grow out of.” It’s a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that evolves with age, and has its origins in brain development. Awareness is the key to thriving.
✨ ADHD persists across the lifespan. Symptoms may change from childhood to adulthood, but the core challenges (and strengths) remain.
✨ It impacts every area of life — school, work, relationships, finances, and health.
✨ Brains with ADHD are measurably different, with unique patterns of dopamine and executive function that influence behavior and focus.
Understanding ADHD as a lifespan condition helps replace judgment with informed compassion — for ourselves and for one another.
💬 Dr. Adams’ Guest Article on the Inattentive ADHD Coalition Website
Self-Compassion Comes Before Self-Confidence
In her guest article on the Inattentive ADHD Coalition website, Dr. Adams explains how self-compassion is the foundation of confidence.
✨ Many people with ADHD internalize years of frustration and criticism — self-kindness helps rebuild that trust.
✨ Using Dr. Kristin Neff’s three-part model (mindfulness, common humanity, and self-kindness), we can begin replacing self-blame with self-support.
✨ Gentle awareness and grounding practices help move us from reaction to intention — from shame to strength.
“Self-compassion isn’t indulgent; it’s a prerequisite for growth.”
🌈 ADHD: A Shift in Mindset
In “ADHD: A Shift in Mindset,” Dr. Adams explores how small perspective changes can lead to big breakthroughs.
✨ What if distractibility means openness?
✨ What if hyperactivity means adaptability?
✨ What if impulsivity fuels creativity?
This mindset shift isn’t about denial — it’s about embracing your brain’s natural rhythm and working with it instead of against it.
💡 Why This Matters
Across these reflections, a few truths stand out:
- Self-compassion precedes self-confidence.
- Mindset shifts unlock potential.
- ADHD is not a flaw — it’s a brain difference that creates challenges and also brings unique strengths.
Most importantly: you are not broken. Your brain works differently — and that difference fuels innovation, empathy, and originality.
❤️ A Tribute to Courage & Creativity
This month, and always, we celebrate you — the kids, teens, and adults who navigate the world with ADHD. Your persistence, humor, and creativity inspire everything we do.
You are changing the conversation from deficit to difference, and we’re honored to be part of your story.
With gratitude and hope,
Dr. Liz Adams
Founder & CEO, Minnesota Neuropsychology
