The word “self-esteem” means to have respect and a positive opinion of yourself. As an adult with ADHD you have probably had your fair share of challenges and may have been criticized because of your ADHD symptoms. Obviously, the negative feedback you have received whether it was current or in the past will contribute to any of the challenges you have with self-esteem. However, there are some simple techniques that will improve your self-esteem
Identify what you’re good at – As a person with ADHD we are all good at something whether it be its cooking, singing, doing puzzles or being a friend. Identifying what you are good at can boost your self-esteem and mood.
Build positive friendships – If you are finding certain people in your life bring you down, try to spend less time with them or explain to them about how you feel about their words or actions. Or try to build friendships with people who are positive and who appreciate you.
Be kind to yourself –Being kind to yourself means being gentle to yourself at times when you feel like being self-critical. Think what you would say to a friend in a similar situation. We often give far better advice to others than we do to ourselves.
Learn to be assertive- When you learn to be more assertive you are respecting other people’s opinions, needs and expecting the same back from them The trick is to look at other people who are assertive and copy what they do. It is about pretending you’re someone you’re not. It’s picking up hints and tips from people you admire and letting the real you come out.
Learn to saying “no”- Individuals with ADHD who have low self-esteem tend to feel like they have to say yes to friends/family even when they don’t really want to.The risk is that you become overburdened, resentful, angry and depressed. For the most part, saying no does not upset relationships. It can be helpful to keep saying no, but in different ways, until they get the message.
Give yourself a change – As an adult with ADHD we sometimes feel nervous or afraid to do certain things at times. Set yourself a goal, such as joining an exercise class or going to a social occasion. Achieving your goals will help to increase your self-esteem.