Why do people with ADHD hold themselves back?

Lara Honos-Webb, PhD

Psychology

Many people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) know what they are good at and yet choose to try to make a living doing something that comes harder to them. What are the reasons people do what they don’t love?

People do things they don’t love, or choose to spend their life with people they don’t love because they are trying to make other people happy – many times their parents.
They think the rewards are worth it - money, prestige, or fame – take your pick.
They never took the time to think about what they love to do or are good at.
Someone told them that life is SUPPOSED TO BE HARD.
They were afraid to risk themselves in what they really wanted. It makes us more vulnerable to put our real selves in our work. It hurts a lot more if we fail than if we are just punching a time card.
They don’t know how to do what they love.
They have limiting beliefs about what is possible or acceptable.

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