What’s up with this blog?
Welcome to the first ever entry of Maddy B. Coaching ADHD, LLC Blog! If only blog rhymed with B./ADHD/LLC, but there’s only so much change a novice blogger can do to our lexicon. Maybe if I ever get the clout Shakespeare had then I can make this extremely niche, selfish change.
I suppose for a first entry I should set your expectations for what this blog is going to be about. It’s going to be focused around different aspects of ADHD, ADHD adjacent topics, and ADHD comorbid conditions. Sometimes it may have some helpful tips, other times it may be about some facts and studies that have just come out, and sometimes it may be about topics that are impacting me personally. Much like a good DJ, I will also take requests on topics you, my readers and clients, are curious about.
Uh-oh… what is this sensation creeping in? I don’t like it.
As I write this, my first ever blog, I’m not going to lie; I feel some imposter syndrome creeping in, so that may be a good place to really start this blog. Who else here has experienced imposter syndrome? …. Okay, so a blog article isn’t the best place for a call and response, but I’m just going to assume everyone is in their respective homes either raising their hands or saying ‘why yes I have!’ just so I don’t feel less alone.
Perhaps some of you have never heard of this oh-so-wonderful little syndrome. Basically, it’s when a person has feelings of inadequacy and anxiety about doing something despite evident success. It’s chronic self-doubt, feeling like a fraud, and just feeling like a straight-up charlatan. Imposter syndrome cares not about facts. It is centered on an individuals old rules or old beliefs which might not be true.
So, why am I feeling it? How am I feeling it? The little gremlins in my head are telling me (and they sound like Gollum from Lord of the Rings- I know he’s not a gremlin and I’m mixing fantasy creatures, and what I’m about to write isn’t in Gollum’s speech pattern, but that’s besides the point), “Who are you to be writing a blog? What makes you qualified? Who’s going to want to read what YOU have to say? If you aren’t a psychiatrist with 50+ years of experience on any topic to do with the brain, you should shut up. You don’t even have a graduate degree, you suck.”
This is gross. Make it stop. Kill it with fire.
Writing down those thoughts definitely helps me give them less power. It’s like saying it out loud, or in writing- just letting them live somewhere outside of my head gives them less power. It’s easier to shine a light on how silly they can be. If you find another way to give these thoughts less power that works for you, please feel free to share them.
So lets break down some of these thoughts with some facts. Who am I to be writing this blog? Well I’m just going to assume you’ve read the ‘about me’ page on my website. That’s who I am to be writing this blog. I’m a Certified ADHD Life Coach with a BFA in Performing Arts from Savannah College of Art and Design where I graduated Magna Cum Laude. I’ll save the topic of the overlap between theater training and coaching for another blog topic. Am I new to coaching? Yes. But everyone has to start somewhere. Who’s going to read what I have to say? Anyone who is curious enough to check out my website. All I can do is hope it’s interesting and helpful enough to keep reading. Also maybe funny? I’m not claiming to be peddling miracle cures, and I’m not talking about medical science in this blog, so I don’t necessarily need a graduate degree to do this. What I do have are the skills to be a good ADHD Life Coach, and who knows, maybe one day I will decide I want to go to grad school. You never know where life is going to take you.
But those gremlins are the longest relationship I’ve had! They’ve been with me through everything! How do they even go away?
It may take time to get rid of those little imposter syndrome gremlins. They may have been with you for a while. The first step is just to notice they’re there, examine the objective truth (which can be even harder to do on your own), and change the narrative. It’s all way easier said than done, and you don’t have to do it alone if you don’t want to. Let’s talk. You know where to reach me.
Anyway, I suppose this is a good place to stop for my first blog post. If you made it this far, thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed it and will keep checking in!
