How Coping With An Adult ADHD Diagnosis Mirrors Stages of Grief

Adult ADHD Stages of Grief Infographic

If you’re coping with a new adult ADHD Diagnosis, you may be grieving. Although a diagnosis can be helpful and informative, you will do well to take your time as you move through the coping process.

No one person copes with a new adult ADHD diagnosis the same way. In fact, people pass through different stages and can even loop back to one they already “experienced.” In order to make sense of your new ADHD diagnosis, it’s helpful to review the stages of grief. This helps to normalize and make safe the difficult, sometimes uncomfortable behaviors. 

What feels abnormal and possibly uncomfortable can, in fact, be considered perfectly healthy when coping with a new adult ADHD diagnosis when you connect the dots with the Stages of Grief. 

In order to help you visualize some coping steps, the How Coping With An Adult ADHD Diagnosis Mirrors Stages of Grief infographic shown below displays the stages you may encounter with your new diagnosis.

Review the infographic to help manage your grief and emotions.

STAGE 1. DISBELIEF & DENIAL

This stage may take a long time so help, support and resources are critical to success.

STAGE 2. ANGER & UNPREDICTABLE EMOTIONALITY

You’ll need to build effective, reliable coping strategies to release extreme emotions in a healthy way.

STAGE 3. BARGAINING, NEGOTIATING, RUMBLING

Making peace with your past self is a moment-by-moment process.

STAGE 4. DEPRESSION & COCOONING

Taking time to cocoon and heal helps you re-enter when you are ready.

STAGE 5. ACCEPTING YOUR ADHD DIAGNOSIS

Acceptance is marked by the gradual waning of depression and other extreme feelings.

STAGE 6. DEVELOPING YOUR WAY FORWARD & NEW NORMAL

A ‘New Normal’ becomes available with each step you take to develop your unique way of living.

Read the full blog post here for even more information and guidance.