Self-Awareness and the Flourish Empowerment Model for ADHD Women
Introduction
Self-awareness is a transformative aspect of the Flourish Empowerment Model for ADHD women. It’s about cultivating an intimate understanding of oneself, connecting with the body, understanding emotions and their origins, and embracing intuition and self-trust.
What is Self-Awareness?
Self-awareness is the conscious knowledge of one’s character, feelings, motives, and desires. In the context of ADHD women, it means developing a deeper understanding of how ADHD intersects with other aspects of their identity, such as race, ethnicity, socio-economic background, and sexual orientation, to create a holistic picture of their experiences and challenges.
Cultivating Self-Awareness in Our Groups
In our groups, we prioritize the cultivation of self-awareness through various techniques:
- Connecting with the Body: Learning to connect with one’s body is crucial. This involves recognizing the physical manifestations of emotions and learning to interpret them.
- Emotional Understanding: We explore the origins and meanings of emotions. This helps in identifying patterns and triggers, leading to better emotional regulation.
- Building Interoception: Interoception is the ability to understand and feel what’s happening inside your body. We teach how to build this awareness by putting words to bodily sensations linked to emotions.
- Embodiment: Becoming more embodied means being present and engaged with our physical selves. We encourage practices that enhance this connection.
- Reconnecting with Intuition: We help women reconnect with their intuition and self-trust, which are often undermined by years of systematic disembodiment and disconnection.
- Awareness Practices: Practices like timer scans and regular check-ins are employed to build moment-to-moment awareness and to remind participants to tune into their needs.
- Understanding Systematic Disembodiment: Learning about how women have been taught not to trust themselves, and how shame and criticism contribute to this, is part of the healing process.
Why Self-Awareness is Essential
Self-awareness is crucial for ADHD women as it allows for a compassionate self-view, which is vital in managing ADHD symptoms. It helps recognize immediate needs and learn to respond to them effectively and compassionately. Moreover, it enables women to navigate their lives with a clearer understanding of their strengths and challenges, fostering a sense of control and empowerment.
Conclusion
Self-awareness is the fifth core component of the Flourish Empowerment Model for ADHD women. By learning to connect with their bodies, understand their emotions, and trust their intuition, women can become more attuned to their unique needs and experiences. Through the practices and teachings of our group, self-awareness becomes not just a concept but a lived experience, opening the door to a life of greater understanding, acceptance, and flourishing.