Director, Free2BMe Therapy Services | #ADHD | #Autism | Counselling and Psychotherapy | Training | Neurodiversity training, education and inclusion | Better mental health and better services for neurodivergent people
It is absolutely wonderful that these two young neurodivergent adults have found that an alcohol free life works better for them and their brains. More power to them. However, if you're a therapist, coach or other helping professional working with autistic and/or ADHD adults, please don't take this as general advice and apply it to all your clients. Here's why. ➡️ Giving advice to someone who drinks heavily to stop drinking can potentially be dangerous as it can put them into withdrawal. ➡️ Advising adult clients they shouldn't drink alcohol simply because they have ADHD or autism could be interpreted as discriminatory. ➡️ Advising a client to suddenly remove what might be a long held coping mechanism can mean the emotions and experiences that have been suppressed start to suddenly re-emerge. This can lead to emotional overwhelm, flooding, and resorting to other coping mechanisms that may be even less safe for them. We need to consider clients' support systems, readiness for change, physical and emotional safety, and capacity for self-regulation before we think about changing/removing unhelpful coping mechanisms. If you are concerned about a neurodivergent client's alcohol use, by all means have the conversation, but please help them to access the right services to support them to reduce or stop safely.
🧠 autistic ADHDer | 📚 author of UNMASKED & how to be you
"I do really believe people with ADHD shouldn't drink." This is something new for me; recently, I reached 100 days(!) sober 🫡 I'd fallen into the trap of thinking a pint would: • make me get on better with people • help settle any nerves • silence self-deprecating thoughts about being annoying/weird/awkward Turns out, the drink was unnecessary. I can get on well with everyone in the room just fine. Plus, I don't (always) have debilitating anxiety the following day. This, in itself, is a MASSIVE confidence booster. So while I've not *officially* decided to adopt the "sober" label, I'm very proud of this lil milestone 🥹 P.S. Listen to the full chat (with THE Jordan Stephens) here: https://lnkd.in/eAt8mmZC P.P.S. Who's just completed Sober October? 👏 Video description: I'm a white woman with long red hair and glasses, talking to Jordan Stephens (a mixed-race man wearing a cap). We're sitting in front of bookshelves and speaking into microphones. #Neurodivergent
When and if the conversation starts around alcohol, completion of an AUDIT, then if signposted by results the SADQ is helpful. This will then help them and you to understand the level of physical addiction and referral to services for support. I always encourage over the counter vitamins for those drinking to replenish the vitb/thiamin to avoid long term impact.
Finance Lead for VMO2 Business rates and BPO Neurodiversity ERG Chair Neurodiversity Coach Psychology Student Samaritans Listening Volunteer ** All views are my own **
3moI do agree with what you are saying, it’s right to have a cautious approach. It should be part of the wider conversation around how their lifestyle may be hindering not helping. As someone with ADHD who has not drank for almostt five years I would struggle to not give this advice. I do agree with signposting to the right services, when I cut out alcohol I had to deal with a huge amount of symptoms and emotions that I had been masking. There was a torrent of head stuff to process, it’s important that choosing an alcohol free life is done with the right support both mentally and physically. This is outside of coaching and therapy.