ADHD Positive

19/05/2026

Amid my own struggles with getting things done, this spoke to me today.

A gentle and compassionate reminder about what is truly important 💕

11/05/2026

Did I book a last minute trip abroad on impulse? Yes.
Did I accidentally book the wrong hotel? Also yes.
Did I leave my passport on the hotel reception desk for over an hour before realising? Absolutely 😅

ADHD can look messy from the outside, impulsive, inattentive, forgetful. But there’s another side to the story too.

My little trip was spontaneous, adventurous, open to new experiences.
I got to see two hotels 😂
Yes, it cost me a bit extra (adhd tax is a real thing) and yes, I made a mistake… but I handled it. I stayed calm, problem-solved, and everything turned out okay.

Sometimes living with ADHD means learning that mistakes don’t define us. Resilience, adaptability, humour, creativity, and courage matter too

Reframing the narrative doesn’t erase the challenges, it just reminds us that there are strengths alongside them.

08/05/2026

There’s a paradox in ADHD;
while it is often difficult to sustain attention on low-interest or repetitive tasks, we often demonstrate exceptional persistence on high interest, urgent, novel, or emotionally meaningful tasks.

This is why leaning to your strengths and interests is so important.

02/05/2026

Recently, I’ve seen a lot of posts questioning the effectiveness of talking therapy for people with ADHD.

In the years I’ve been practising, I’ve witnessed some truly dramatic transformations, as well as some people who continue to find it exceptionally difficult to achieve their goals.

Counselling isn’t going to “fix” your ADHD.

What it can do is bring an enormous amount of self-understanding, awareness, self-acceptance, and compassion. In turn, this can support increased emotional regulation, reduce rejection sensitivity, and encourage people to recognise their strengths, talents, and unique way’s of being in the world.

Counselling can also help people begin to let go of unhelpful self-beliefs shaped by years of misunderstanding, criticism, or feeling “not enough”, and develop a more positive and authentic sense of identity.

I don’t tell people what to do. I encourage people to find their own way, and to learn how to live well with ADHD, rather than constantly feeling at war with themselves.

Therapy isn’t about changing who you are. It’s about understanding yourself more deeply and creating a life that works for you.

28/04/2026

Further to my previous post…

I absolutely agree that pets do positively impact emotional and physical health.

And who has read the book… all dogs have adhd

Spending time with dogs alleviates stress and anxiety, according to a new study and the experience of ADDitude readers who say their pets lift their spirits, inspire exercise, and provide snuggles when they need it most.
👉 https://www.additudemag.com/emotional-support-animals-adhd-dog-therapy/

27/04/2026

Exciting ANNOUNCEMENT!

Coming soon to a sleepy village in North Yorkshire, Adhd Positive is returning to in person counselling sessions. (Online, video-link appointments still available)

Additionally, I’ll be offering animal assisted appointments 🐾🐾🐾

Please welcome Rosie, Bonnie and Jeanie, all vet certified as suitable therapy animals.

Having a calm and friendly dog in the room can make a real difference to how safe and supported you feel.

Dogs can;
Reduce anxiety and stress
Create a more relaxed, welcoming environment
Make it easier to open up and talk
Provide comfort without judgement
Bring a sense of grounding in overwhelming moments

For many people, especially those with ADHD, having a gentle, reassuring presence nearby can help sessions feel less formal and more natural.

Animal-assisted appointments are all about helping you feel at ease, just as you are.

26/04/2026

Behind the scenes, I’ve been decorating… and very much in ADHD style.

It started with painting the woodwork. Then the bannister. Then I got bored (painting white spindles white… not riveting) so I moved on to the walls, only the edges done, I then thought “ooh, wallpaper next!” but somewhere in between I built a shoe cabinet. Then back to painting… mainly so I could justify putting up the curtain pole 🙈

Is it finished? Of course not.
Is it coming together? Absolutely.

Here’s the thing: ADHD logic doesn’t always look linear, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong. I am getting it done, just in a way that keeps my brain engaged.

As an ADHD counsellor, I’m not someone whose ADHD is “fixed.” That’s not the goal. What matters is understanding how your mind works, building self-esteem, and learning to lean into your strengths and not stress too much about the things that don’t matter.

Different doesn’t mean broken. It means finding your way

20/04/2026

How this resonates, and what beautiful advice.

When everything feels too big…. go little.

ADHD overwhelm is real.
You don’t need to do it all…just one small step.

Counselling can help you slow things down, quiet the chaos, and move forward.

28/01/2026

Theme of today; all too often our self talk is unkind and unhelpful.

01/01/2026

After a busy festive season, my brain does not have the words right now and that is ok.

I was gifted a beautiful poetry book by this lady and today her words say all that I feel

Welcome 2026, let us take care of our health, each other, our inner peace and humanity ✨

On the stroke of midnight tonight, you can resolve to be better, if you like…
to be fitter,
to eat cleaner,
to work harder.

On the stroke of midnight tonight,
you can resolve to become a whole new you,
if you so choose.

Or, you can take a moment to acknowledge what you already are.
Because it’s a lot.
You are a lot.

And you deserve to be truly seen.

On the stroke of midnight tonight, perhaps you could congratulate yourself, for coping.
For breaking, again,
for rebuilding, again.

For catching the stones life has thrown at you,
and using them to build your castle that little bit more beautifully.

And if you have used those stones to block yourself in for the ‘heal’, perhaps you can realign them this year. Make a grander gate, not a higher wall.

You have endured, my friend.
Through times you thought unendurable. You did.

And I don’t see the need to resolve to become a whole new you,
when you are already so very much indeed.

Happy new year.

You made it.

Now let us face another 365 day-turn, arms wide…
accepting, embracing and ‘seeing’ one other,
for all we truly are…

breaks and all.

Donna Ashworth