October: ADHD Awareness Month

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October is ADHD Awareness Month, and for me and one of my boys, that means a little more than a hashtag or awareness ribbon. ADHD is our everyday reality. It never ends. Our brains just don’t shut off, not at night, not during the day, they run 24/7.

Living With ADHD as an Adult

I saw a doctor in 2024, and was diagnosed. I went through the process of trying different medications. Some helped a little, but none of them felt like a good long-term fit for me. After several trials, I made the decision to stay unmedicated. It doesn’t mean ADHD is easier for me. It means I’ve chosen to manage it with awareness, routines, and acceptance that my brain is wired differently. Some days it feels like a strength, other days it’s exhausting. Extremely exhausting.

Supporting Our Son

My son’s journey has been much the same. We’ve trialed multiple medications with him, and just a few days ago we had another appointment where we decided to make changes to his again. Watching him go through this process is tough. He struggles not only with ADHD, but also with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). That combination makes our days a mix of highs and lows. We celebrate progress, but we also wrestle with the challenges that come with constant trial and error.

School Challenges and Progress

Before medication, school was really tough for him. We were always getting notes home from teachers about his behavior — being fidgety, impulsive, blurting things out, or struggling to sit still long enough to finish work. Those little things added up, and he often got into trouble.

Once he started on medication, though, we saw a big shift. He became more focused in class, was able to sit through lessons, and started doing so much better academically. He still has fidgety days — that’s just part of who he is — but overall, school isn’t the daily struggle it once was. Now he holds it together at school and saves most of his ornery behaviors for home, where he feels safe to let it out.

Why It’s Hard to Explain

One of the hardest parts about ADHD is that unless you live with it, it’s difficult to understand. I can see in my son’s behavior the same struggles I face myself. The restlessness, the frustration, the feeling of being “too much” at times. I get it because I live it. Others who don’t have ADHD often can’t fully grasp how consuming it is to have a brain that doesn’t stop.

Awareness Matters

ADHD Awareness Month isn’t just about facts and statistics. It’s about people and families like mine. It’s about kids who are trying medication after medication, parents who are doing their best to support them, and adults who are still figuring out what works for their own lives. Awareness means creating space for compassion, for patience, and for a better understanding of what it really means to live with ADHD.

Key Takeaways

• ADHD is a lifelong condition, not just something kids “grow out of.”
• Medication can help, but it doesn’t work the same for everyone and it isn’t the only option.
• Families navigating ADHD and ODD face unique daily struggles that require patience and persistence.
• Awareness leads to empathy, and empathy leads to better support for kids and adults alike.

More on ADHD and ODD from Our Family Journey

If you found this post helpful, here are few more blogs I’ve written about ADHD and ODD that you may want to check out:

• The Hard Days of Parenting ADHD and ODD
• Parenting Through ADHD & ODD
• Sensory Toys and Fidgets for Kids with ADHD/ODD
• One Year In: Our Childs ADHD/ODD Journey
• Where Are We Now – Our Christmas Miracle Baby
• A Mamas Mental Health Journey
• Choosing My Mental Health as a Mom: One Year Later
• Mental Health Awareness Month For Mamas
• The Emotional Toll of the Medical System

FAQ: October: ADHD Awareness Month

What is ADHD Awareness Month?

It’s a global effort held each October to raise understanding, reduce stigma, and share resources about ADHD.

Can ADHD look different in kids and adults?

Yes. Kids often show more hyperactive or impulsive behavior, while adults may struggle more with focus, organization, and restlessness.

What’s the connection between ADHD and ODD?

Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) often occurs alongside ADHD. It can make children more resistant to authority and more easily frustrated, which adds challenges for both the child and their caregivers.

Is medication the only solution for ADHD?

No. Medication can be a helpful tool, but it’s not the only path. Therapy, structure, routines, and self-understanding are equally important.

cation can be a helpful tool, but it’s not the only path. Therapy, structure, routines, and self-understanding are equally important.