Living with ADHD
ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neuro-developmental condition that affects countless individuals worldwide. It manifests in various ways, including restlessness, racing thoughts, and difficulty sitting still. For Daniel Lees, a 44-year-old from Portland, UK, living with ADHD (and PTSD) has been an 25-year journey of self-discovery and empowerment, greatly aided by his connection to the great outdoors. In this blog, we’ll delve into Daniel’s experiences, challenges, and explore why working in the outdoors has been a pretty transformative aspect of his life.
Early ADHD Diagnosis and Schooling
Daniel’s journey with ADHD began at age 7 when he was diagnosed with the condition in primary school. This diagnosis resulted in removal from mainstream education and he was placed in a school for children with behavioural issues. These formative experiences had a profound impact on his self-identity and outlook on life.
Navigating ADHD and PTSD
One of the unique aspects of Daniel’s story is his dual diagnosis of ADHD and PTSD. These two conditions can often exhibit overlapping symptoms, making it really tricky to differentiate between the two.
“I went through lots of testing when I was a child to see why I was the way I was.
Having also been diagnosed with PTSD, which can present with similar symptoms to ADHD, it made it quite hard for me to find a balance and figure out which symptoms were from my
PTSD and which were my ADHD”.
The Role of ADHD Medication vs Lifestyle Choices and Well-Being
Obtaining a full ADHD diagnosis often involves agreeing to take medication. The role of medication in managing ADHD is a personal journey for each and every individual.
Alternative therapies and strategies can be helpful.
In his quest for mental and physical well-being, Daniel has always been keen to make mindful lifestyle choices. By choosing not to drink or smoke, Daniel believes it benefits his overall health both mentally and physically. Additionally, he credits his chiropractor, who specialises in working with the body’s energy, for a significant improvement in how he feels.
Career Changes and Finding Purposeful Path with ADHD
After dealing with the day-to-day stresses of owning his own construction company, Daniel discovered an opportunity that changed his life. Outdoor Instructor Training with Land & Wave provided him with a reconnection to nature and a newfound sense of calm. Here, he discovered the importance of working in the outdoors and how it enriched his life.
Nature as a Source of Solace:
The outdoors played a pivotal role in Daniel’s life transformation. Being surrounded by nature helps him slow down and feel grounded. His expansion into a career in outdoor instruction allowed him to immerse himself in nature, which has been therapeutic.
Why Working in the Outdoors Is Important:
- Connection to Nature:
Daniel’s experiences highlight how working in the outdoors fosters a profound connection to the natural world. This connection can have therapeutic effects on mental health and overall well-being. - Calming Influence:
Nature has an innate ability to soothe the restless mind. For individuals with ADHD, being outdoors provides a calming influence that can help manage symptoms and promote focus. - Physical Activity:
Outdoor work often involves physical activity, which aligns well with the need for constant movement that many individuals with ADHD experience. This physical engagement can improve concentration and overall mental health. - Immersion in Nature:
Working outdoors allows individuals to immerse themselves in nature, providing a sense of peace and tranquility that can be hard to find in traditional office environments.
Join a Supportive Industry
Daniel Lees’ journey with ADHD is not uncommon. The Outdoor Industry is home to some incredible outdoor instructors who list neuro-divergence as one of their many attributes.
Daniel’s story underscores the importance of understanding one’s unique qualities, setting boundaries, and finding work that complements the way you think and process things.
The benefits of working in the outdoors are endless; a deep connection to nature, a calming influence, physical activity, and immersion in the natural world.
By sharing his experiences, Daniel encourages others to find strength in their differences and embrace the transformative power of the great outdoors.
Think the Outdoor Industry could be your happy place?
If you want to find out whether you could be suited to life as an outdoor Instructor, come along for a FREE open day at Land & Wave. This is your chance to learn about our fastrack instructor training courses – this could be just what you’re looking for.
The Land & Wave 15-week intensive Outdoor Instructor Training programme is designed to take you from zero experience to being a fully qualified outdoor instructor in just 15 weeks. This immersive method of training involves full time training 5 days a week for 15 weeks.
We train over the Winter, November through to February, with two weeks off over Christmas. During your training, you will get professional coaching in rock climbing, paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, navigation and bushcraft. You’ll train with a dedicated team of professional outdoor coaches who live and breathe the Great Outdoors.
The amount of contact time you get with the coaches ensures you quickly develop your personal skills in each of the disciplines both on water and dry land. Once you’ve accomplished your personal performance awards, then you’re ready to get really stuck in and work on those instructor qualifications.
Land & Wave tweaks the qualification list from time to time, to ensure the qualifications are the most up-to-date and relevant for the Outdoor Industry. The whole point of this course is to make you as employable as possible when you graduate. The newest addition to the qualification list the the National Coasteering Charter Guide training.
You’ll also gain the RLSS National Vocational Beach Lifeguard Qualification (or the Open Water Lifeguard Award if you prefer). This is one of many accredited qualifications you’ll be gaining from renowned governing bodies such as Paddle UK (formerly British Canoeing) and Mountain Training.
Find out more here: https://landandwave.co.uk/outdoorinstructortraining/
Looking for something shorter? Check out our 7-week intensive Paddlesports Course – this offers 10 watersports qualifications to help get you started in your outdoor career.
To find out more about ADHD visit the NHS website.
