Unlock Your ADHD Potential with the 'ADHD Impact B.R.A.I.N. Framework'
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Before I got diagnosed with ADHD, I was so frustrated about the fact that no matter how hard I worked, what I gave, the ideas I came up with or the qualifications I did, I could not be successful. I knew deep in my bones that I had so much more to give, but no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t access it.
This feeling was so intense that I even created a company called The Purpose and Potential Project (I still own the domain I think).
Once I started working with my brain, that all changed.
I would like to introduce you to a framework that I have created that will help you to unlock your potential. It is called ‘The ADHD Impact B.R.A.I.N. Framework.
What I now know, deep in my bones, is that unlocking your potential isn’t about working harder, it’s about working with your brain.. Many of us struggle with feeling like we’re capable of so much more, yet getting stuck in cycles of procrastination, overwhelm, and self-doubt.
The secret? Understanding how your brain works and creating an environment that helps you thrive.
That’s where The ADHD Impact B.R.A.I.N. Framework comes in. This isn’t about forcing yourself to fit into neurotypical strategies—it’s about embracing your unique way of thinking and unlocking your true potential.
The B.R.A.I.N. Framework
B – Brain Awareness
The first step to unlocking your potential is understanding how your brain works. ADHD brains are spiky profiles, meaning we excel in some areas while struggling in others. We have an interest-based nervous system, meaning we thrive when engaged but struggle with tasks that don’t excite us. And executive function, our brain’s CEO, can get tired out more easily than neurotypical brain CEOs.
How to apply this:
Recognise your natural strengths and challenges.
Accept that your brain works differently-this isn’t a negative, but a unique operating system.
Build strategies that work with your brain rather than against it.
R – Recognise Your Patterns and Triggers
Human behaviours aren’t random, they follow patterns. Scientific data exists that shows us the relationship between what a person experiences and the coping mechanisms they are likely to develop.
Whether it’s procrastination, impulsivity, or emotional overwhelm, identifying your triggers helps you take control.
How to apply this:
Keep a journal or mental note of when you struggle most.
Identify recurring challenges, such as distraction, fatigue, or perfectionism.
Once you see the patterns, you can make changes that actually work.
A – Abandon Coping Mechanisms That No Longer Serve You
Coping mechanisms exist for a reason, they were helpful and helped you survive at one point in your life. For example, becoming a people pleaser is very helpful when you are a child with ADHD. But there comes a point when these things no longer serve you. Then it is up to you to decide which behaviours you want to let go of.
How to apply this:
Notice habits that drain your energy or create stress cycles.
Replace them with systems that support sustainable success and make you feel good.
Be kind to yourself-it takes time to unlearn old coping mechanisms.
I – Implement Strengths
Your ADHD brain is wired for creativity, innovation, and problem-solving. But one of the biggest obstacles to unlocking your potential is Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD). RSD is the extreme emotional response to perceived rejection or criticism. We develop RSD as a protection mechanism against a lifetime of constant criticism. On average by the age of 10, a child with ADHD, will have received 10,000 more pieces of “constructive feedback” than their neurotypical peers’ “Why haven’t you put your shoes on”, “It is a really easy question” “why aren’t you listening” “You are just not trying”… the list goes on, it is death my 1000 papercuts and RSD is the result.
Whilst RSD is a protection mechanism designed to save you from further hurt, it actually creates the opposite problem, as it stops you from taking risks and putting yourself out there.
How to apply this:
Identify and play to your strengths
When you want to do something, but RSD starts playing up, remember, feelings aren’t facts
Surround yourself with people who uplift and understand you.
N – Nurture Yourself
Unlocking potential isn’t about the hustle and working harder and pushing more, it’s about well-being. I have never met an ADHDer who hasn’t experienced multiple burnouts. You simply cant be productive if you are burnt out!
How to apply this:
Set boundaries to protect your energy, e.g. I do not work after 6pm, I don’t go to certain networking events.
Prioritise sleep, nutrition, and movement- they directly and significantly impact brain function.
Remember, nurturing yourself isn’t self-indulgence-it’s essential to success.
Unlock Your ADHD Potential
The ADHD Impact B.R.A.I.N. Framework isn’t about forcing yourself to be more neurotypical. It’s about working with your brain, not against it. When you understand your brain, recognise patterns, abandon unhelpful coping mechanisms, implement strengths, and nurture yourself, you stop fighting yourself—and start unlocking your full potential.
Living with ADHD is hard work, but your ADHD brain can do amazing things. When you learn to harness it and look after yourself, you can unlock your incredible potential.
