51 Constant Discovery of What Works with Eric Tivers
May 25, 2024
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Eric Tivers, an advocate for neurodivergent individuals, shares insights from his decade-long experience with ADHD and autism. He emphasizes the journey of discovering what works for each person’s unique needs. Discussions revolve around the emotional impacts of self-awareness, navigating burnout, and the significance of community support. Tivers also reveals the challenges faced by coaching businesses during economic shifts and highlights the transformative power of creative self-reinvention. His mission? Helping others feel seen and heard.
Eric Tivers emphasizes the transformative impact of recognizing one's neurodivergent identity, which enables the adoption of effective strategies for personal growth.
The podcast highlights the critical need for educators to understand and support neurodivergent students, bridging gaps in awareness and resources within educational settings.
Deep dives
Navigating the Neurodivergence Journey
Discovering one's neurodivergent identity can be transformative. For instance, a pivotal moment for Eric Tivers occurred during college when he faced academic challenges and realized he had ADHD after relating to another student’s description of their struggles with reading. This diagnosis led him to medication that dramatically quieted his racing thoughts, allowing him to engage with the material he was studying for the first time. Tivers’ journey emphasizes that recognizing and embracing neurodivergence can significantly change one's academic and personal life, as it paves the way for adopting effective strategies and interventions.
The Impact of Educational Environments
The academic experiences of neurodivergent individuals can vary widely based on the educational environment. Tivers observed that discussions surrounding ADHD in educational settings, especially in social work, were often lacking, highlighting a gap in understanding from educators. A professor’s candid discussions on positive and negative reinforcement ratios resonated with him, illustrating how significantly neurodivergent individuals may be affected by negative feedback throughout their educational journeys. This underscores the need for educators to be equipped with knowledge and resources to support neurodivergent students effectively.
The Complexity of Relationships and Self-Awareness
Building and maintaining relationships can be particularly challenging for neurodivergent individuals, as highlighted by Tivers’ reflections on past interactions. Feedback from significant relationships often indicated feelings of transactional engagement, prompting deeper self-exploration and a reconsideration of how he connects with others. Tivers stresses the importance of understanding oneself through the perspective of others to enhance social interactions and communication. This awareness can lead to growth and improvements in relationship dynamics, despite the difficulties that may arise.
Finding and Creating Community for Support
The significance of community for neurodivergent individuals cannot be overstated, as shared understanding fosters connection and healing. Tivers emphasizes the necessity of finding or creating spaces where individuals can come together and feel seen and heard. His own initiatives in forming ADHD-focused coaching groups arose from a personal need for such a community. This reiterates the sentiment that building supportive networks is essential for nurturing well-being and resilience among those navigating neurodivergence.
Eric Tivers has shared 10 years of helpful content on his podcast, ADHD reWired. He's also built multiple careers helping neurodivergent folks: from therapy, to teaching high support need kids, to the current ADHD group programs.
It's a never-ending journey of discovering what works for his current needs and capacity. And the relatively recent discovery of... oh... maybe there's something to this autism thing.