Finding Your Community — Inside and Out — with James Ochoa
Oct 26, 2023
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James Ochoa, an experienced counselor and mentor for adults with ADHD, joins the podcast to discuss the significance of community in managing ADHD. He emphasizes the benefits of belonging to a group that understands your experiences, such as personal growth, a sense of belonging, and new friendships. James also highlights the power of developing an internal support group through creative visualization. Being part of a community is crucial in our ADHD journey, providing a sense of belonging and personal growth.
Building both external and internal communities is vital for individuals with ADHD, providing a sense of safety, belonging, and resilience.
Embracing social optimism and finding meaningful ways to engage in community can help individuals with ADHD overcome social anxiety and pessimism.
Deep dives
Importance of Community and Support
Community and support play a crucial role in the lives of individuals with ADHD. Building community, both externally and internally, helps create a sense of safety and belonging. It starts with finding a community of like-minded individuals who can validate and understand one's experiences. Additionally, individuals can cultivate an internal 'mental support group' by using their imagination to engage with mentors or figures who provide comfort and guidance. This helps foster resilience, resourcefulness, and mindfulness, which are vital in navigating the challenges of ADHD.
Social Optimism and Pessimism
Individuals with ADHD may experience social anxiety and pessimism due to past judgments and difficulties in making connections. However, the podcast highlights the importance of embracing social optimism, which involves taking a positive outlook on social interactions and exploring opportunities for connection and community. By engaging in common interests, attending meetups, and setting realistic boundaries that align with introverted or extroverted tendencies, individuals can find ways to engage in community that feel comfortable and meaningful for them.
The Transformative Power of COVID-19 Experiences
The podcast discusses the transformative power of the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has affected individuals' sense of self and community. While acknowledging the challenges and grief associated with the pandemic, the podcast encourages individuals to reflect on their personal growth and appreciate the lessons learned during this time. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive outlook, building resilience, and finding gratitude for the experiences and connections that have evolved as a result of the pandemic.
Being a Supportive Member of a Community
Being a supportive member of a community involves giving back and fostering a balanced exchange of support and resources. It is not solely focused on receiving support, but also actively contributing and helping others within the community. The podcast emphasizes the importance of authenticity, vulnerability, and offering acceptance and validation to others. By creating spaces where individuals can share their stories and experiences, the community becomes a source of strength, connection, and growth for everyone involved.
In this episode, we welcome James Ochoa, a counselor, coach, mentor, and intuitionist who has been helping adults with ADHD for over thirty years. James shares his insights on the importance of community in our ADHD journey and updates us on his upcoming book, "When the Shiny Wears Off: Navigating the Lifetime Storms of Adult ADHD."
We discuss the value of being part of a community and what it means to belong to a group of people who understand what you experience every day. We also explore the benefits of joining a community, such as personal growth, a sense of belonging, new friendships, learning new things, and practicing interpersonal skills.
James emphasizes the importance of recognizing that our motives for joining a new group or community are not always altruistic and that we only have so much extra time to share. Most importantly, he walks us through the power of developing your internal support group, using creative visualization to create your community in times of need.
In conclusion, James reminds us that being part of a community is crucial in our ADHD journey. It can provide us with a sense of belonging and help us grow personally. Thank you for joining us in this episode, and we hope you find it insightful and helpful in your own ADHD journey.