It’s been three centuries and a decision still has not been reached!
Being part of the ADHD tribe we know that making decisions can be challenging, however taking over three hundred years to decide an answer makes our prioritization nature-or-nurturechallenges look pretty minor in comparison. The ongoing debate I’m referring to?
You know…nature vs. nurture. The question that asks whether human behavior, ideas and feelings are innate or if they are learned. We know genetically ADHD runs in families, with studies showing that 25% of close relatives in the family of a child with ADHD also have the disorder (nature). Studies have also shown that environmental factors can influence our experiences of ADHD (nurture). Sugar has been ruled out as causing or worsening symptoms and that childhood exposure to environmental chemicals such as lead or PCB may lead to later challenges similar to ADHD. It is also understood that the ability to compensate for the symptoms of ADHD is influenced greatly by socioeconomic resources, family support, a person’s academic environmental fit and workplace satisfaction. In short, it is both.
The good news is you don’t have to wait 300 years to know that thriving with ADHD is best served with both the calming effect of time spent in nature and by the fulfilling connections and support experienced through nurturing relationships. Scientific studies confirm both the health benefits of being in nature for persons with ADHD and the emotional benefits of feeling loved and accepted as a member of a group. It doesn’t matter which comes first or which is better, but rather it is valuable to be able to enjoy both in our lives.
So, how can you be sure to get the benefit of both nature and nurture in your life?
Below is a list of the ways that I thrive. How I make sure I spend time with my nature and also how I get myself nurtured.
The nature or nurture debate continues, well at least the one about whether we are born (nature) with how we are going to approach our world or whether our behavior is a result of our experiences (nurture).
However, for persons with ADHD we know right now a huge key to us thriving with ADHD is as a result of both time spent going green (nature) and spending time with people who accept, understand and support us (nurture).
I’d love to know your thoughts and how you nurture and nature yourself. What are the ways you get your nature and nurture needs met?
At Coaching for ADHD, Laurie Dupar, Senior Certified ADHD Coach, Certified Mentor Coach and trained Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, specializes in working with ADD/ADHD clients of all ages who want to finally understand how their brain works, minimize their challenges and get things done! In 2015 she founded the International ADHD Coach Training Center (IACTCenter) where she trains and mentors emerging ADHD coaches to help them build a successful and profitable coaching business they love.