Exercise & Alleviating My ADHD Symptoms
To say I hated school when I was little would be a massive understatement. In elementary school, I used to literally get up and run out of the classroom because of how much I couldn’t handle sitting still for an extended period of time. In middle school, I would lie to teachers in every single class period that I had to use the bathroom just so that I could get up and move around for a few minutes.
Having so much energy often led to poor behaviors such as extreme anger and frustration, which inevitably frustrated my teachers and typically brought a lot of negative judgement from my classmates.
All of these struggles felt like enough to prove I was never going to succeed in an academic setting. How in the world could I possibly get through school if I had nothing but negative emotions associated with attending it for 13 years (K-12th grade)?
Although these challenges I dealt with on a daily basis in school were stressful, I eventually began to realize something that was key in improving my chances of success in an academic setting: I needed physical exercise (and lots of it!!).
Why Was Exercise So Important For Me?
It might seem obvious why getting enough exercise was so helpful for combatting my ADHD struggles, but there’s actually a lot more to it than just the super obvious fact that I had a ton of energy.
When I was given the opportunities to participate in physical activities at school such as recess and P.E. class, my ability to focus on a given task increased, my behavior was more mature, and I was genuinely happy.
Numerous scientific studies have proven this to be true amongst many children with ADHD. For instance, exercise is found to be helpful in alleviating both behavioral and physical symptoms associated with ADHD, as well as help with improving the overall cognitive function of children with ADHD [1].
What Types Of Exercise Have Benefitted Me The Most?
The types of exercise that I enjoy and have participated in are more than I am willing to count. What this means is that it has been essential for me to experience a wide variety of physical activities to help prevent boredom or burnout.
Whether it was through competitive sports such as basketball, football, and track & field, or through more general (non-competitive) activities such as weight training or snowboarding, I always wreaked the same benefits in regards to not just my physical health, but also my ability to manage the symptoms I often experienced from having ADHD.
I know this might seem obvious given how true this is for just about everyone, but the point I am trying to make is that including a wide variety of physical activities wasn’t just beneficial for me: IT WAS LIFE CHANGING!!!!
The biggest impact that exercise has had on me however had nothing to do with my physical health and fitness. By far the most impactful area of my life that exercise has benefitted me is in regards to my mental health and ability to handle my emotions in a more mature and appropriate manner.
What Were These Emotional Benefits of Exercise?
By knowing that I didn’t need to commit to a single type of physical activity, it gave me a sense of freedom and increased my self-confidence. It helped me realize and understand which styles of exercising benefitted me most depending on my current situation.
Anger/Frustration — Even little minor inconveniences often made me very mad when I was younger. Through participating specifically in high intensity physical activities such as heavy weight training or running sprints, I have been able to manage my anger very effectively.
Sadness — If I was sad, sports activities such as basketball and football were always the cure for me. It didn’t matter whether I was through formerly competing with others or just shooting hoops by myself in my driveway, sports-specific activities helped cheer me up almost instantaneously every time they were an option.
Happiness — If I was already in a good mood and satisfied with how my day was going, it didn’t matter what I was doing, all types of exercise further enhanced my feelings of joy and happiness even further! However, whenever sports-specific opportunities were available, I guarantee they would be my first choice 100% of the time.
How Has Exercise Shaped My Life As An Adult?
Given exercise has always been so beneficial in helping me get through my everyday life, I knew I needed a career doing something that kept me active all day long. On top of that, I also wanted to be able to serve others and feel like I was contributing to my community in a positive way.
After thinking hard about what this could be, eventually it clicked: I should become a Personal Trainer.
After getting certified as a Personal Trainer through the American Council on Exercise (ACE), I went on to get further specialty certifications such as the:
ACE Youth Fitness Specialist
ACSM Certified Inclusive Fitness Trainer
NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist
These certifications gave me the knowledge and the credentials to work with children looking to improve their health and fitness, as well as with children and adults with physical or cognitive disabilities such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, and Spina Bifida.
After getting those certifications, I went on to get my bachelors degree in Exercise Science from the United States Sports Academy and then earn my final specialty certification as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
Conclusion
As a man now in his late 20s, I can say that ADHD is no longer a trait of mine that I consider a flaw or a burden on my daily life. Although it brought major challenges as a child, it has shaped me into a man who is not only very physically fit, but also a very compassionate and caring individual with a career path that I don’t regret committing my life to in the slightest!
In the words of famous motivational speaker, Zig Ziglar:
“Difficult roads always lead to beautiful destinations.” — Zig Ziglar
In other words: Don’t ever give up on yourself when life gets tough!!!!!!
Follow me at https://medium.com/@jamesandersonfitness
References
Ng, Q. X., Ho, C., Chan, H. W., Yong, B., & Yeo, W. S. (2017). Managing childhood and adolescent attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with exercise: A systematic review. Complementary therapies in medicine, 34, 123–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2017.08.018
