ADHD the missing piece
ADHD: The Missing Piece That Can Unlock True Potential
By Rachel Barwell – Master Dyslexia
For many people, ADHD is a lifelong companion they never knew they had.
Often masked by high energy, scattered focus, or bursts of intense creativity, ADHD can go undiagnosed for decades. I was nearly 50 before I learned that ADHD played a key role in the way I processed the world. That moment of diagnosis wasn’t a limitation, it was a revelation.
It explained the restlessness, the hyper-focus, the overwhelm, the energy dips, the late-night creativity, and the emotional exhaustion that came from constantly trying to stay on top of everything. And I see it in my clients too, especially the children and teens who have been labelled difficult, distracted, or defiant when in fact they are wired to experience the world differently.
But here's the truth: when we understand ADHD for what it is, not what it looks like, we can unlock extraordinary potential.
ADHD Is Not a Deficit – It's a Different Operating System
ADHD isn’t a failure of attention. It’s a different rhythm of attention.
Some children can hyperfocus for hours on their favourite topic or build an entire world in their imagination, but struggle to stay present in a classroom that moves too slowly for their minds. Adults often juggle ten tasks at once, until they burn out and wonder why the smallest thing feels like too much.
The solution is not to push harder. It’s to pause, understand, and build systems that support how the ADHD brain naturally works.
Thriving with ADHD Starts with These Shifts:
Structure Over Chaos
People with ADHD thrive in environments where structure is clear and consistent. Not rigid. Just grounded. Predictability creates emotional safety, and emotional safety fuels performance.
Visual Tools Over Verbal Instructions
Many ADHD and dyslexic thinkers are visual by nature. Mind maps, color-coded lists, or visual schedules work better than endless instructions or verbal lectures. When we teach to their strengths, their confidence skyrockets.
Chunk the Challenge
Whether it’s writing an essay or launching a project, large tasks need to be broken into bite-sized steps. Overwhelm doesn’t mean someone isn’t capable. It means the steps haven’t been made visible enough yet.
Movement, Nourishment, and Sleep
This is the real ADHD toolkit: regular movement, proper hydration, nutritious meals, and good sleep hygiene. These basics aren’t optional, they’re essential to managing attention, emotion, and energy.
Mindfulness for Regulation
Practices like journaling, deep breathing, or guided reflection slow the nervous system and bring focus back to the present. For both children and adults, this anchors the day and supports better decision-making.
How I Help Clients (and Myself) Turn ADHD Into a Strength
My own diagnosis wasn’t just informative, it changed how I live, work, and relate to the world. It gave me permission to stop forcing myself to fit into outdated models and start designing a life and career that works with my brain, not against it.
And it’s the same transformation I now help facilitate for others.
At Master Dyslexia, I support children, teens, and adults in discovering how ADHD affects them uniquely, and then give them practical, neurological, visual, and emotional tools to thrive.
One young client, who had been excluded from school for disruptive behavior, learned how to regulate his emotions, avoid fights, and walk away with confidence. That same term, he won praise and awards for both academic progress and emotional growth.
Another student, who once refused to write because he “never had any ideas,” ended up creating a wildly imaginative sci-fi story during one of our sessions, complete with trolls, dogs, and alien battles. All he needed was a visual starting point and permission to be creative.
These are not one-off miracles. They’re repeatable outcomes when we stop trying to change the person and start changing the approach.
You’re Not Broken, You’re Wired Differently
Being diagnosed with ADHD is not the end of the story. It’s often the beginning of healing, self-acceptance, and better strategies. It helps parents understand their child isn’t naughty, just dysregulated. It helps adults stop beating themselves up for “not coping” and instead build sustainable, structured lives.
With the right tools and support, people with ADHD can become some of the most creative, innovative, resilient, and impactful contributors, in school, at work, and in life.
Work With Me
If you suspect ADHD is part of your story, or your child’s, it’s never too late to take a different path.
At Master Dyslexia, I combine lived experience, proven methodology (including the Davis® Methods, and practical tools that help people reclaim their strengths and build confidence in how they learn, live, and lead.
👉 If you’d like to explore how support could help you or someone you love thrive with ADHD, let’s chat.
Visitwww.masterdyslexia.co.nz or connect with me directly here on LinkedIn.
