ADHD, Autism, and Spiritual Practices

In my experience, many people go to therapy seeking answers, closure, or peace, sometimes needing all three. The longer I work in this field, the more I believe that peace is something that many neurodivergent brains, such as my own, struggle with for various reasons. Mainly because it can feel mundane, unproductive, and lazy, and in some instances, peace can feel unfamiliar and odd to a person.

Being content and at peace with yourself and the world can depend on multiple variables. What family we are born into, what country we live in, significant events from our childhood, and our personality often determine how content we are with our lives and how easy it is for us to feel at ease and enjoy peace.

I run a private practice, and I work predominantly with adults who have sought out a late diagnosis for neurological conditions. I mostly work with those diagnosed with autism or ADHD (in some cases, both). Many late-diagnosed neurodivergent people are highly successful in their professional fields. They are often very intelligent and creative and may be referred to as gifted by their peers. What has frequently eluded many of them throughout their lives is enjoying a sense of contentment and peace.

I have come to learn that spiritual practices can be instrumental in developing, nurturing, and maintaining greater happiness, good mental health, and relaxation in the lives of those with these conditions. ADHD, in particular, is a condition that is often misunderstood, and it can be a relentless neurotype; where the brain may hound a person for constant dopamine, which produces the opposite effect of relaxation and resting.

Adventure is fun. Getting regular hits of this highly sought-after brain chemical can feel good, but the adrenals and the nervous system can pay a high price for these fixations and tendencies, especially in later life. When working with clients with ADHD, a lot of my job is to encourage those with this condition to not fear and avoid boredom. I often try and get these clients to embrace mundanity and routine and try to rewire their neuropathways to accept, and eventually enjoy a more boring and sedate lifestyle. It is not an easy task, but with commitment and persistence, it is achievable, and the rewards can be great in terms of mental and physical health.

Health professionals and faith leaders have often referred to the mind, body, and soul connection; therapy is most often linked to maintaining good mental health. However, I believe that mental health and modalities such as cognitive behavioral therapy and references to positive thinking and developing a positive mindset are limited and sometimes unhelpful when supporting a person to live a meaningful and fulfilled life. To be positive and happy all the time is unachievable and an unhealthy and unrealistic aspiration, in my opinion.

We cannot avoid pain and discomfort, but how we process, integrate, and accept painful events, circumstances, and experiences will determine how we feel and think about things that have occurred. Many things that have happened are tragic and should never have transpired. Positive thinking will not alter that fact, but spiritual practices and guidance can help those suffering to accept this unfortunate truth.

Spiritual practices can include meditative activities, expressing gratitude, spending time in nature, or creativity. If you would like to improve your overall well-being and want more contentment or peace in your life, it is worth embedding at least one spiritual practice into your daily routine. Think of it as a spiritual prescription, rather than a medical one. Here are a few suggestions of spiritual practices that you could add to your day to improve your well-being and invite more peace into your life:

• Keep a gratitude journal by the bed, and every morning when you wake, write three things you are grateful for.
• Spend some time in nature. Admire and pay attention to the natural world every day. Be mindful of seasons, the sky, and the wildlife that is around you at any given moment.
• Read spiritual or religious texts of any tradition.
• Express your creativity without judgment through writing, poetry, art, singing, dancing, cooking. Do it for yourself, you don’t have to show it to anyone. You could also try The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron or other courses if you are feeling creatively blocked.
• Play as much as possible and when possible.
• Laugh when you can and enjoy the silly, quirky, and odd things in life.
• Embrace simplicity.

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These practices invite us to slow down, reflect, contemplate, and engage in activities that may help bring clarity, wisdom, and acceptance into our lives. These actions are good for our health, will lift our spirits, and, most importantly, they should not produce any negative consequences. If we can accept things fully as they are and if we can accept ourselves completely as we are, too, then we are giving ourselves the gift of creating a more peaceful, fulfilled, and contented life.

To find a therapist near you, visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory.