Roundtable Presentation 6th World Congress on Positive Psychology 2019

Finding ADDvantages In My Neuroatypical Brain An Autoethnographic Reflection Of Thriving With Adult ADHD In Academia (#317)

Amira Firdaus 1
  1. University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN, Malaysia

I have a PhD, and I have ADHD/ADD. This autoethnographic presentation draws upon my journey of self-discovery and gratitude for my atypical brain-wiring, and my efforts to cultivate habits and mindsets to develop resilience and thrive in the neuro-typical world of academia. Personality tests inspired by the Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory (MBTI) introduced me to my Introvert, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving, INFP styles and preferences in various domains of life – from time orientation to my world view. The VIA Character Strengths survey highlighted to me my core strengths of Creativity, Curiosity, Gratitude, Kindness, and Fairness. Subsequently, when I learnt I was living with ADHD/ADD-Inattentive Type, I finally understood why I struggled with the things that seem to come so easily to others, for example time management and spatial reasoning. And I also learned that things I took for granted, like being able to find solutions to just about anything, and gaining energy from work, were also part-and-parcel of my atypical ADHD brain. This knowledge freed me from trying harder to overcome my weaknesses and empowered me instead to work smarter to harness and enhance my strengths. This is my story of finding meaning and creating purpose through positive psychology interventions.