🤝 SUPPORT
“Ask for help. Not because you are weak, but because you want to remain strong.” – Les Brown
Support is the recognition that we’re not meant to do this alone. For ADHDers—who often grow up feeling like a burden or being told to “just try harder”—learning to ask for help can feel like a personal revolution. But support is not weakness. It’s wisdom.
In the ADHD terrain, support might mean practical scaffolds—reminders, structure, medication. But it also means emotional holding—being heard, validated, and believed. It means leaning into community when your energy falters, and offering the same when others stumble.
Living this value means trusting that needing support does not erase your strength. In fact, it often reveals it. It takes courage to name your needs. It takes strength to let others in. Support isn't dependency—it's interdependence.
Support also isn’t just something we receive. ADHDers often bring deep compassion and insight because of what we’ve lived. Being a source of support—through listening, advocating, or simply showing up—can become a powerful way to express your values and create healing.
🧭 The HOPE Trail Map
- Helps or Harms: Am I isolating out of pride—or opening up to what could help?
- Own My Values: I want to be someone who values support—not just for myself, but as a way of life.
- People and Pursuits: Who lifts me when I’m low? Who sees me, not just what I produce? What kind of support do I want to offer others?
- Enact and Evaluate: Today, I’ll ask for—or offer—one act of support, without apology or hesitation.
⚠️ Trail Challenges
- Internalised shame may make asking for help feel like failure.
- Hyper-independence may develop as a mask for vulnerability.
- ADHDers may not recognise what kind of support they need until overwhelmed.
🪧 Trail Markers: Small Steps Toward Support
- Send a “Can we talk?” text to someone safe.
- Accept a small offer of help without guilt.
- Reflect on what kind of support feels most nourishing to you.
🔥 Campfire Questions for Reflection
- When have I asked for support—and been glad I did?
- What does healthy support look like in my ADHD journey?
- How can I build a support system that feels mutual, safe, and true?
Support isn’t a crutch—it’s a bridge. And every time you reach out, you help build a path that someone else will one day walk.
