There are also positives to ADHD: Mathira

Actor-model shares upbeat view on being neurodivergent

In an appearance on a local morning show, model, actor and television host Mathira opened up about her struggles with attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), and shed positivity on living with the condition.

"I remember my doctor always telling me that nothing is impossible," confided Mathira. "In ADHD, we only see the negative side, but there are also positives."

Illustrating one such positive aspect, Mathira, who has been navigating life as a single parent since her divorce in 2018, revealed that living with ADHD had meant she was able to bounce back from dark times with relative ease.

"If you are going through trauma that can break you, someone with ADHD can bounce back," said Mathira. "You guys would be amazed. Yes, there's a bad side, but there's also a good side."

Acknowledging that there were times when she struggled to keep track of important things, such as medication, Mathira added that there were ways to overcome such hurdles.

"Yes, there are some things you can forget, but there are also exercises you can do to help you remember," she pointed out. "You can put reminders on your phone, and keep your medicines out in front of you!"

Determined to err on the side of positivity, Mathira shared examples of where her diagnosis had actually given her an edge over those without the condition. "We are blessed to have all this energy - a task that takes other people four days to complete takes us just one day," she pointed out.

Mathira added that it was her doctor who had helped her adopt such a growth mindset. "My doctor said something really nice - and that is, everything depends on me," she shared. "If I push myself to do something, I can do it. It's totally up to you."

On the flip side, the actor cautioned that it was also possible to be overwhelmed with such a label and turn it into a self-fulfilling prophecy. "If you want to cripple yourself with your condition, you can do that too," she warned. "If you want to sleep through it and label everything as your illness, then that is what will happen."

Crippling herself, however, was not a path that Mathira chose to take. "Following my doctor's advice, I found my wheels, and I really got moving," she said. Mathira's positive attitude and words of encouragement serve as a reminder that an ADHD diagnosis is not limiting and that with mental strength, all challenges can be overcome.