Renowned Malayalam actor Fahadh Faasil, known for his spectacular performance in films such as ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ and ‘Aavesham’ recently shared a personal revelation about his diagnosis with ADHD, a condition often misunderstood and primarily associated with children. This revelation was made public at the inauguration of Peace Valley School in Kothamangalam, a school started with the initiative of rehabilitating children with special needs. The actor revealed that he was diagnosed at the age of 41.
It is known that ADHD is a challenging diagnosis and can have a major impact on the life of the individual. However, there is little conversation about how it affects the people around them, especially their partner. In a recent conversation, Fahadh’s wife and fellow actor Nazriya Nazim opened up about how they navigate their lives together in the light of Fahadh’s recent diagnosis.
Living with ADHD or with someone who suffers from it has its own set of unique challenges. Let’s delve deeper into Nazriya’s experiences to have a better understanding of the insights for anyone supporting a partner with ADHD.
Understanding ADHD In Adults
ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders that is usually associated with a person’s inability to manage their emotions, thoughts and actions. It is more commonly seen in children but a lot of undiagnosed cases can make it to adulthood. As per the American Psychological Association, symptoms must start before the age of twelve to diagnose ADHD correctly. That is the reason why it’s more difficult to diagnose it in adults as it involves understanding when the symptoms actually began.
As per Archana Singhal, Counsellor and Family Therapist, Founder, Mindwell Counsel, Delhi, experts are still learning about ADHD, especially in adults. It is only due to the increased recognition of ADHD in adults that there have been improvements in diagnosis criteria and treatments. However, some doctors might not yet fully understand adult ADHD, which can lead to missed diagnoses.
ADHD affects millions of adults and involves impulsive behaviour, difficulty focusing, mood swings, issues with organisations, etc. Though all of this is manageable, it can put a strain on relationships and can often lead to stress and misunderstanding. In Fahadh and Nazriya’s case, the diagnosis didn’t change much since their relationship was already adapted around Fahadh’s personality traits.
Nazariya’s Approach To Supporting Fahadh
In a recent interview, Nazariya opened up on how the diagnosis provided some clarity around Fahadh’s personality; it didn’t affect their bond in any significant way. She said that she might have become a little more patient, but other than that, nothing in their lives changed.
When coming to relationships involving ADHD, Nazriya’s perspective is a testament to the fact that it is important to focus on mutual understanding and support instead of letting the diagnosis define the relationship.
Tips For Supporting A Partner With ADHD
As discussed, ADHD is a challenging diagnosis, but it is manageable with support from loved ones. If you are someone who wants to support their partner with ADHD, here are a few tips for that:
Focus On Patience And Understanding
ADHD can be very overwhelming at times and it is important to understand that it is not a choice. It is advised to foster a more loving and compassionate environment and focus on your partner’s intentions rather than their actions. While it’s very normal for frustration to arise, maintaining empathy should be the top priority.
Work On Communication
ADHD involves traits like inability to focus and forgetfulness, which can lead to miscommunication, more so if the first person feels like they are being accused. It is advised to practice communication and express concerns in a more non-accusatory manner.
Focusing On Strengths
Along with quirks in personality, ADHD often comes with remarkable problem-solving skills and creativity. The best way to navigate is playing to their strengths and manage responsibilities in a way where your partner too feels needed.
Respect Boundaries And Personal Differences
ADHD is different from person to person and so are their ways to manage it. Where organisational tools and reminders can help one person, it might be overwhelming to the others. So, it’s important to sit down and have discussions about what works and doesn’t work for your partner.
Bottomline
Nazriya and Fahadh’s relationship is a testament to the fact that love and mutual understanding can go a long way in making a relationship work even when there are imperfections.
If you are someone with a partner dealing with ADHD, it is important to understand that the key lies in empathy, understanding and mutual support and the best people to look up to for that are Fahadh and Nazriya.