Beneath The Surface: My Story tells Michael’s journey from being a kid afraid of water to one of the most decorated Olympic athletes of all time. This book offers insights and a roadmap for parents of children struggling with ADHD. In the second chapter, Michael’s teacher says, “Michael just can’t focus on anything,” and believed he would not amount to anything because he could not concentrate. The book explores Michael’s journey from a young, restless child diagnosed with ADHD to the most decorated Olympian of all time. Throughout the book, he shares candid stories about his struggles with mental health, addiction, and personal relationships, as well as his dedication to his sport and the people who supported him along the way. The book provides insight into the physical and mental demands of competitive swimming, while emphasizing the importance of perseverance, hard work, and a strong support system in achieving success both in and out of the pool.
He is a self-described accident-prone child that was restless and had to get into everything. He says, “I simply could never sit still. I made faces at cameras, answered questions with questions and climbed on things that weren’t meant for climbing.” Michael Phelps was diagnosed with ADHD in the sixth grade. Michael would throw his goggles, fight with his mother, and argue with his coach. He was prescribed medication to help manage his ADHD, and his family found a medication schedule that worked for him. Although the book doesn’t delve into how long Michael continued taking medication, it’s worth noting that his family worked tirelessly to find ways to support him in managing his ADHD.
While there was no specific intervention that cured Michael’s ADHD, the book provides an informative overview of how the condition can be managed. Despite his best efforts, Michael still struggled with forgetting essential items for his swim practices and competitions. However, he had a supportive social network who helped him overcome these challenges, much like the accommodations provided to children with ADHD in school. The focus in education is to test a student’s acquired knowledge, rather than their ability to remember to bring a pen or pencil. Michael has 28 Olympic medals, but if swimming accomplishments were measured by remembering your goggles, he may not have been as successful.
As Michael grew older, he became increasingly grateful for the patience shown to him by his family and friends. The book describes instances of Michael exhibiting impulsive behavior such as kicking furniture and arguing with his coaches about the direction of his career. However, as the chapters progress, Michael matures and begins to listen to the guidance of his mentors. This pattern of development is common in individuals with ADHD, as symptoms may improve over time as one matures. While there may still be areas of vulnerability, parents of children with ADHD can remain hopeful that with appropriate management, their child’s behavior will improve.
Every individual diagnosed with ADHD faces a distinct set of challenges, and it’s not uncommon for some people to believe they won’t succeed. Michael faced setbacks in his life, such as a DWI and drug use, which are unfortunately common concerns for those with ADHD. However, these challenges don’t excuse such behaviors. Rather, individuals with ADHD need a strong support system and must be willing to take responsibility for their actions. This means allowing others to hold them accountable and being accountable to themselves, in order to overcome these obstacles.
The book Beneath the Surface: My Story is well worth a read to create a hopefulness in parents that their child with ADHD can do great things and gain information on how symptom management can create amazing outcomes.
Contact us if you would like to schedule an ADHD evaluation, counseling services with Daniel Wysocki Ed.S. to help manage behaviors or reach out with any questions related to mental health.
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