My Life Being Diagnosed with ADHD as an Adult
When I was diagnosed with ADHD in August 2022, things really got real. For years, I had suspected that something wasn’t quite right. My brain often felt like it was on a different wavelength than everyone else around me and it seemed like no matter how hard I tried, there were just some things that my mind refused to take on board.
So when the diagnosis came through after multiple tests and meetings with mental health professionals, I must admit to feeling both scared and relieved all at once. Finally, a name to what had been going on inside my head for so long! A reason why sometimes it felt like someone had switched off the ‘on’ switch in my brain and nothing seemed to make sense even though logically it should have done.
How I Felt When I Was Officially Diagnosed
When I was diagnosed with ADHD, it came with a roller coaster of emotions. Initially, I was in shock and denial. I couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that I had to deal with this condition for the rest of my life.
I felt anger towards myself for being “different” and not living up to expectations. This led to bargaining, as I tried to make deals with myself to convince me that things would be alright if only certain conditions were met.
Depression soon followed, as I felt overwhelmed by the changes I had to make in order to manage my diagnosis. It seemed like an impossible task.
Finally, after much contemplation and soul-searching, acceptance came over me like a wave of relief. Accepting my condition allowed me to take control of my health and design a plan on how best to manage it moving forward. New challenges may come up but at least now I have the resources ready to tackle them head-on and live a better life.
ADHD, Depression, and Anxiety… Oh My!
On top of having ADHD, I was also diagnosed with depression and anxiety at 35 years old. This part was more of a shock—feeling ‘depressed’ isn’t necessarily something that you can always feel or put your finger on, but once somebody pointed out the signs of depression in my life, everything suddenly became clear and explained why I had been having issues for so long.
Since then, I’ve made sure to talk openly about living with mental health challenges online through my TikTok and Instagram accounts. By doing this, my hope is to help reduce any stigma surrounding conditions such as ADHD or mental illness generally in a humorous way that hopefully everyone can relate to – especially those dealing with similar issues themselves.
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Nowadays life feels quite different since being diagnosed — while medication helps manage the physical symptoms associated with ADHD (and its comorbidities) therapy has been invaluable in helping me develop strategies for managing stress better as well as improving communication skills and setting clear expectations whether at work or home.
How I Handle My ADHD On A Daily Basis
Living with ADHD can be overwhelming, but I’ve come up with strategies and tactics to help manage my condition on a daily basis.
I start off each day by making a plan. Having a clear view of the tasks ahead allows me to focus on what is important and not get side-tracked by distractions.
I also take breaks throughout the day when possible to reboot my brain and stay fresh. Taking a few minutes for myself or going for a walk helps give me energy for the rest of the day.
Having supportive people in my life is essential, as their encouragement and understanding can help me stay positive and counter any negative thoughts.
Finally, I make sure to reward myself whenever I accomplish something big; this helps motivate me to keep going and doing more. By having these practices in place, I have the tools necessary to stay productive despite my ADHD diagnosis.
Embracing Being Neurospicy
In addition to these daily activities which form part of my new routine since receiving this diagnosis, it’s also become an important part of who I am now; being comfortable enough to wear happily being labeled ‘ADHD’ rather than struggling against it day-in-day-out makes life much easier without question! In fact, although ADHD normally has some jokes made at its expense—I prefer not think of myself in these terms but rather realize how lucky I am to have come across such understanding professionals who recognized the signs so early on allowing me time enough practice self-love along this journey towards finding acceptance within myself…even if sometimes navigating the world with a different kind of brain can be tricky from time-to-time!
