How ADHD Turned My Life Around
How getting diagnosed revealed so much to me
Hi ADHDers! I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas!
I was struck down with the flu but I think I’ve passed through the worst of it. Thank God!
Since I had all the time in the world lying in bed lifeless, I reflected on how getting diagnosed with ADHD turned my life around.
Shall we begin?
Is there something wrong with me?
Is there something wrong with me? I’m sure we’ve all asked ourselves this question at least once!
Wondering why you find it so hard to do the simple things like laundry, or making a doctor’s appointment?
Wondering why it’s taking you weeks to complete homework when it only takes others a few days?
Wondering why you keep running into ADHD Tax for fines, late payments, and dental issues that escalated?
Comparing your lack of progress to where you know you could be if you could only stop procrastinating.
Forgetting things all of the time.
Does this sound familiar?
I thought about all of these things before I was diagnosed with ADHD.
But I couldn’t figure out what was ‘wrong’ with me. Was it laziness? Bad time management? Lack of discipline?
I needed to know.
The process of elimination
There’s nothing more frustrating than knowing something isn’t quite right but having no idea what it is.
I felt like I was losing control of my life and everything was passing me by.
Bad decisions, chronic procrastination, non-existent financial management, depleting self-care, lack of progress, impulsive to a fault and so on!
But enough was enough.
In 2016, I did what we all do, I headed to Google and typed in everything I was experiencing.
The results led me to early onset dementia, I was in my 20s but I thought, this could be it! I booked an appointment with my GP, she gave me a memory test on the spot.
I passed with flying colours, I didn’t have early-onset dementia. My GP said I was probably just disoriented because I had travelled a lot.
But what could it be?
I let things be and for 2 years, I stopped trying to figure out what was ‘wrong with me’.
ADHD Diagnosis
In 2018, I came across that Netflix documentary, you know, the one that the ADHD community strongly dislikes.
I watched it and resonated with the men who shared their stories, showing how ADHD is an invisible uphill battle you can’t shake. I felt so seen!
I didn’t think adults had ADHD until I watched the documentary! I was in GO MODE:
I researched ADHD from sun up to sun down
I read the ADHD diagnostic criteria and research papers
I completed every free ADHD test online
It HAD to be ADHD.
Long story short, I booked a GP appointment and 1 year and 6 months later (tested by 2 psychiatrists in between) I was formally diagnosed with ADHD Combined Type.
How My ADHD Diagnosis Turned My Life Around
If I wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD, would my life currently be upside down?
Yes. Very much, yes.
My ADHD diagnosis identified the ‘source’ of my behaviours, mishaps, and general things that I struggled with.
Knowing was key to being able to work on myself and access support. Since being diagnosed almost 5 years ago:
I was able to improve my credit score and develop healthy financial habits
I booked the dental appointment and was billed for 3 root canals and other treatments but I defeated procrastination.
My communication with friends and family improved and I was more available
My mental health and self-esteem improved as I stopped looking at myself as a failure.
ADHD Medication gave me the motivation, clarity and willpower to take care of my life.
I’ve been able to advocate for myself and others with ADHD.
I was able to pinpoint issues and behaviours to ADHD symptoms and taught myself how to work with my ADHD brain and develop coping strategies that worked.
For example: I’ll go into more detail in a YouTube video and will answer common questions - subscribe to get a notification when it arrives here: YouTube video
That’s all from me!
Rach, with ADHD
Adult with ADHD in Nigeria right now
💔😭😭