25 Jul 2022 | 4 mins
Overview
  • If, like me, you have been given the label of being riddled with ADHD, I'm here to share how I went about finding out, dealing with the consequences and embracing my diagnosis
  • It's not all doom and gloom, in the slightest!

If you're reading this, chances are you've either already been diagnosed with ADHD, reckon you might have it, or probably know someone who does. 

As cool as being different is, neurodiversity can sometimes be exhausting and lonely - so I'm here to let you all in on exactly how I dealt with my diagnosis - and how to lead your best ADHD life.

The diagnosis

Did you know that around 2.8% of the world's population has ADHD? Mental. That's a lot of people. Like, millions. 

I first heard about it when I was in high school; my mum used to tell me she thought I might have ADHD because I couldn't sit still, found it hard to regulate my emotions and daydreamed a lot.

I didn't really pay much attention to my mum saying that at the time - it didn't impact me enough to seek answers or medication. So I just carried on being weird little me. 

Then I went to university, and things suddenly got harder. Then I started a new job, and things got even harder again. For the first time, I was experiencing a massive lack of focus, heightened emotions like sensitivity to perceived rejection, constantly beating myself up over missed deadlines, interviews, inductions, shifts. You name it, I avoided it. I couldn't be on time for anything, couldn't be reliable even if I wanted to.

It felt like everything was getting too much, like I was wading through mud everyday. Simple tasks became exhausting and seemingly impossible. I started to feel like I couldn't do much of anything and even socialising became draining. 

I got myself a decent therapist who ended up sending me to a psychiatrist who diagnosed me with ADHD which changed everything; how I viewed myself, the world and everyone in it.

The aftermath

With the diagnosis came clarity and relief; I wasn't dumb, lazy or incompetent after all. Just born with a brain that needs waay more dopamine.

Being someone with ADHD  means a lot of things; for me it means I get easily agitated, distracted, have multiple thoughts at once, think really fast, find it hard to complete tasks without a reward and feel overwhelmed super easily.

But it does come with a lot of benefits too. Like hyperfocusing. Meaning, if I enjoy something, I get it done quickly and well. Other perks include being sociable, extroverted, adventurous and highly creative. I think outside the box, have abstract ideas and I'm not scared of taking risks. So really, it's not at all bad.

It also makes me who I am, which I have come to appreciate.

Tips on how to approach ADHD

If you're struggling with the old ADHD diagnosis, or feel like you've got it but haven't got round to making it offish, here are my top 5 tips:

1. Don't beat yourself up

 You're not lazy, useless or stupid. Your brain works differently. Take care of it and love the brain you're in. Compassion goes a long way.

2. Learn to work with, not against your ADHD 

If you find it hard to complete mundane tasks, give yourself a reward at the end or do them in stages, like doing half the dishes now and half later. Even if it takes you longer, you're still getting it done. Easily distracted? Give yourself multiple small breaks to do something you do like, and use that as a reward after finishing studying, cleaning or whatever you need to do.

3. Surround yourself with people who love who you are 

Feeling a bit different can be intense, so having people around you that love who you are, ADHD and all, accept your quirks, mishaps and meltdowns, makes all the difference. We deserve to have people in our life that embrace us.

4. Be honest about your needs 

Letting your parents, mates, partner, teachers, lecturers, colleagues and managers know what you need from them in order to feel safe, supported and encouraged is vital. You don't necessarily have to tell everyone, it's more about deciding who is going to help you on your journey and figure out the best course of action for you.

5. Get support 

Getting yourself some profesh support is super important in helping you navigate ADHD. If support looks like talk therapy for you, great. If it's getting an ADHD coach, awesome. Or, you might go down the route of getting meds. Excellent. It's not the same for everyone - whatever you decide is right for you is a-ok.