Discovery

Originally posted December 2021

Who do you think is ADHD? Think you can spot one?

I have met new ADHD friends who have Psychology degrees, some are Social Workers, Nurses, Teachers, Life Coaches and Counsellors.

Even my assessing ADHD Dr is ADHD .

And of course I myself am ADHD.

Responses have been mixed, ranging from:

'no, I'd never have believed it',

'oh everyone is a bit like that, I do that sometimes'.

Of course, my foibles are more than sometimes and I can't switch out of them easily or at all and are more than a bit annoying (the foibles and the response ).

My favourite reaction;

'Oh yes, I can see it now!'.

It is easy to recognise when you know what you are looking for. Except that most of us do not know what to look for because ADHD is very misrepresented, confusing and misunderstood.

And that is why I post about ADHD. So that those out there struggling to understand their brain, struggling to accept their struggles, confused by how they see the world, may wonder if in fact they are ADHD.

They may realise through my words and my shared experience, that this might explain their difference and give some reassurance or comfort.

I genuinely thought I was Dyslexic (assessment 4 years ago said no). Feared I had early Dementia because of brain freeze and poor memory (this is why I went for ADHD assessment).

I wondered if I had anxiety because my brain was ALWAYS on the go, however I wasn't unhappy. Just confused. I knew I got bored very quickly however my life is full and hectic with my work being challenging and stimulating (that's a good thing) so I'm not distressed.

Formal academic education at Uni was a huge problem (but I did it) and I'd flunked at school (not all do) so thought I wasn't very intelligent.

So discovering I had ADHD was enlightening, a puzzle solved, the final piece giving me the whole picture.

I am discovering I am even more ADHD than I knew. I am letting go of the persona I had naturally become. I am now embracing my difference.

It is rather daunting and exciting this ADHD malarky.