ADHD
🛣️My Journey
Like so many other women with ADHD, i struggled with my symptoms long befoer I was diagnosed. Click here to learn more about my journey and how it’s changed my life.
🛣️Early Years
Well before my diagnosis, I was struggling with the symptoms of ADHD. In school, I did well academically but I always got in trouble for being too chatty and argumentative. My mind was always racing with thoughts, and I had a hard time staying organised. Looking back, I realise that being involved in so many after-school clubs and sports helped me manage my ADHD through exercise and structure.
Like many women dealing with ADHD, I had gotten really good at hiding my symptoms . But as I entered puberty, my struggles became more apparent when my symptoms caught up on me academically. This result in a series of embarrassing failures.
🛣️Assessment + Diagnosis
During my third year of medical school, I started learning about ADHD, especially in girls. Suddenly, everything made sense. I wanted to get diagnosed, but I found out that there was no funding available for adult assessments at that time. It's frustrating how women with ADHD are at a disadvantage compared to men. There is a lot more funding available for child diagnoses yet due to masking, women often don’t realise they have ADHD until there is no longer support available.
Feeling close to a solution but unable to access it was incredibly frustrating. I had the answers, but I couldn't unlock them. So, I made the decision to pursue a private diagnosis. The process cost £500 with Seik Psychiatry and involved detailed assessments with a psychologist and a psychiatrist, as well as input from people who knew me when I was younger.
🛣️Life Now
In May 2022, I finally received a diagnosis of severe combined ADHD, meeting all nine criteria for both childhood and adulthood. It was an overwhelming moment. I cried tears of both happiness and regret. I was happy to finally have answers, but sad that I had struggled for so many years without help.
In that moment, I forgave myself and embraced the younger version of me who had carried so much pressure and frustration. Now, I'm on a journey to manage my ADHD through medication and by refining my daily strategies.
Explore the products that have helped me on my ADHD management journey, and check out the content I've created about ADHD. Let's keep the conversation going and support each other through this shared experience.
🛍️Products I use
There are soooo many products that I have found so helpful in learning more about ADHD and helping me manage my symptoms Click here to see what they are
How They Feel and Why They Do What They Do
by Kathleen Nadeau, Ellen Littman and Patricia Quinn nut
🎥Related Content
More of a visual learner? You’re in luck! I have plenty of [ADHD] content across my Youtube, Tiktok and Instagram that you might find useful
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