“Haha, I think Snapchat gave me ADHD. Hmm, actually that’s very rude. I shouldn’t joke about having a disability”
{a pandemic hits and all sense of time/deadlines/routines disappear}
“Oh god, maybe my depression is back?!”
{goes to a psychologist to treat trauma. trauma treated}
“Why don’t I have any motivation? Why can’t I even do the things I want to do?! WTF is wrong with me?!”
{breaks down crying to partner} “I feel like I’m not living up to my potential but I don’t know why”
{partner comforts me and admits there’s definitely a puzzle piece missing but we can figure it out}
{scrolls constantly} “So many of the videos about ADHD make sense but I really don’t think I have it. I think all my symptoms are just trauma”
{adult friends start getting diagnosed}
“Hmmm, I relate a lot to them. Maybe I DO have ADHD…”
{starts reading scholarly articles about all kinds of neurodivergence, watching videos from psych professionals and listening to others’ lived experiences.
rules out autism, BPD and bipolar}{secretly downloads a quiz created by psychologists specifically for adult women with ADHD. ticks every single box}
{shows partner. partner confirms} “Holy shit you totally have ADHD”
{realises this explains so much of my life and fills in the missing pieces}
“WHY DIDN’T ANYONE TELL ME?! I’VE BEEN IN THERAPY FOR DECADES! WHY DIDN’T ANYONE REALISE I HAD ADHD?!”
{spends every day for a week crying}
“Maybe I don’t have ADHD. Maybe it really is just the trauma. Should I get diagnosed?”
{prohibitive cost and extraordinary wait times prevent formal diagnosis}
{starts researching systems and tips to help manage ADHD symptoms naturally}
{starts implementing strategies to manage ADHD. all magically seem to help} “Wow I feel better than I have in years”
{imposter syndrome kicks in} “But what if I don’t actually have ADHD?”
{learning about ADHD becomes a special interest. devours research and won’t shut up about it with friends}
“All the strategies work and when I don’t do them, I fall apart. I’m pretty sure I have ADHD”.
{tells parents. parents recognise symptoms in themselves and other family members which makes sense because it’s a highly genetic condition}
{several months after implementing ADHD tips to wild success} “Honestly, if I psychologist didn’t diagnose me with ADHD, I wouldn’t believe them”
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Yes, yes, yes! Before my psychiatrist appointment to be assessed for both autism & ADHD I kept saying to my husband, "If I'm not diagnosed, I don't believe them"! I had done enough research at that point to know that I met the criteria for autism, and almost certainly for ADHD as well. I was confident that if I wasn't diagnosed, I still had both conditions. But thankfully all he said was "You haven't made it up - it's not all in your head. You have seen yourself in these traits/videos/articles/etc because it is you." Honestly one of the most affirming things I've ever heard in my life.