I have been coaching for about 5 years now, and got my diagnosis for ADHD as an adult. Looking back I am surprised the signs were missed- I was a fidgety and spacey kid that easily fit the textbook features of ADHD. I sought a diagnosis for many reasons. Masking was leaning too far into social anxiety, and I had relied too long on self-triggered bursts of panic to get almost everything done. What really weighed on me above all else, was this slowly-building feeling that I just didn’t make the cut. That I was by nature insufficient.
Getting my diagnosis was a huge relief but just the very start of a much longer journey. It was really tough finding providers that deeply understood the functional challenges of ADHD, and I often felt misunderstood and isolated in the process. Since then, I have worked hard to challenge the belief that I was not enough, and build very strong defenses against stigmatization. I have worked to learn and communicate the things I need to achieve balance and success in every setting: in college, at work, with my friends, and with my partner. While the ADHD journey is life long, I am very proud of the feats I have achieved thus far. I want to help others find their own way too.