At 33, I had no idea that I had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD or ADD). It didn’t even appear on my radar until a good friend of mine mentioned that she thought I had it. I’ve always struggled with things that other people seemed to do effortlessly, but I thought it was a load of character flaws on my part.
After my ADHD diagnosis, I felt elated and completely cheated at the same time. What a wonderful thing to realize I wasn’t that piece of you know what I’d always assumed I was. I finally understood that my brain worked differently, so I slowly worked on first forgiving myself, then accepting myself, and finally loving myself.
I have a core group of friends who have been with me since grade school. They have loved me since the dawn of time. They adore me for my spontaneity, kindness, intellect, and adventurous side. They also understand that there are things I’m not strong at, like talking on the phone.
My advice for other women who have been diagnosed with ADHD? Know that being neurodiverse in a neurotypical world is a struggle. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. Find your gifts, feed your passions, allow yourself to be vulnerable, and surround yourself with those who are willing to be dragged along when you’re feeling strong, and who will, in turn, drag you along when you are struggling.
