The most amazing and difficult part of my diagnosis has come in the form of sudden realizations (things I do, why I do them, long-term effects on my life), and I am so curious as to what your experiences have been! What’s one big realization that has hit you in discovering ADHD for yourself or someone you support?
I was diagnosed last September, 2022. My biggest realization is that I'm not stupid and lazy. My incredible lack of memory and never wanted to get off the couch isn't me, it's my ADHD.
Day 9 of my new post-diagnosis life. And today I’m reflecting on the many ‘new to me’ memories pushing their way through to the surface of my brain. I feel them jostling for position, each one desperate to be acknowledged, viewed more kindly, or perceived through this new life lens.
I am still spinning from my late adulthood diagnosis, although it has slowed down a LOT (thank fudge).
So today, the memory I’m pulling out of the choosing hat is the one where I constantly said to my ex husband: “I’m not lazy!”. He would always respond with a kind, but bemused: “I know”. I’d forgotten all about that until the other day... and I’m now realising how often I would feel the need to justify what I’d been doing with myself all day long. I guess perhaps someone must have called me lazy at some point way back when. And I internalised that subconsciously as a Very Bad Label to be proactively avoided at all costs!
I was diagnosed last September, 2022. My biggest realization is that I'm not stupid and lazy. My incredible lack of memory and never wanted to get off the couch isn't me, it's my ADHD.
Day 9 of my new post-diagnosis life. And today I’m reflecting on the many ‘new to me’ memories pushing their way through to the surface of my brain. I feel them jostling for position, each one desperate to be acknowledged, viewed more kindly, or perceived through this new life lens.
I am still spinning from my late adulthood diagnosis, although it has slowed down a LOT (thank fudge).
So today, the memory I’m pulling out of the choosing hat is the one where I constantly said to my ex husband: “I’m not lazy!”. He would always respond with a kind, but bemused: “I know”. I’d forgotten all about that until the other day... and I’m now realising how often I would feel the need to justify what I’d been doing with myself all day long. I guess perhaps someone must have called me lazy at some point way back when. And I internalised that subconsciously as a Very Bad Label to be proactively avoided at all costs!