So... I'm 39 years old. Got straight As at school. Run my own business. Pick up new skills ridiculously quickly. From the outside it seems like I won the brain lottery. Yesterday I was formally diagnosed with ADHD.pic.twitter.com/doVcSGsncI
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I have a BSc in Psychology but we only studied the typical male, mainly hyperactive, symptoms. I never even considered that I might have anything like ADHD until a friend (
@TheAlbionGirl) tweeted about her diagnosis early this year and alarm bells started going off in my head.pic.twitter.com/RNExbTjaTi4 replies 0 retweets 40 likesShow this thread -
So I did research. A LOT of research (of course - the joys of hyperfocusing!
). And it turns out that ADHD wasn't quite what I thought it was.
It also turns out that, far from being a bad thing, a lot of my ADHD symptoms have steered my life, my relationships and my career.pic.twitter.com/Brom0wlf6N3 replies 0 retweets 37 likesShow this thread -
In being forced to deal with an undiagnosed issue I've basically weaponised my ability to hyperfocus. It's what makes me great at my job... but I've also been hyperfocusing all day every day because I can't filter out stimuli. No wonder I'm exhausted! No wonder I love silence!pic.twitter.com/LKZAWpHQgz
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But this year symptoms I've had all my life (that I put down to 'me being weird') became so overwhelming that I broke down. Now I know why: I'd been unknowingly self-medicating with nicotine, caffeine and learning. Quitting smoking + lockdown + stress = no more yummy dopamine.pic.twitter.com/cOKiPnEcez
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I don't know where I'll go from here. I'd never want to lose my ADHD superpowers that give me my passion for learning and make me good at my job... ...but I'm looking forward to not feeling so overwhelmed. Fingers crossed medication will help.pic.twitter.com/pev2xxK5en
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Whatever happens, I now know the name of the monster I've been fighting. I've been learning to work with my brain rather than against it and life's already improved immeasurably! ADHD isn't a monster I'll ever kill... but it's definitely one I'm looking forward to taming.
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I'm glad you got the diagnose! It's easier to battle a monster when you know what it is <3 As a fellow ADD I wish you luck, and strength. It can be overwhelming and difficult at times, as it's the battle against yourself, but I believe in you!
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