I would like to be completely transparent – I am Neuro-Diverse. I can honestly say that I can’t remember exactly when I was diagnosed with ADHD, but I do recognise I was in the early years of my childhood, and I am now in my 50’s! I was later diagnosed with ARFID, Globus Hysterica, Hypersensitivity and Hyper-vigilance as an adult.

I have to say, I had gone through my fair share of trauma with my ADHD when I was younger, and I would react strongly to stress. I can recognise RSD (Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria), which made me extremely upset when rejected and I was reactive to EDS (Emotional Distress Syndrome), which builds up from regular stressors attributed to my ADHD.

It was in my late 20’s to early 30’s that I finally began to understand myself; why I had a hard time completing projects and the frequent number of times I would just simply forget things. I would often be referred to as a chatterbox! When I first recognised ADHD in myself, I would question lots of aspects of my life. I would also question whether any of my diagnoses defined me.

I eventually had that ‘light bulb moment’ with a therapist/coach, where I discovered it didn’t matter how many labels I had, or whether my ADHD was responsible for all my other comorbidities or not. I’m just quirky and unconventional! I didn’t, and still don’t, consider myself broken or unfixable. I just needed strategies to manage the part of me that was ‘perceived’ as broken. Ultimately, I just wanted to become the best version of self and achieve my full potential.

So, how did I come to this understanding that helped me move on with my life and achieve? Well, I needed to understand myself and so I reached out to a therapist/coach. It really helped to have someone to ask me what I have accomplished and above all else, hold me accountable to the goals I had set. The crucial part for me was having a Coach who is also ADHD and just ‘gets it’! Gets the way I think and how I see the world. This was my most valuable tool.

I would consider myself (and everyone else!) as a work in progress, where I’m always looking for new ways to improve myself and optimizing my life choices and as a psychotherapist and coach myself now, I would like to pass this feeling on to you.

If you’re still reading, then somewhere in my thoughts I feel you may have just connected with me on some level, perhaps emotionally or mentally? If that’s the case, feel free to get in touch as I’d love to join you on your journey of discovery.

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