Why getting that ADHD diagnosis is a lifesaver for some people

I have been a registered psychotherapist who specializes in ADHD for 5 years now, and I have ADHD myself. I was one of the many adults who were diagnosed later in life. I was 40 years old. The moment I was diagnosed and started to understand what ADHD is and how it impacts a person’s life, my world changed for the better. I was able to let go of all the shame I was carrying for not being able to do things that it seemed everyone else could. Understanding my brain led me down a journey of self-discovery, self-forgiveness, and ended in self-love. The diagnosis came when I was completing my master's in counselling and led me to want to specialize in ADHD so I can help other people learn to love their brains and themselves. In my sessions, I have met so many adults whom I suspected had ADHD, and I suggested that they look into it. I have had these people come to their next session full of emotion over finally feeling whole. They describe it as the pieces finally fitting together, that they felt less alone and realized that they are part of an amazing community of people. Understanding your brain allows me and my clients to accept that the neurotypical world is not made for our brain type, and it wasn’t that we were not trying hard enough; it was because it was not made for us. This crazy 9-5 pm 5 days a week work week is awful for our brain type. Some of us our morning people (not me), and some our night owls. We all have “golden time” when our brain is the most efficient, and we can rock out 2 weeks of work in 2 hours. When we are finished with the 2 hours, we may need 2 days to recover. The standard working hours do not allow us to work in our prime times and don’t allow us the days to recoup. Knowing this about yourself allows you to look for employment that will:

1.      Stimulate your brain

2.      Allow you the freedom of creativity

3.      Allow you to work in your prime times and rest when needed

The job usually ends up being creating your own business and freelancing your skills, which allows you to pick when and who you work with.

I have seen a lot of clients struggle in corporate jobs, not because of the workload but because of the politics (which we are naturally conflict-averse), boredom-because there isn’t enough interesting work, and the lack of the ability to make change in the workplace. The phrase” because that is how we have always done it, and it would be too much work to change” is like nails on a chalkboard for us. Our brains problem-solve at lightning speed, and we can not understand why you wouldn’t want to change something that would make the work more efficient.

Knowing that you have ADHD is knowing that you have secret powers, and that you are one of many that had to learn to cope in a world that is made for neurotypicals. That you are not broken, or the problem, you are just unique. When you learn how your brain works and what your special talents are, you can really learn to see your ADHD as a gift.