So much foreshadowing!! There was so much that should have clued the adults in that something wasn't quite right with my brain!!
So true. And thinking if I had actually been diagnosed before college. I would not have had six different majors and no degree to show for it. I have enough college credits for almost to bachelor degrees. But not enough credits to accomplish getting one.
Such a great illustration. I also started my adhd diagnosis because of the fallout from Covid+menopause. At first I went through all the "If only" scenarios. True, my life might have been different but, also, it might not. Realistically, in the 70/80s in rural Australia there was nowhere my parents could have taken me even IF they suspected something. And there was no internet/YouTube/social media to get educated. It is kind of reassuring though to look back at the chaos and years of low energy put down to M.E./CFS and know that 1. It wasn't in my head and 2. I did the best I could with what I had. And 3. Thank GOODNESS I now know how my beautiful brain works and have access to this amazing, supportive community.
Yes, well put! Looking back i see all the signs… also see contribution of adhd to my marriage falling apart and ending in a divorce. That has been really hard.
Exactly. Red flags abound. I clearly had ADHD. But at 54 in the middle of the pandemic and the beginning of menopause, I got my diagnosis. I think I went through the whole 7 stages of grief in technicolor. I'm working on acceptance with my eyes set on Thriving, knowing my weaker or blind spots, and acknowledging its superpowers.
Exactly! I look back on all the red flags that I just excused as nothing - not focusing at school, teaching myself math and everything else at home, waking up at 5am to do homework because nothing else was going on and I could focus… crazy…