19/05/2026
Being diagnosed with ADHD at 36 has answered questions I’ve had my whole life. It hasn’t suddenly appeared because ADHD is a ‘fad’ or because people watch TikTok. My daughter also has ADHD, and seeing her journey helped me understand my own in ways I never had before.
I’m getting tired of hearing ‘don’t we all have that?’ because there’s a difference between occasionally being distracted and living with something that impacts your daily life, your emotions, your routines, your relationships, and how your brain processes the world.
One explanation that really resonated with me was that ADHD can feel like constantly chasing enough stimulation, focus, motivation, or calm.. but never quite feeling like your brain is fully satisfied. You can exercise, stay busy, tick things off the list, and still feel mentally exhausted or struggle to concentrate. For me, it feels less like laziness and more like my brain has been working overtime my whole life just to keep up.
Looking back, so many things make more sense now. I started drinking and smoking at a young age, and for years I never really understood why I leaned on those things so heavily. Learning more about ADHD has made me realise I spent a lot of my life chasing dopamine, stimulation, relief, or that little boost that made me feel calmer or more switched on.
For many adults, especially women, ADHD wasn’t recognised when we were younger. We learned to mask it, push through it, and blame ourselves instead. A diagnosis doesn’t create ADHD.. it gives a name to something that was already there.
People choose not to be medicated and that’s completely their choice. I chose medication, and for me it has been life changing. I feel like I have a whole different sense of this world now. Things feel quieter, clearer, and I feel like I’m getting to know myself again. Not the version of me that was masking, coping, or just trying to get through, but me.
If more people are talking about ADHD now, maybe it’s not because it’s a trend. Maybe it’s because people finally feel seen.