Gaining perspective

For years, I felt slightly out of sync with the world around me, a beat behind or sometimes ahead, but never quite in harmony. This persistent, underlying feeling led me on a seven-month private quest for answers, culminating in a diagnosis: ADHD.

I’m aware that conversations around ADHD in the media often reduce it to a catchphrase, or suggest that those who claim it are using it as an excuse for their shortcomings. But it's tangible, real, and at times, manifests as physical pain, especially when faced with my rejection sensitivity. Even the smallest rejections can leave a mark. A message left unanswered. A shift in tone in someone’s voice. A misinterpreted look. These things stay with me, long after they should. They press into the skin.

A clarity washed over me as I received the diagnosis, and I felt the urge to cry, not from grief, but from recognition. It was as if the missing pieces of my life's puzzle found their place.

The diagnosis highlighted aspects of my behaviour, such as my tendency to hyper-focus on certain tasks, offset by moments of absent-mindedness or severe procrastination. Getting this diagnosis comprehending my mindset, and providing me with a roadmap to navigate my particular reactions and inclinations.

This has been a pivot point for me. While the diagnosis itself is recent, the understanding it brings feels transformative. It's early days on this journey of self-awareness, but I already sense its value: a lens to re-examine past moments and a guide for future paths. Beyond the diagnosis, it's a deep dive into self-discovery, a commitment to embracing every facet of who I am.