Three years of ADHD
Three years ago next month, I was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
The initial shock quickly turned to relief, then grief and even rage for all the lost opportunities and relationships caused by my undiagnosed neurodivergence.
With the newfound understanding of my brain’s unique composition, I did what I’ve been trained to do as a journalist, I went deep into research mode and devoured every scrap of information and data I could find.
It was a lot. Amid the substantial and verified information from professionals, there were plenty of folks eager to take my money and exploit my quest for clarity. Thankfully, I only lost a few hundred dollars in those early days. There was also an embarrassing interview with the CBC.
When I posted about my diagnosis on Instagram Jordan — my friend and colleague from iStockphoto —reached out and we launched a podcast, Holy Sh*t I Have ADHD (HSIHADHD). It’s been a joy learning from guests about their experiences being diagnosed in mid-life and I’m so grateful.
There was a time I would tell everyone about my weird and wonderful brain, but I’m less likely to lead with it now. I understand it to be part of my life, but it no longer dominates my discussions.
I don’t view myself as deficient. I have robust and highly developed panoramic attention. I see patterns where others don’t. I have deep empathy and sensitivity to injustice and the skills to build community. I bring humour and delight to my work and can hyperfocus with the best of them. I see the good in people and get energized by their success.
There’s a lot of social media chatter about ADHD these days, and it’s mostly a good conversation to be having. I also know it gets frustrating when it’s the same stereotypes being exploited for likes and shares repeatedly. That doesn’t help people trying to learn about neurodiversity build compassion, and I’ve noticed an uptick of people posting angry and dismissive rants about neurodivergent people. Some of it is downright scary. Even the BBC invested in a weirdly slanted story about people seeking assessments.
My career has been dynamic to say the least. I’ve been a copywriter, accessibility professional, facilitator, editor, outreach coordinator, dog walker, bartender, arts journalist, and communications strategist. The places I thrive have a mix of novelty and structure and I’m always on the lookout to support projects and organizations that are doing the word of building a more inclusive society.
I realized this year that I have the heart of an entrepreneur and I’ve been slowly building my consultancy, Accessible Dimensions. If you’re reading this, you’ve landed on my new website. Welcome! I’m excited to be sharing it and can’t wait to tell you more as the process unfolds.
Given that it’s ADHD Awareness Month, I thought it would be good time to share more of my perspective. If you would like to know more, feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to chat.
