My ADHD Story

I spent so long feeling misunderstood, exhausting myself with masking and turning everything inward as self‑blame. I wasted so many years influenced by the disconnect between my version of events around my own behaviour, and other people’s perception of me.

When the Perimenopause hit, not only did I develop insomnia, acne and lose the little hearing I had left, the drop in oestrogen disrupted dopamine, executive functioning and emotional regulation. Thankfully I had met my now partner so the oxytocin made up for it! However after the honeymoon period came to an end and I was head-to-head with the grit of menopause, I finally sought an assessment and support.

I was diagnosed with ADHD at 56 which I greeted with huge relief, it was finally a name for a lifelong overwhelm, intensity, and exhaustion; but it also brought sadness. Sadness for the sheer lack of support in my younger years. I could have so easily avoided being thrown out of brownies because I was finding my dopamine hit by playing knock down ginger...on my own! 

Understanding ADHD has been life changing for me. It helped me see that I hadn’t been the problem, it was just that I was wired differently. And once I understood that wiring, everything became possible.

My aim now is to help to support others experiencing similar issues to myself by providing ADHD coaching.