As many of you know, I was diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago, and now see it as an important part of what I do to talk about ADHD, how it affects people, and what issues it causes for sufferers.
Below is a photo of me when I went to London with Ester McVey when we went to speak to the Minister of Health about what can be done to reduce the length of time it takes for a diagnosis of ADHD.
Last year I filmed the documentary on ITV about my late diagnosis with ADHD and the response to it was massive, so many people experiencing similar stories to me. If you haven't seen the documentary you can watch it here - Me and ADHD
After filming the documentary I'm on a mission to push for earlier diagnosis of ADHD, currently its 2-7 years! And the repercussions of this are massive, I'm speaking from experience here.
I want to talk about what it's like to be a woman living with ADHD. For those of you who don't know, ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and it's a condition that affects the way our brains work. And let me tell you, it's not easy.
Living with ADHD can feel like a rollercoaster ride. One minute I'm full of energy and bouncing off the walls, and the next I can barely focus on anything and all I want to do is hibernate away in my bed. It's like my brain is a TV with a million channels, and I can't seem to tune into just one, which can be massively overwhelming.
One of the biggest challenges of living with ADHD as a woman is that it's often misunderstood or misdiagnosed. For years and years I was told I had depression and was prescribed all kinds of medication which never seemed to work, this left me feeling so helpless.
As women, we're expected to be organised, efficient, and on top of everything, but for those of us with ADHD, that can be a real struggle. We might forget appointments, lose track of time, or struggle to stay on task, and people might dismiss it as laziness or lack of motivation. But let me tell you, it's not that we don't care, it's that our brains are wired differently. We might need extra help or support to stay on track, but that doesn't mean we're any less capable or intelligent than anyone else.
Another challenge of living with ADHD is that it can affect our relationships. We might be impulsive or say things without thinking, which can lead to misunderstandings or hurt feelings. We might struggle to remember important dates or details, which can make our loved ones feel neglected or unimportant. But here's the thing - living with ADHD can also be a gift. Our brains are wired to think outside the box, to come up with creative solutions to problems, and to see things from a different perspective. We might be full of energy and enthusiasm, which can make us great at connecting with people and trying new things.
So if you're a woman living with ADHD, know that you're not alone. There are millions of us out there, and we're all doing our best to navigate this wild ride. Don't be afraid to ask for help or support when you need it, and remember that you are capable of achieving great things, even if it takes a little extra effort. I'm on a mission to make a change, to raise awareness, to help get earlier diagnosis for ADHD. I'll be sharing more on my own journey with ADHD and on things which has helped me live with it, and hopefully that can help others in the same position. ❤️❤️ I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences so please feel free to share these in the comments.
