ADH...what the heck?

"Kasey, have you ever considered that you might have ADHD?" a colleague asked.

This was the question that actually changed my entire life.

Perhaps she was sick of me asking, "Have you seen my keys?" ten times a day, and trailing off mid-sentence, forgetting what I was talking about. At the time, I thought it was the juggle of work and life that made me tired and caused these sorts of things.

I had heard of ADHD, but my knowledge was slim at best. I primarily (and wrongly) associated this with some of the boys I went to school with who were considered, shall we say, high-energy.

Turning to "Doctor Google," I almost fell. Off. my. chair. ADH...what the heck........this is me!

• failing to give close attention to details or making careless mistakes in activities - Check
• trouble holding attention on tasks - Check
• not following through on instructions and failing to finish duties - Check
• trouble organising tasks and activities - Check
• getting easily distracted - Check
• forgetfulness in daily activities - Check

The " check " list went on and on.

This caused me to reflect and introspect about my life up until that point. If I was honest, I always struggled at school. I would excuse myself to go to the bathroom or get a drink because I didn't understand what was happening but was too embarrassed to admit it. I considered myself unorganised and very impatient, constantly interrupting conversations to get my point across. Still, positively, I could have unending hours of laser focus when interested in something.

As I got older and life got more challenging, these things and others worsened. I was diagnosed with generalised anxiety disorder, followed a few years later by a binge eating disorder, which I assumed was par for the course of life, having experienced some trauma during my laps around the sun. Still, when I started to look into this and reach out to professionals for help, I began to understand that all of this, in fact, was down to four little letters ADHD.

ADHD indeed.

With all of this new information and armed with the assistance of some skilled professionals and interventions, I can wholeheartedly say how freeing it was to learn about my brain, how I operate and, more importantly, why. That I am human - just like everybody else. I now understand that while having struggled my whole life in self-confidence, genuinely believing that I was unintelligent, my brain is different but not less than. In fact, I confidently contribute to the world with my enthusiasm, positivity and high levels of EQ. I can spot patterns in many places and have a remarkable ability to 'read the room,' noticing all the body language and words unsaid. While there are many things that I still struggle with, I know I am not alone and have people around me who care and understand. It's been a journey of self-acceptance, and I'm still learning and growing every day.

Last but not least, learning all of this has further fueled my passion for my work in the disability employment industry. I truly understand the positive impact of meaningful employment on lives, families, communities, and the true value of inclusion.

When I interviewed for my current senior leadership role, I did not at all intend to discuss my diagnosis, as even then, I didn't want any stigma attached to it to apply to me. However, it came up in conversation quite naturally, and I felt comfortable talking about how it affects me and what it looks like. When the interview panel did not bat an eyelid during the conversation and were genuinely interested, I knew that I was in a safe space and that the inclusion that I had heard and read about in my research was, in fact, practiced within the organisation.

I had questioned whether to write this as an article on LinkedIn or keep it safe in the confines of my inner circle, but I know very well the importance of authenticity and that, as humans, we learn from each other. I am a proud professional woman living with ADHD, contributing to my community, society, and workplace. Definitely different, but not less than.

Until next time.

Reference - ADHD Symptoms in Women: Misunderstood, Overlooked, Undertreated