In May 2022 I was (sort of) diagnosed with ADHD. In October 2022, I was (officially) diagnosed with ADHD. 

Those of you who have known me for many years will know that I have struggled a lot with my mental health; which I won't go into the details of - because I've done that many times before!

However, I never in a million years thought that my poor mental health would actually be the result of spending 24 years on this planet with undiagnosed ADHD. 

For many people, it comes as a shock when I share that I have an ADHD diagnosis. 

"But you're so organised!", "You're so well behaved", "You're bright and smart", "You don't seem hyper to me."

Little do people know that these well-meaning phrases can actually be a kick in the teeth for me. Yes, I am organized, because my life literally depends on every single aspect of my day being planned to the last minute - even then I am chronically late and overbook myself constantly.

Yes I am well-behaved because I have grown up knowing that I am different to others, so I've tried to make myself as palatable and inoffensive as possible so that I don't draw more unhelpful attention to myself. 

Yes I am bright and smart, but do you know how many times a week I feel completely incompetent because I can't even sit down for 5 minutes to write 1 sentence (ironically I am writing this after sitting down to do some uni work, but this seems way more interesting). 

Yes, I probably don't seem hyper to you. Because the vast majority of my hyperactivity is in my brain. I am thinking about everything. All the time. 

Additionally, when people challenge my ADHD diagnosis, I also like to remind them that (first, they're not a doctor), but second, how many aspects of my life are textbook ADHD. 

The impulsiveness (how many tattoos do I have now? How many amazon prime purchases can I make in one day?), the hyper fixation on things (think One Direction, crocheting, bodybuilding, running, spin classes, short-lived relationships/friendships, hair colors, fashion styles etc). There's also my excessive caffeine consumption (which has finally been ended by my ADHD meds).

However, one of the key things that has helped my ADHD symptoms is exercise. I can't quite explain how or why, but specifically running and high-intensity exercise really helps to shut my brain up and also wears me out, so I can spend the rest of the day studying rather than bouncing off the wall. This is one of the key reasons I am running my first every marathon. I don't run or exercise for weight loss or to show off, I run because it's the only non-prescription item that shuts my brain up for a bit. 

That brings my nicely onto why I have chosen to raise money for ADHD Adult UK. Last night I attended a talk they delivered in Nottingham, debunking all the myths and misconceptions about ADHD. I wish I could have paid enough attention to accurately re-share everything that they addressed last night. Therefore my attempt at supporting them is asking you to either support my donation, or check out their resources - listen to their podcast, attend one of their talks!

If you're the sort of person who would look at me and said 'yeah, but you don't REALLY have ADHD", then you're the sort of person who would greatly benefit from checking this charity out.

[ADHD Information] 

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects 2.5% of adults. it is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterised by a pattern of behaviours which usually appear in childhood. The symptoms of ADHD can be categorised into 2 types of behavioural problems: inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness, with many people with ADHD falling into both these categories. Many adults with ADHD struggle with everyday activites and need information, support and guidance to help them lead happier and more fulfilled lives.ADHDadultUK provides support for adults with ADHD (or those with ADHD symptoms) through psychoducation, an online community forum and The ADHD Adults Podcast. Our aim is to supporty all adults who require is, and to build community around and public awareness of ADHD.