📆 My first 90 days Post ADHD Diagnosis

My first 90 days after my ADHD diagnosis has been roller-coaster. Everything seems to now make sense; pieces of the puzzle are starting to assemble. I’ve learned a lot more about myself, how my mind works, I’m starting to embrace my difference and I think I’m happier, for many reasons.

I’m wired differently and proud.

 I feel liberated. I’ve read a lot of books on this topic, been listening to podcasts from well established neuroscientists and psychiatrists. I’ve spent hours on YouTube learning from those who have had to deal with their neuro differences and the associated challenges and strength that come with it.

I’ve informed my managers and the HR department about my ADHD diagnosis. They’ve been super helpful and supportive. I’m less anxious, I’m not on my ‘firefighting’ mode as much as I use to be (although I do think it served me well!)

I was particularly surprised to hear that the HR colleague I flagged my ADHD to is also a neuro divergent! What was planned to be a 5-minute announcement of my ADHD to them, ended up being nearly a 1-hour conversation about the fun side of being ‘wired differently’.

Growing up I believed neuro differences such as ADHD, Dyslexia, Autism etc had negative connotations associated with them. My first 90 days has certainly helped me shape my perception of that.

I’ve journaled a lot more, I’m trying new practices such as bullet journaling, which I’m enjoying so far. It’s a good reflection tool. I’ll shed more light on how I’m progressing with this in the future.

In regards to distractions.. I tend to experience this quite often. I’ve become best friends with my noise cancelling headphones, to help reduce the noise distractions. I play brown noise, very gentle and soothing. My big take away to help avoid distraction is putting my phone on do not disturb and deleting a few social media apps from my iPhone to avoid the continuous ‘scrolling’. I try to make getting distracted as difficult as possible so I can concentrate better and be more productive.

I’ve taken my physical health a lot more serious. I work out almost every weekday, even if it’s just a 20-minute session on my exercise bike. Once I saw the scientific benefits of what it does for the ADHD brain, I went full throttle!

• I sleep better

• Less stressed

• I think clearer

• Mind’s less distracted —> I concentrate better —> more productive

I would like to do more mindful things such as meditation, I just don’t think I have the patience for it and each time I’ve attempted my mind just wonders from pillar to post and I just give up thinking it’s not gonna happen.

Final thoughts:

 If you’re potentially undiagnosed and you secretly feel that you have a neuro divergent, I’d really encourage you to be proactive:

• Speak to people - In my case it was my manager and the HR department, it may be different for each person

• Research the symptoms you think you’re experiencing

• Seek professional/medical advice and help

Assuming you’re an undiagnosed neuro divergent, from my personal experience I think the sooner you follow up on this the better.

Inasmuch as I truly believe that my time being undiagnosed with ADHD served me well via my hyper focus, creativity and out of the box thinking. I also believe that it could only take me so far.

I believe that now that I have a better insight in how my mind works, I can go to another level in my personal growth. I’m not so sure I would be able to do that if I was still undiagnosed.

A lot of If, buts and maybes, but that’s my take on this. I believe I may have just plateaued being undiagnosed. I read a lot of ‘self-help’ books during my years being undiagnosed, but looking back at those books, I feel they were more tailored to the neuro typical brain.

As a result, I don’t think I was able to benefit greatly from them. Now that I’m aware of my neuro difference, I can appropriately target the areas I’m not so strong on and develop the required skills.

The ADHD Professional

Disclaimer: I am not your psychiatrist, coach, doctor. Neurodivergent Diaries does not provide medical services or professional counselling and is not a substitute for professional medical care. Everything I publish represents my opinions, experience, not advice.