No One Believes I Have ADHD
I've always known that I was different from other kids, but definitely not in a good way. As a young kid, I had sensory issues such as textures, loud sounds, certain foods, and change in routine. It got so bad to the point where I got occupational therapy, which helped a lot. Despite the progress, I was bullied quite a lot in grade school and high school for being a bit "off". I didn't know what was wrong with me, I just wanted everyone to like me. Despite this, I excelled as a straight A student and soared through grade school and high school.
Then college hit me like a train wreck.
They say that most people realize they have ADHD when they get to college, because the routine breaks down and you are responsible for all of your assignments. I didn't know I had ADHD, but I knew something was wrong. People told me I wasn't listening, not focusing, and I was struggling. It was nothing like high school at all. I began to become severely depressed.
Then, I started looking into ADHD. Suddenly, it was like the missing piece of the puzzle. All of these unexplained behaviors throughout my life wasn't my doing, but the way my brain is wired to work. The sensory issues, the lack of social awareness, the procrastination and not being able to focus. Most women are underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed with other conditions because of the stereotypical "hyperactive boy". The symptoms in women don't match that stereotype.
After doing literal hours of research, I concluded that I most likely had ADHD. It was a start at least. I brought it up to my parents and friends, and even my therapist at the time, and they all said the same thing: "I don't believe you have ADHD. Everyone has those issues."
Well, of course! But none of those people have it affecting their daily lives, do they? No one seemed to understand me. I just want to get the help I need, but obviously that costs a lot of money. But I'm going to keep advocating for myself. No one else knows what goes on in my head except me. Let me know if anyone else has similar experiences.
@dancingfire08 Hi there! I'd like to tag onto jovialButterfly's beautiful response with one more link that might be of interest, it's a quick guide on the topic that 7 Cups offers and I thought it was helpful: https://www.7cups.com/adhd/
I was also diagnosed in my adult life. I relate to a lot of things you both said. Hang in there! We are here for you.
If you haven't already done this or were thinking of it, perhaps another consideration might be to get an eval done by a psychiatrist? Sometimes you can make those appointments yourself and sometimes your doctor can give you a referral to one, just some brainstorming ideas.
Sending you good vibes 🤗
@FlourishingDimensions thanks so much for the advice! I think I might ask my family doctor for a referral to a psychiatrist for testing, my appointment's in a month. Here's hoping it goes well :)