If we haven't met, my name is Trish. I am 42 years old and was diagnosed with ADHD 2 weeks after I turned 40 (in January of 2023). It was a shock because I never expected it. I've spent the last 2 years figuring it out, mostly silently. I'd like to share some of it, if not for you, for me, which by the way ISN'T selfish.
When I got my diagnosis, it almost felt trendy to have ADHD. EVERYONE seemed to be talking about it in some way and a lot of them make it seem like it was funny. I felt like a fraud speaking about it. Like someone would call me out on just jumping on a trend, or at least that's how my brain processed that feeling. Which is common with ADHD by the way.
At that time I was going through a lot of health issues and also trying to keep up in my business. I was burnt out and overwhelmed and adding this new identity to myself felt like an attack I didn't need. The only thing I knew how to do was research. I even thought at one point that I should incorporate it into my business.
But then came that fraud/imposter feeling again. Add it to my business? Who was I? I was no expert. How could I speak about this when I had zero clue on how to handle it myself. At this point my business started declining. I was too overwhelmed to keep it all together. I called myself mean names and put myself down. I thought the ones already talking about it were the experts. Maybe I should just leave it to them to help "people like me".
People like me... That kept coming back to me. What did that mean? I ultimately have lived my whole life with this and was now waiting for someone else to tell me what to do. I guess in some instances, that makes sense. This felt different.
To be transparent, I trained for years for this and didn't even know it. If you have ADHD you probably are familiar with skill collecting and hyperfocusing. You go from thing to thing to thing. But have you ever stopped to pay attention to what you are guided towards that stick? Are there trends in what you gravitate towards? I don't mean that random hyperfocus that lasts for 2 weeks, but the ones that stay with you.
For me, it was holistic practices. I went and completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training and meditation certification. I got certified in Reiki. I trained to be a life coach. When I was diagnosed with ADHD something clicked in me. These tools were meant to help me in this journey. That brought me some peace. That's all I wanted. Something to help me feel more like me.
I never saw myself as an influencer of any kind, but more of a book of resources or maybe a buddy of some sort. I've tried to create content around it to incorporate into my business (coaching/energy healing), but I've always felt like I was masking who I really was. Look at my TikTok, I look so stiff and uncomfortable in the couple of videos I've posted. I've thought about roasting myself on this.. lol
Anyway, the point of all if this is to remind you, my amazing reader, that everyone's ADHD story is different, yet we all may feel the same. That imposter feeling. That lonely loner feeling. The mean to ourselves feeling. The we aren't enough feeling. The burnout feeling. Whatever it is, your ADHD isn't a trend. It's a part of your identity. That part of you may not have been invited, but they are here to stay.
Take deeper looks at yourself. I know it's scary. I too freak out all the time over it. The more you tune into yourself, the more you can understand yourself. Those skills you've collected may be a key in all of it. Maybe it will lead you to a purpose that feels right for you. For me, it always leads me back here. To this blog. Where nothing ever stays the same in topics, but my reason is always the same.. to be a resource. To share my heart. To help someone else even if I never know about it.
I feel like I'm in a blog season. Lots to share. I'll be back soon. Until then, much love.
