At the end of 2024, I found out I had ADHD. A lot of puzzle pieces that didn’t make sense before finally clicked. I understood why, no matter how much I tried to do better for the people in my life, loving and trying wasn’t enough.
Why couldn’t I just be a better texter? Why couldn’t I just remember to respond? I kept telling myself, If it’s so important to me, why couldn’t I just do it?
I felt a constant state of overwhelm at work, even though I was excelling.
What really pushed me to get the diagnosis was when I reached my buckling point under the critical load. Between a potential move, work, packing up my childhood home, and the changes in routines happening all at once, I just couldn’t regulate anymore. For most people, all those things happening at once would be difficult, but for me, it felt like the building was on fire, and I couldn’t find my way out (despite the fact that people with ADHD do well in chaos)!
Anyways, I’ll dive into that part of the story later when I’m ready to unpack it. What I want to focus on now is what I’m doing to learn to love my brain.
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As James Clear once said, “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
My goal has been to create systems that help me love my neurodivergent brain, nurture its uniqueness, and provide a level of consistency and stability so it can thrive in all circumstances.
I struggle the most with emotional dysregulation and time perception.
I now take a consistent dosage of ADHD medication, alongside matcha and omega-3 supplements, which have greatly helped with my emotional dysregulation and sense of overwhelm. I’m able to process my emotional states in a much clearer way.
Setting alarms and wearing a digital watch on my wrist, so I can easily see the time, has helped with my time perception. I also set the watch a few minutes ahead, so I’m always a bit ahead of schedule.
On top of that, I’ve become much stricter with my diet and exercise routine. I focus on meals rich in protein, complex carbs, and leafy greens, and I make sure to get to the gym as often as possible.
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Why am I sharing this on my blog? Because most women get diagnosed with ADHD in their late 30s or early 40s. Understanding your brain and learning to love it is a beautiful journey. I write because I want to open up dialogue on hard topics and shine a light on the human struggles we all experience.
I can’t wait to share more with you on my journey!
