I connect to so much of this! I am 41, and received an ADHD diagnosis a few weeks ago. I'm still reeling as I try to integrate this into my identity. So much of what I've struggled with makes sense now. In my case, my parents tried to get a diagnosis for me in the mid 1980s, but they couldn't, in part because diagnostic practices didn't recognize the symptoms in girls, but also because I am transgender and my symptoms did not resemble those of a typical "boy". As a result, I spent four decades just assuming that my struggles were the result of a personal failing that was beyond my control. For me, it took having my routines and coping mechanisms disrupted by the pandemic to reach a crisis point where I needed to seek a diagnosis. Since getting diagnosed, and diving into the research around ADHD I'm seeing patterns that have run through my life for as long as I can remember. It's been transformative to learn how brains like mine work! Best of luck to you in your own journey!

Theresa Jean Tanenbaum
Theresa Jean Tanenbaum

Written by Theresa Jean Tanenbaum

Just your regular transgender, polyamorous, Sapphic, AuDHD, disabled, Jewish, witch. Making music, poems, stories, games, and trouble.

No responses yet