What its Like to be a Women with ADHD
Hello My Lovelies
I just wanted to write a little blog post as I've been to London this week with Ester McVey. We went to speak to the Minister of Health about what can be done to reduce the length of time it takes for diagnosis of ADHD.
Last year I filmed the documentary on ITV about my late diagnosis with ADHD and the response to it was massive, so many people experiencing similar stories to me. If you haven't seen the documentary you can watch it here - Me and ADHD
After filming the documentary I'm on a mission to push for earlier diagnosis of ADHD, currently its 2 - 7 years! And the repercussions of this are massive, I'm speaking from experience here.
I want to talk about what it's like to be a woman living with ADHD. For those of you who don't know, ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and it's a condition that affects the way our brains work. And let me tell you, it's not easy.
Living with ADHD can feel like a rollercoaster ride. One minute I'm full of energy and bouncing off the walls, and the next I can barely focus on anything and all I want to do is hibernate away in my bed. It's like my brain is a TV with a million channels, and I can't seem to tune into just one, which can be massively overwhelming.
One of the biggest challenges of living with ADHD as a woman is that it's often misunderstood or misdiagnosed. For years and years I was told I had depression and was prescribed all kinds of medication which never seemed to work, this left me feeling so helpless.
As women, we're expected to be organised, efficient, and on top of everything, but for those of us with ADHD, that can be a real struggle. We might forget appointments, lose track of time, or struggle to stay on task, and people might dismiss it as laziness or lack of motivation.
But let me tell you, it's not that we don't care, it's that our brains are wired differently. We might need extra help or support to stay on track, but that doesn't mean we're any less capable or intelligent than anyone else.
Another challenge of living with ADHD is that it can affect our relationships. We might be impulsive or say things without thinking, which can lead to misunderstandings or hurt feelings. We might struggle to remember important dates or details, which can make our loved ones feel neglected or unimportant
But here's the thing - living with ADHD can also be a gift. Our brains are wired to think outside the box, to come up with creative solutions to problems, and to see things from a different perspective. We might be full of energy and enthusiasm, which can make us great at connecting with people and trying new things.
So if you're a woman living with ADHD, know that you're not alone. There are millions of us out there, and we're all doing our best to navigate this wild ride. Don't be afraid to ask for help or support when you need it, and remember that you are capable of achieving great things, even if it takes a little extra effort.
Im on a mission to make a change, to raise awareness, to help get earlier diagnosis for ADHD.
I'll be sharing more on my own journey with ADHD and on things which has helped me live with it, and hopefully that can help others in the same position. ❤️❤️
I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences so please feel free to share these in the comments.
Lots of love and light
Tanya
XXX
I’m 57 and just realised that I have had ADHD all of my life. I watched your documentary with light bulb moments of realisation and I can’t thank you enough for sharing your experience. It’s too late for me to even need to be diagnosed but I’m hugely proud of you for helping all those people who struggle. Knowing that I do have ADHD has bought peace to me and makes me a little emotional to think that there was a reason for my behaviour. It also makes me proud of myself ( I’m not one to be proud of myself) for finding those coping mechanisms to survive with ADHD.. Thank you Tanya for all your very hard work in this area xx
Hi Tanya/your team
My mum has told me from a young age that I have adhd and when I was younger I didn’t want an assessment but now I’m older I notice I do things so differently and I’m so implusive. I can’t seem to keep my life on track my mind does 1000 things at once even keeping my house clean is hard I can’t keep my mind doing just the simple thing I feel like putting the clothes washing away so overwhelming I just leave it and try to forget about it
I always feel like I need something in my hand even if it a pen I need something to play with but I look so silly playing with a pen in public so I just bite my nails instead
I go through stages where I can sleep for hours and one task takes it out of me
I also annoy people because when we talk or about a subject I just talk over people and talk fast but in my head I feel like I need to say it there and then and I look really rude
If you have any help for me please let me no
Thank you! I’m 47 & diagnosed last year – when I try & explain to those who don’t understands I get myself confused with what I’m trying to say & loose my trail of thought, but now you have given me a near perfect description of what I experience ❤️ it now all makes sense of me & my past – a true lightbulb moment for me getting diagnosed & for that I am truly grateful for it 🩷#ADHD#knowledgeispower#selfawareness
Hi Tanya
Thank you so much for speaking out so openly about this subject. Being able to use your platform to raise awareness is great!
As a possibly undiagnosed ADD (not sure about the hyper bit for me) patient. Navigating life can be a trial. Throw in cancer and hospital appointments etc….its a nightmare!!!! I can never keep track of days…..I am shocking! 🙈
Hi, I’m currently under the ADHD service waiting to be tested, I have struggled with my moods and emotions since being a little girl and am only now getting the help i need
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