Finding Myself Through My Son: A Mother's ADHD Discovery Story
Sometimes our children become our greatest teachers. While navigating my son's ADHD diagnosis, I discovered something unexpected - my own story of neurodivergence.
The Early Signs: I was that chatty kid, the one whose name lived perpetually on the classroom blackboard (remember those days?). My parents even warned my husband before our wedding about my "Rubber-band Man" energy - how I would stretch him with my constant ideas and activities. We all just thought it was personality.
The Motherhood Wake-up Call: It wasn't until I became a mother that I started questioning my own patterns. The inability to fully relax, the constant mental activity, the perpetual hum of anxiety - were these just part of being a busy mom, or something more?
The Discovery Through My Child: When my son was diagnosed with ADHD, I dove into research mode, determined to understand how to support him. That's when I learned about the genetic connection between parents and children with ADHD. Everything started clicking into place.
The Diagnosis Process: I'll be honest - getting evaluated as an adult woman (even with good insurance) wasn't as straightforward as I expected. My internist wanted me to go for a full neuro-psych evaluation - that would take 1-2 days of testing and thousands of dollars out-of-pocket! After several attempts to find the right professional, I finally connected with a specialist who understands adult ADHD, particularly how it presents in women. Last week, I received my diagnosis: combination ADHD.
Understanding Combination ADHD: For those unfamiliar, combination ADHD means experiencing both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms. Suddenly, so many aspects of my life made sense - from my creative bursts to my challenge with traditional organizational systems.
Making Peace with My Mind: This will definitely be a continuous process but this diagnosis isn't just a label - it's a key to understanding myself better. Those traits that sometimes make me feel "too much"? They're not flaws to fix, but aspects of my neurodivergent brain to understand and work with.
Moving Forward: While this journey is still new, I'm learning to embrace all parts of myself. I will work on developing strategies that work with my brain rather than against it. Most importantly, I'm sharing this story because I know there are other women out there - especially moms and entrepreneurs - who might see themselves in these words.
A Message to Others: If you're a woman who's ever felt like your brain works differently, who's been called "too much," or who's wondering why traditional systems don't always seem to work for you - you're not alone. Whether you have ADHD or not, your journey to understanding yourself is valid and valuable.
I'm sharing this not because I have all the answers, but because I believe in the power of these honest conversations. Sometimes the path to loving ourselves starts with understanding ourselves - all parts of ourselves.