*Being diagnosed as neurodivergent at the age of 46*
Have you ever had one of those moments when you look back on your entire life and all of sudden it all makes sense?
This is what happened to me as I received my formal ADHD diagnosis earlier this year. Having been told more than once in my life that I’m highly impatient, impulsive and highly active, you would have thought that I may have been able to put the pieces of the puzzle together much earlier.
But I always just thought that I was highly sensitive plus loved being physically and mentally active. What was wrong with that?! It wasn’t until I started researching ADHD a couple of years ago that I began realising that there could be more to my behaviour.
Over the past 20+ years, I’ve changed jobs and whole industry sectors more times than anyone else I know. I used to think that it was because I was really curious, learnt new things quickly and had broad interests. Now I realise that after the initial excitement of something new, I would often get bored in traditional work settings, especially the 9-5 kind.
Moreover, I would go at 100 miles per hour in the beginning and then quickly burn out and feel the need to quit. For years, I used to joke that I have a 1st gear and a 5th gear and nothing in between. Now I know that it was my ADHD talking.
Four years ago I had my last career change when I re-trained completely and set up my own fitness and wellbeing business for mums. The reason I haven’t yet quit? Even before I received the ADHD diagnosis I knew that I had to work in a way that suited my sensitivities.
To work really hard at times followed by moments of rest and recovery. I’ve probably worked harder in the last four years than ever before because as any business owner knows, things never really stop. However, it’s been on my own terms. I’ve taken a break when I needed it.
So what now you may ask? Some well-meaning people suggest: just take some medication and you’ll be fine. If only life was that simple!
This is a small sample list of how I manage my ADHD daily:
-I go to sleep early and start a wind-down routine an hour before
-I exercise every day but have to be careful so that I don’t do too much, nor too little
-I balance my blood sugars by eating lots of protein, healthy fats and veg
-I don’t drink caffeine after noon
-I drink minimal alcohol and if I do have one drink, I don’t drink late in the evening
-I spend time outdoors in nature every day to calm my nervous system
-I meditate for 10 minutes every day (and some days I do more if I’ve had a stressful day)
(I also do take anti-anxiety medication to help me fall asleep.)
The world needs the energy, passion, sense of justice, boldness and creativity of neurodivergent people. However, we need acceptance, understanding and flexibility of our less positive traits. I had to become an entrepreneur in order to be able to manage my ADHD, however the best organisations are hopefully putting in place the right environment for their neurodiverse employees so that they can thrive and stay the course.
Caroline