I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, this is what I have learned.

October is ADHD Awareness Month in Australia, and I wanted to share my journey this year and encourage everyone to support all diversity and remember that awareness is the key. The key to supporting all diversity in fact!

Being neurodivergent describes the unique way my brain acts and thinks— it's a term I love because there’s no agreed-upon definition of a “normal” brain. ADHD is one of many diagnoses under this umbrella, affecting 1 in 20 individuals in Australia, many of whom live undiagnosed, just like I did until recently.

Through a lengthy process with my GP, psychologist, and psychiatrist, and with amazing support from my partner, I received my diagnosis for ADHD, combined type—inattentive and hyperactive earlier this year in February. 

I made the decision to embark on this journey because I was determined to understand myself better and more importantly for me, I wanted to be a better a partner and parent through knowing how I can work with my mind, not against it. 

Uncovering my ADHD has been a journey of self-discovery as well as a formal medical process. It involved delving into old school reports and career feedback, seeking insights from family and friends. This process revealed stark contrasts between my self-perception and how others saw me, leading to the realisation and clinical assessment that I’ve had ADHD my whole life.

The way ADHD manifests is different for everyone. For me, it impacts my executive function, short-term memory, and my ability to sustain attention unless I am hyper-focused, which can be a “superpower” or a painful distractor. I struggle with time-blindness, this sees me quite often not estimate how long a thing will take to do or just not realise how much time has passed and, at times my managing emotions or more importantly my reactions when caught off guard.

Executive function, or the deficit in having it, is one of my significant struggles.

Despite achieving so much in my life, I am strongly impacted by an ability to quite often not “just get things done” and short-term memory issues, at times forgetting what was just said. Executive function can look and sound like procrastination, which we all get at times.

It really impacts how I deliver at work and in my personal life and in relationships, particularly when the task is significant. My brain will look for instant rewards or easy wins to lift my dopamine and make me feel like I am achieving.

Even though I know I really must do the more important task, I end up finding any other task to complete (most likely for the easy dopamine lift) and can end up quite frustrated with myself. My hack for this has been to set (or ask other people to) tight deadlines for the task, which triggers the excitement for me, and I will hyperfocus and get it done.   

While I naturally build relationships, I often feel anxious inside and overthink every interaction later. Sometimes tasks take me longer to complete than my peers. However, I’ve learned to ask for help, build strong and connected teams, and support others, which in turn allows them to assist me in return. I am still on a learning curve, constantly understanding and reviewing my thought processes. 

I feel fortunate to be surrounded by people in my personal life and at work with KPMG who are willing to share their stories with me and listen to mine without judgment.  

Initially, I was hesitant to share my story, as I feel the weight of privilege on my shoulders from many angles. But with some healthy encouragement from friends, I see it as an opportunity to raise awareness and draw support for others who may not be able to access the support I have received or who are seeking connection but unable to find it yet. 

I am early on in my neurodiverse journey and am learning so much about myself. Upon reflection, I am lucky to be here for many reasons, especially considering the impact of anxiety, depression, and my impulsive nature, which have pushed my mental and physical health to their limits. 

Yet, I am excited (and nervous) for what lies ahead and thankful to be working with people and in a company that values diverse thinking and helps me thrive, not just survive and to have an amazing partner who has supported me so so much.