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Living with Undiagnosed ADHD: my life Journey to Understanding
For over 20 years, I lived with untreated ADHD, misinterpreting its symptoms as character flaws. Diagnosed as a child, I was told I'd "grow out of it." Instead, ADHD silently shaped my life, from intrusive thoughts to emotional struggles, until a mental health crisis in 2021 finally led to a re-diagnosis.
The Invisible Symptoms
ADHD isn’t just about hyperactivity; its symptoms are often internal and misunderstood:
1. Intrusive Thoughts & Overthinking:
Racing, relentless thoughts that spiral into self-doubt.
2. Disordered Eating:
Impulsivity made me binge-eat, chasing dopamine through “fun” foods.
3. Executive Dysfunction:
Struggling with tasks, procrastinating, and feeling “lazy.”
4. Hyper fixation on People:
Obsessing over crushes, amplified by rejection-sensitive dysphoria.
These symptoms are often mistaken for anxiety, depression, or personality disorders, making ADHD harder to diagnose, especially in women.
