ADHD Awareness Month 2025 - Ellen's experience

This ADHD Awareness Month, Ellen shares her experience of being diagnosed with ADHD and how she's raising awareness of it so more support can be more provided. 

When someone close to me suggested I might have ADHD, I laughed. I thought ADHD was just the “naughty boys in school” who couldn’t sit still. Meanwhile, I was just…losing my phone 5 times a day, zoning out in lessons, and never able to stay organised.

Turns out, that’s ADHD too. Especially in girls.

Being diagnosed later in life brought a powerful mix of emotions. There was relief. Finally understanding that there wasn’t something wrong with me. There was hope. The possibility of finding strategies to manage and support myself better. But there was also grief. For the opportunities I missed, the degree I dropped out of because I couldn’t focus or stay organised, and the friendships I struggled to maintain due to rejection sensitivity. I can’t help but wonder whether awareness, understanding, and the right support in place would’ve changed everything.

ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It is a neurodevelopmental condition caused by a dopamine deficiency in the brain. Dopamine is a “motivation and reward” neurotransmitter. In ADHD, dopamine signalling is less efficient. This means the brain doesn’t get the same “reward hit” from everyday tasks. This contributes to difficulty starting boring or repetitive tasks, seeking stimulation, and the tendency to hyperfocus on things that do trigger dopamine. Medications like stimulants (e.g. Methylphenidate, amphetamines) work by increasing dopamine availability to help balance focus and motivation.

People often joke that the process of getting an ADHD diagnosis is, in itself, a test for ADHD. There are endless appointments to remember, forms to fill out, and a surprising amount of organisation required just to get through it. This can make the whole thing feel a bit ironic. Although taking the leap and deciding to start the process was the best thing I ever did. It’s one thing reading up on it and relating to traits associated with the disorder, but having a doctor confirm that this is the reason you’ve felt different your whole life is massively validating.

There were days before my diagnosis when I couldn’t focus on studying, work, or even the things I usually enjoyed - everything started to feel like a chore. I would take on too much at once and burn out quickly, leading to some dark moments. I beat myself up constantly, genuinely believing I would never be able to achieve anything. In the workplace, ADHD has presented its own set of challenges. I can struggle with focus and motivation when it comes to repetitive or mundane admin tasks, and I find it difficult to sit in front of a computer all day without my mind wandering. Thankfully, medication and better self-awareness have made a difference. It helps me stay consistent and organised without feeling constantly overwhelmed.

At the same time, my ADHD has also given me qualities that help me in education recruitment at Teaching Personnel. My creativity helps me think outside the box when finding solutions; my ability to build genuine relationships allows me to connect easily with candidates and clients; and my empathy helps me understand and support others on a deeper level. These strengths are what make my work so fulfilling.

Of course, I still have my down days. I still forget where my belongings are, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve forgotten to fill up my car and broken down on the side of the road or locked myself out of my house. But the increased awareness and support around ADHD have absolutely turned my life around.

I encourage anyone who feels the same way to look into it and for people who have neurodiverse friends, colleagues, or family members, please be patient. Read up on these conditions and improve your understanding of how their brains work. A little awareness and compassion can make all the difference, especially during ADHD Awareness Month, which is all about education, empathy, and celebrating the strengths that come with neurodiversity.

Find out more about ADHD and ADHD Awareness Month here.