ADHD Awareness Month: Ellen's Journey to a Late ADHD Diagnosis

 As ADHD Awareness Month shines a spotlight on neurodiversity, Teaching Personnel's Ellen shares her experience of being diagnosed with ADHD later in life and how greater awareness and understanding can make a real difference.

"When someone close to me first suggested I might have ADHD, I laughed."

Like many people, I had a very specific image of what ADHD looked like. I thought it was something that primarily affected the "naughty boys" at school who couldn't sit still or concentrate in class. Meanwhile, I was constantly losing my phone, zoning out during lessons, struggling to stay organised, and feeling overwhelmed by everyday tasks.

What I didn't realise at the time was that these can be signs of ADHD too, particularly in girls and women.

Receiving my diagnosis later in life brought a mix of emotions. There was relief, because I finally understood that there wasn't something wrong with me. There was hope, because I could start finding strategies and support that worked for me. But there was also grief.

I found myself reflecting on opportunities I felt I'd missed, including the degree I dropped out of because I struggled to focus and stay organised. I thought about friendships that had been affected by rejection sensitivity and times when I had blamed myself for challenges that I now understand were linked to undiagnosed ADHD.

It's hard not to wonder whether greater awareness and the right support at an earlier stage could have changed some of those experiences.

Understanding ADHD 

ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects attention, impulse control and executive functioning. Research suggests that differences in how neurotransmitters, including dopamine, function in the brain can affect motivation, focus and reward processing.

Many people associate ADHD solely with hyperactivity, but it can present in a variety of ways. For some people, symptoms may include difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, disorganisation, emotional dysregulation, time management challenges and feeling easily overwhelmed.

This is one reason why ADHD in girls and women can often go unnoticed. Symptoms may be less outwardly disruptive and are sometimes mistaken for anxiety, stress or simply being disorganised.

The Diagnosis Journey 

People often joke that getting an ADHD diagnosis is, in itself, a test of ADHD.

There are appointments to remember, forms to complete and a surprising amount of organisation required throughout the process. At times, it felt ironic that something designed to assess executive functioning required so much of it.

Despite the challenges, deciding to pursue a diagnosis was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Reading about ADHD and relating to the experiences of others was helpful, but having a medical professional confirm what I had suspected brought a sense of validation that is difficult to describe. For the first time, many of the things I had struggled with throughout my life started to make sense.

ADHD in the Workplace 

Before my diagnosis, there were days when I struggled to focus on studying, work and even hobbies I genuinely enjoyed. Everything felt like a chore.

I often took on too much at once, only to burn out quickly. There were periods where I felt frustrated with myself and genuinely questioned whether I would ever be able to achieve the things I wanted to.

In the workplace, ADHD has brought its own challenges. Repetitive administrative tasks can feel particularly difficult, and spending long periods sitting at a computer can sometimes leave my mind wandering elsewhere.

Thankfully, medication, self-awareness and learning how my brain works have made a huge difference. I've developed strategies that help me stay organised, focused and consistent without feeling constantly overwhelmed.

Recognising the Strengths 

While ADHD can present challenges, it has also given me strengths that I value both personally and professionally.

Working in education recruitment at Teaching Personnel, my creativity often helps me think differently when solving problems. My ability to build relationships enables me to connect with candidates, educators and clients, while my empathy helps me understand and support others on a deeper level.

These qualities are a big part of what makes my role so rewarding.

Greater awareness of ADHD is helping more people recognise that neurodivergent individuals bring unique perspectives, strengths and talents to schools, workplaces and communities.

Why Awareness Matters

Of course, I still have my down days.

I still lose things more often than I'd like to admit, and I've lost count of the number of times I've forgotten to fill up my car or locked myself out of my house. ADHD hasn't disappeared.

What has changed is my understanding of it.

The growing awareness of ADHD, combined with better access to information and support, has had a hugely positive impact on my life. It has allowed me to stop viewing my differences as personal failings and start understanding how to work with my brain rather than against it.

If any part of my story feels familiar, I would encourage you to learn more about ADHD and consider speaking to a healthcare professional if you think it could be relevant to you.

For those with neurodivergent friends, family members, colleagues or pupils, a little patience and understanding can go a long way. ADHD Awareness Month is about more than recognising challenges. It's about building understanding, encouraging empathy and celebrating the strengths that neurodivergent people bring to the world every day.