I was 67 when I discovered that ADHD was the missing piece in my life. Like me, many women have been living  with undiagnosed ADHD. Often this has been accompanied by a lifetime of high anxiety, low self-esteem generated by the lack of understanding of their condition by both themselves and society, and with  depression (sometimes inappropriately medicated without effect)…There is a lot of guilt and shame which has been built up over the years which is detrimental to our physical and mental well being.  

That is why, if you think that you may have ADHD, I encourage you to seek a diagnosis. At the very least do a reputable online self assessment to gauge if you are in the ADHD ballpark. We have an episode dedicated to this to help you navigate the world of online testing.

Why? Because no matter your age, no matter how well you have masked and striven to have a successful and meaningful life (and so many of us do!), when the realisation that you are ADHD comes, it is life changing. 

So much of the guilt and shame immediately dissipates in the light of the knowledge that there is a reason that our brains work as they do. We are not broken. We do not need to be fixed. But we will benefit from information, support, tools and treatment – if we choose it.

Understanding you are ADHD (if you are) truly is  ‘The Missing Piece,’ to quote the title of Julie Legg’s fabulous book about ADHD women. ADHD women are awesome – at any age or stage of life. As we age however we are also often isolated and misunderstood.

With support, treatment and information, we can flourish. Listening to the stories of others, being able to share your own story and learning more about ADHD is highly cathartic in and of itself. Knowing there are other women in your age bracket who have similar struggles, joys and issues lightens the load, often brings additional insights and is always inspiring. 

That is the aim of the ADHD: Women Exploring the Neuroverse podcast.