Adult ADHD Diagnosis

Not long ago, in my late 50s, I received a diagnosis of adult ADHD and had to leave my job in corporate consulting with severe burn-out. My work performance and general health was in freefall, overwhelmed as I was with intense anxiety and an ADHD that was off the scale. There were various factors that contributed to this, but the main result was that I hit an ADHD brick wall at full speed and was unable to concentrate on work effectively. Consulting is a challenging career path for those with ADHD. The upside is having a brain that works fast and can shift quickly between multiple tasks. The downside is that the constant ball juggling in an environment of intense competing multiple deadlines eventually takes its toll. To say that I was stressed and anxious would have been wry understatement.

The upside is having a brain that works fast and can shift quickly between multiple tasks. The downside is that the constant ball juggling in an environment of intense competing multiple deadlines eventually takes its toll.

I expect that my response to my ADHD diagnosis is a common one. Although I had suspected there was something weird with my brain for at least 15 years prior, I was, by turns, relieved to finally gain valuable insight into why I functioned the way I did and cautiously optimistic with the dexametamine treatment regime that followed. It’s not a panacea but it sure as hell makes a difference (so this is how normal people’s brains work!?). Equally, and for a long time thereafter, I experienced almost overwhelming grief and sadness at the thought of what might have been had the ‘condition’ been diagnosable twenty or thirty years ago. I think my life and career choice and performance would have turned out quite differently…

But I am blessed and have much in life to be grateful for. ADHD is more of a background theme now, rather than the dominant, unconscious driver it used to be.

– Michael, ADHD WA Member