Thread by @RockstarMonk

Stages of ADHD diagnosis, my thoughts, a thread. Does this resonate with the #ADHD community?

Stage 1. Shock. May include thoughts like: ‘Wait I actually have ADHD!’ Or ‘finally somebody is listening to me.’ Or even ‘it took this long to get here?’
#ADHDAwarenessMonth 1/

Stage 2. Denial. Can also be imposter syndrome. Includes thoughts such as ‘maybe It’s not #ADHD.’ ‘They made a mistake with the diagnosis’ or ‘but what if I’m just lazy?’ Also includes ‘this is not a disability’ and ‘I’m normal’ (actually it is and none of us are really).

/2

Stage 3. Anger. Often aimed at previous medical professions or parents, teachers, employers and even yourself. Includes thoughts like ‘why didn’t they notice this earlier.’ Or ‘I knew they were wrong.’ See also emotional dysregulation.

#ADHDAwarenessMonth 3/

Stage 4: Bargaining. Not fully accepting your diagnosis or feeling the diagnosis totally defines you now. You might reject any medication or support offered, believing you can just change things easily. You’ll stick with what you know. Your ‘normal’, even if that’s a problem. 4/

Stage 5: Depression. It hits you. You have #ADHD and you’ve had it for a while and you’ll always have it. This can lead to negative thoughts, ‘Life sucks and you’ll never be normal.’ (Normal is just a label. You’re always you and you are always awesome). 5/

Stage 6: Testing. You realise you need to figure this out. Curiosity, creativity and a desire to see positive change mean you’re ready to learn and grow. You’ve probably found and follow folk from #ADHDtwitter, read a book or 2, watched some vids, listens to a podcast.

6/

Stage 7: Acceptance. You’ve found a path that seems to work. If you’re taking meds you’ve settled on a dosage which seems to work. Things might need adjustments and you’ll have a few fails along the way. But it’s all growth. Welcome to the future! /end