ADHD: the four stages of adult ADHD diagnosis
There have been several people in the public eye recently, who have recently received an ADHD adult diagnosis or a diagnosis of Autism as an adult. Going on to share their experience on social media. Because if this, the general public’s reaction has been embracing with many sharing their stories.
Em Rusciano, Australian comedian, writer, singer and media presenter, addressed the National Press Club of Australia yesterday in partnership with Women in Media. She spoke in detail about her ADHD adult diagnosis. She held back tears as she address the stages of adult diagnosis and the self discovery that followed.
Rusciano went on to explain, it is not a fad, nor is it trendy. It’s just that the diagnostic criteria is better today. Also pointing out the Pandemic created a disruption of usual coping mechanisms leading to many seeking help from psychologists and psychiatrists. All of ultimately leading to this perceived wave of ADHD adult diagnosis.
Rusciano went on to say “Being diagnosed with ADHD at 42 profoundly changed the core beliefs about myself”
This revelation can have both positive and negative effects on a person. We will look at the four typical stages people experience following their adult diagnosis: excitement, grief, anger, and acceptance.
Excitement
Receiving a diagnosis later in life can be exciting. It can be like a puzzle piece falling into place. Finally, after perhaps feeling inadequate in your ability to focus, remember details, or experiencing other symptoms of ADHD as a child, you have a valid explanation for why you are that way. While others over the years may have chastised you for being ‘lazy,’ ‘inattentive’, or ‘stupid,’ you can now recognise that it was not your fault that you acted this way, but it was because of a condition that you had.
Grief
While there can be excitement, there is also a sense of what has been missed in the past. Experiences that you could have had, or pathways you may have been able to take, had you known sooner about your diagnosis, seem to be lost opportunities—adding to that, feeling ‘weird’ or ‘less than’ other people may have knocked your overall confidence and shaped you as a person. Maybe if you had been on medication or had strategies in place sooner, you could have managed the everyday better and taken on goals you otherwise would not have dreamed of.
Anger
With a feeling of loss, there is naturally anger that you missed out on so much. Why did no one notice you were masking your difficulties and struggling to keep them together for so long? If you had been diagnosed sooner, you could have experienced less stress, felt better about yourself, and had strategies to assist you in coping. You could have been able to explain to others why you act the way that you do.
Acceptance
Ultimately, being diagnosed allows you to see yourself for who you really are, which is a huge sense of relief. You can then advocate for yourself more confidently and treat yourself more kindly. Hopefully, there will also be a level of acceptance. Including, those you interact with, and if not, their reactions may seem less of an issue to you now. Fortunately, today’s society is increasingly more empathetic toward atypical people. In fact, many employers are actively finding a “neurodiverse workforce can significantly benefit organisations. Bringing increased innovation and creativity and giving companies a competitive advantage” (Gesit, 2022). Your skills as a neurodiverse person may, in fact, be, like Greta Thunberg says, ‘superpowers.’ In addition, you can be proud that you navigated a neurotypical world up until now. Knowing that you have come through it all and survived, and can go on to thrive, is the best part.
Have you recently been diagnosed with ADHD or Autism as an adult? Does this article resonate with you? We would love to hear your story.