Unveiling My ADHD Inattentive Type: Navigating Daily Challenges and Embracing Strengths

As the title suggests, I recently discovered, in a pretty major way, that I have ADHD inattentive type. Initially, it felt like a huge "aha" moment. Every little comment—like “Oh, you’re such a space cadet,” “You’re late again,” “How are you always losing things?” or “Is she really using the Apple Watch iPhone finder thing again?”—rushed back into my mind. I found myself going through something like the five stages of grief, minus denial, since I’d always joked that I probably had ADHD. (And yes, I say this with a hint of sarcasm, knowing full well that ADHD is

not a life-threatening condition.)

First, there was Anger—anger at all the condescending comments (whether intentional or not) from peers, and anger that my ADHD was missed when I was younger. Then came Bargaining—wondering if discovering it earlier could have led to a more successful life, saving me years of uncertainty and low self-esteem. I moved into Depression, grappling with the realization that every aspect of my personality, both the desirable and undesirable, seemed to be tied to this diagnosis. It left me questioning where my true self ended and ADHD began.

Finally, I reached Acceptance—though I know this will be a long journey. Suddenly, my habit of diving into multiple interests and rarely finishing anything made sense. There was a strange solace in realizing that I wasn’t uniquely flawed; instead, I shared these struggles with so many others.

ADHD has most affected my life by undermining my self-esteem. Every lost item, unfinished project, late arrival to a social gathering (though never to work or interviews, where I thrive under pressure—a classic ADHD trait), and impulsive purchase had reinforced my feelings of incompetence. After a lifelong battle to feel “good enough,” my goal has been to ensure my children do not face the same issues, especially in today's social media-driven world.

When my first little girl was born, the clock started ticking on raising a child with high self-esteem. I decided to launch a website and Instagram account, sharing tips on raising confident children as I learned myself. As with many projects started by an ADHD brain, that idea quickly fizzled out. The car that had been racing along soon began to sputter: glug, glug, glug... and died. I found myself back in that familiar place of feeling overwhelmed and anxious, struggling with a lack of structure while raising two little girls under two—a challenge for any parent, but especially for someone who is neurodivergent.

I’ve recently learned a lot, thanks to the information age—sometimes finding validation, other times cringing at what I read. I can’t stand the accounts that portray ADHD as if it's a life sentence with no escape. Yes, it’s hard—very hard—but there is always a way forward.

Overall, I view this discovery as a positive turning point. I might never have been able to help myself or my daughters with their self-esteem without identifying ADHD as a significant obstacle. And like all obstacles, ADHD is meant to be overcome. I’m looking forward to the journey ahead and the growth that will come with it.