Diagnosed at 23: My Journey With Inattentive ADHD
For the longest time, I didn’t think I had ADHD. In my head, ADHD looked like the little boy in primary school who couldn’t sit still, talked over everyone, and was always being told off. I was nothing like that. I was the quiet one—the “good” girl who daydreamed during class but never caused any trouble.
I was 23 when I finally got diagnosed with inattentive ADHD, and I wish I could say it was a straightforward journey. It wasn’t. Looking back, the signs were there all along.
But because I wasn’t disruptive or visibly hyperactive, no one suspected ADHD. Not even me.
Here are 5 signs I ignored that I wish I paid attention to
1. Debilitating brain fog: I would often forget things and I could not think straight. I had no idea that this wasn’t normal. The brain fog was so intense that it would often cause me to lose my ability to function.
2. Hearing “voices”: My brain would be a mix of song parts, a running to do list, and a constant running audio of my thoughts. It was so overwhelming that I play youtube videos or music 24/7 to drown out these voices. Later on, after my diagnosis, I realized that this was my brain’s way of processing information. However, because I didn’t have the tools, these things only added to the noise.
3. Losing things- phones, keys, and my glasses were the biggest things that I lost all of the time. It was always frustrating too because my brain didn’t remember where I placed these items until I found them. It was normal for my badge to go missing for days at a time.
4. Procrastination: This was a different type of procrastination. Because I could not figure out what to focus on, I did not focus on any tasks at all and would spend hours bed rotting frozen by indecision and exhaustion.
5. My symptoms got much worse during the luteal phase of my period: Things got much worse every month. All of my symptoms were amplified, and at the time I had no idea that hormone shifts could exacerbate ADHD symptoms.
These are just 5 of the many symptoms I faced. For a complete rundown of each of my symptoms watch [This video]. Also, leave a comment with the words “From the blog” , and I will make sure to reply back!
The Turning Point
Everything changed during the COVID-19 lockdown. With more time to think and a flood of content on social media, I started seeing videos and posts about ADHD and it all started to make sense.
I remember watching a video of a woman describing her life with inattentive ADHD, and I burst into tears. She was describing me. The constant forgetfulness. The struggles with time. The internal chaos hidden behind a calm exterior.
I wasn’t lazy. I wasn’t careless. I wasn’t broken. I had ADHD.
What I Wish People Knew
ADHD doesn’t look the same in everyone. For some of us, it looks like zoning out in conversations, forgetting what we walked into a room for, or needing five alarms just to get out of bed.
It looks like being told you have “so much potential” but constantly feeling like you’re falling short.
But it’s also creativity, resilience, deep empathy, and a unique way of seeing the world.
Moving Forward
Since my diagnosis, I’ve learned how to manage my ADHD better, but more importantly, I’ve learned how to be kinder to myself. I’ve embraced routines that work for me, sought out community, and started advocating for others who might still be undiagnosed.
If you’ve ever felt like your brain works differently and the traditional advice just doesn’t help, know that you’re not alone. Your struggles are real. And there is support out there.
I'd love to hear from you. Have you ever suspected you might have ADHD or related to anything I shared here? Let’s chat in the comments.
You’re not broken. You’re beautifully wired.
If you like this post, make sure to check out these other ones
*How to balance life in your 20’s-even with ADHD
*Being a business owner with ADHD- Struggles you may encounter
*You can be a christian with ADHD- How my faith changed after my diagnosis
Love,
Gabrielle Denise
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