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Hi everyone!
Before I get started with blog number 2, happy 1 week anniversary of Kayleigh’s Clutter! Thank you so much for your support so far!
In October 2023, I was diagnosed with combined ADHD. According to ADD.org, “Combined type ADHD presents with both hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive symptoms”. Basically, this means I tick all the boxes and get the pleasure of experiencing everything ADHD has to offer. Lucky me!
Let’s rewind a little. What made me go for the diagnosis to begin with? Well, as a young girl all the way up until now, I have displayed what myself and my family called “Kayleigh’s quirks”. I have always been a bit bonkers, very emotional, I leave everything everywhere and so never know where anything actually is!
At the age of around 15, I began to question whether it was ADHD. I continued to do so on and off but was never 100% sure as I had been diagnosed with anxiety and low mood and so I believed that the behaviours I was showing were just part of that.
I am pretty sure that a lot of people with ADHD get misdiagnosed with anxiety and depression in the beginning too. This means that so many of us get diagnosed later in life and just become absolutely incredible maskers. Dr Tony Lloyd, the chief executive of the ADHD foundation, says the organisation experienced a 400% increase in the number of adults seeking a diagnosis since 2020 which is absolutely insane.
In 2023, I decided to switch to an apprenticeship as college was not the right style of education for me. Looking back now, college probably wasn’t a great fit for me because it was designed to suit a neurotypical brain which I do not have.
I took the big leap into the world of work and once again began to question, “is it ADHD?” To be 100% transparent with you, I first questioned “what is wrong with me?”. I began to notice my symptoms more and more until my family and I decided to pursue a private diagnosis.
And low and behold, I stand before you (metaphorically speaking) a fully fledged ADHDer! I am so grateful for my diagnosis because I, and those around me, can begin to understand my bonkers brain and can put measures in place to help.
Straight after my diagnosis, I felt like I went into a state of mourning for my nonexistent neurotypical brain. I knew I was different but the diagnosis put the nail in the coffin and that was a little difficult. But this feeling was quickly overshadowed by an excitement to learn about myself and make the necessary changes to accommodate my ADHD.
It has now been 3 months since my diagnosis and I should be starting my medication journey soon which I am really hopeful about. I am still learning about my brain but, at least now it is a lot easier to accept myself rather than beat myself up. My mum tells me there are plenty of people in the world that will do that for me, I don’t need to do it to myself too!
I hope my story finds someone out there like 15 year old me. When first questioning whether I had ADHD, I looked and looked for stories and testimonies of people with ADHD but struggled to find anything. Instead, I got wrapped up in heaps of information telling me it is near impossible to be diagnosed once you are past a certain age which overwhelmed me and put me off entirely.
I got there in the end! My diagnosis answered so many of my questions and I am getting to know myself all over again.
There will be plenty more to share on this journey, so if you need support on your journey too or are just in that beginning phase of questioning, keep up to date with Kayleigh’s Clutter, here and on Instagram.
See you same place next week?
Kayleigh
kmay.co.uk 