Life can be hard for anyone, but for those with ADHD it presents additional challenges. Many adults were not diagnosed as children. Late diagnosis can provide validation, clarification, and more.
Sara Prince shared her story to show the value of a late diagnosis and help you better understand the effects of ADHD on life for our April Parent Group Event. To help get this posted sooner, I’m sharing an edited AI auto-generated summary in addition to the video:
Sara, who was diagnosed with ADHD at 63, shared her experiences and insights into coping with the condition. She stressed the importance of understanding one's strengths and challenges for effective coaching of executive skills. Sara pointed out the difficulties ADHD presents in terms of self-regulation, attention, and prioritization, and the potential for using it as a tool for self-awareness and improvement. She also referenced the work of experts, focusing on their approaches to managing emotional and prioritization issues in ADHD.
Sara compared executive function to the conductor of an orchestra, with different instruments representing various executive functions. She discussed the importance of these skills in everyday activities and highlighted that individuals with ADHD often struggle with their development. Sara shared her own experience with undiagnosed ADHD until 63 and emphasized the significance of understanding and improving executive skills at an early age.
Sara shared her struggles with self-doubt, fear of responsibility, and lack of direction in her life. She reflected on her upbringing, noting her parents' hands-off approach and her own entrepreneurial upbringing through babysitting. She discussed her journey post-college, where she moved to New York, tried classical singing, and later became interested in special education after her younger child was diagnosed with autism. Throughout life, she realized she had been riding the wave of life instead of taking control and understanding who she was.
Sara discussed lifelong struggles with managing ADHD, specifically planning, budgeting, emotional control, and time management. She emphasized finding personalized strategies and not assuming limitations based on ADHD. She noted the benefits of external structures, visualizing time, seeking help, and establishing compassionate routines.
You can view the slides here: