@Flutterbug9 that is a HUGE theme for many late-diagnosed folks - not realising that the ways we've found to cope, to navigate life with all its rules and obligations, and to manage our difficulties without 'causing a fuss', are all part of that great big banner known as 'masking'.
A meme for you!
Honestly, ADHD memes have actually been really helpful for my journey. Helps me to feel like I'm not alone, helps me put those puzzle pieces together to figure out what is connected to my ADHD, my trauma, my possible autism.
It's definitely a challenge when the complexities of childhood trauma muddy the waters hey. The thoughts jumping around a lot is very ADHD vibes though - I think it's called 'tangential thinking'. Do you also get the thing where like, mid-conversation you'll have a thought, and must try to express it as soon as possible lest it slip away? I often struggle to not interrupt people because of it. I wonder if it's also why you might stop mid-task to go do another - before you forget?
@AlwaysMyself I sorta explain it like.... forgetting why you walked into a room is human. Forgetting why you walked into a room multiple times a day might just be ADHD.
I also think a huge contributing factor for why many women and AFAB people get diagnosed so late is cos a) we're more likely to be the inattentive type (not exclusively though, I got diagnosed as combined-type lol maybe because of how 'intense' my energy is, and how chronic my leg-bounce is 😂), and b) because our society still socialises women to be 'demure', passive, seen and not heard, etc. - so we often end up masking our symptoms in order to fit in, or avoid getting in trouble.
Food for thought (not saying it definitely is, you know yourself best!) but maybe the energy that has gone into masking your ND 'symptoms' has contributed to your chronic fatigue?
Very curious about how things go with this new psych too!!
