Hey! I’m Annelise and I’m extremely excited to be an ADHD Uk Ambassador. I received my diagnosis at age 22 after a lifetime of struggle, masking, and the belief I was broken.
Growing up undiagnosed with ADHD, life felt like this big game of ‘what is wrong with me?’ . I always felt like there was something ‘broken’ within me, I was different, but I couldn’t figure out why. People knew how to keep a lid on it, but it seemed that my excitable nature just became annoying and ‘too much’. I perfected a face that looked like I was concentrating when in reality, my daydream was much more interesting. Most importantly, I gained a list of excuses as to why I hadn’t completed my homework (not that my dog didn’t ever try to eat my homework, but I knew that wouldn’t slide).
This mask was much harder to attain as life progressed.
At age 14, I began restricting my food intake and counting calories. Looking back, I now understand it was my way of regaining some form of control when I felt I had none. It felt good, I could actually concentrate because my brain was not doing parkour and just had this intense focus on food. I was able to hide this till 19, where I was diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa. This was when my ADHD symptoms were identified by my psychologist, and I was referred for an ADHD assessment.
At 22, I received my diagnosis of ADHD. It was an emotional whirlwind of grieving what could have been if I had the diagnosis when I was younger, but also a relief that there’s a reason behind my struggles.
My experience has inspired me to the dream of becoming a clinical psychologist specialising in ADHD because I’m passionate about helping others use their unique brain as a power, and learn to understand how to work with it, instead of trying to fit into a neurotypical mould. I also hope to advance research between ADHD and Anorexia in order to improve treatment for this subtype of patients, especially due to my lived experience of how harmful it can sometimes be. I am additionally dedicated to improving awareness of the presentation of ADHD in females with the aim of preventing late diagnosis after a life of struggle and confusion.
I cannot wait to work with ADHD Uk to bring positive change for us all with a special brain!
@livinglifewithneli