Annelise Ashley

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 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. 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