Emma Flounders-Newbury

Hi, I'm Emma, and was diagnosed with ADHD back in 2023, I was 43

Like a lot of us, I struggled with poor mental health from an early age. Always told I was too much, or not enough, you know the rest?!
I spent years going back and forth to the doctors, attending therapy, being told that I had depression, anxiety, or a hormonal imbalance!, and being given antidepressants. Getting the diagnosis was a huge relief. I finally knew why I felt the way I had done since childhood. All the struggles and hurdles had been down to ADHD. Life, for a little while at least, started making sense!

Then the reality, and grief of all those years being told that what I was experiencing was possibly down to anxiety, depression, or was just hormonal, set in. I left my job and stayed home, only leaving to help my aunt recover from an operation, or walk my dog. My husband was loving and patient, but obviously worried for me. I was frustrated at the lack of support services for adults with ADHD in my hometown, both within the mental health and community sector. I had nowhere to turn except the internet!

I finally gave in and spoke to my doctor, who referred me to my local social prescribing service. This is when my life started getting brighter. I was assigned to the wonderful Tanya. During our first meeting, I explained that I had become so frustrated with the lack of support, I had been thinking of putting together my own peer support group, but I had no idea how to, and was scared no one would come along! Tanya, and my lovely friend Rachael were behind me from the get go.

Within a month of that first meeting, I had set up Tidal Minds, a peer support group for adults with ADHD. I was so nervous that no one would turn up, 8 people were in attendance! That was back in February of this year, and since then, the group has grown into something that I had only imagined it could. I have met people who I know will be in my life forever, and who are just as committed as myself to help support and raise others up.

We have been given opportunities to connect with other Voluntary Community Sector services within our town, and recently I was able to speak to one of our local mental health teams about why knowing and spotting the signs of undiagnosed ADHD is so incredibly important in helping that individual get the correct diagnosis and help, and how it can ease the pressure on not only mental health services, but also addiction, and prison services. I'm excited to see what the future holds for this brilliant little group of mine.

Becoming an Ambassador for ADHD UK is an absolute honour. They were, and still are a wealth of knowledge and support for those of us with ADHD, whether we are just starting our journey, or have been walking this road for a long time?!

@tidal_minds_adhd_supportgroup