Living with ADHD – A Lifelong Journey

 

Most people think of ADHD as something that only affects "naughty children." Growing up, that’s how I was often seen—hyperactive, restless, and full of energy. But I had never even heard the words “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder” as a child. The condition wasn’t widely talked about in those days, and many of us went undiagnosed and misunderstood.

As a young child, I was full of energy, constantly on the move, and often struggled to focus in school. At the time, I was taking phenobarbital (Pheabrotone) tablets for epilepsy. I stopped taking them when my seizures ended around age twelve. Interestingly, in the few years that followed, I began to calm down. It was as if my body had used up all its energy, and suddenly I found myself with very little left. Maybe it was a mix of coming off the medication and just growing older, but I became much quieter.

It’s also worth mentioning that back in my childhood, we didn’t have sugar-free foods and drinks. That might have contributed to the highs and crashes I felt physically and emotionally. Whatever the reasons, the hyperactivity lessened, but other challenges remained.

Even as an adult, I still struggle with focus, organization, and meeting deadlines. In school, I needed extra support in the classroom. In meetings and the workplace, I’ve often found myself needing help to stay on task and complete things on time. These are ongoing difficulties, and they haven’t gone away, even now that I’m fifty-five.

For many years, I didn’t consider that ADHD could run in families. But now, I see the signs in my young nephew. Watching him has made me wonder—if I had children, would they have inherited similar challenges? It’s a reminder that ADHD isn’t just a phase or something you grow out of. It’s a neurological difference that can affect a person across their whole life, in different ways and at different stages.

Even now, I sometimes feel overwhelmed with emotion—anxiety, depression, frustration, or even anger. But with age has come insight. I’ve learned more about myself, and while I still have my ups and downs, I can manage them better now than I did in my youth.

Autism, too, can look very similar in many ways. It shares traits like sensory sensitivities, social struggles, and difficulties with routine changes. But every individual is different. My journey with ADHD has been uniquely mine, marked by personal battles, but also by growth, resilience, and the ongoing effort to understand myself better.