From Dropout to Doctorate: Why ADHD Gets Missed in High-Functioning Women | Carolyn Mallon

those things.

I'm doing well for myself now.

It was both a sadness, a grief about how long it had taken to come to that realization and also really exciting because I was able to apply myself and realize goals.

I had never been able to reach a goal before.

Oh, I made tons of goals and never got there.

And I stopped making goals because of that.

And yeah, and the grief you talk about is very real.

My first real bout with the grief after my diagnosis was when I started the medication, which I didn't do right away because I thought that somehow magically in my head, now that I know what it is, it'll all just somehow get easier, which of course is not how that works.

And when I finally did start it, I was like, oh my gosh, this is what everyone else has been working with naturally.

Like, no wonder I'm so tired.

I was living my life with my hands tied behind my back and didn't realize it.

And that's when I...

My grief took the form of anger for a while.

I was pretty pissed off.

And for anybody listening who you're going through this right now, I just want you to know that's normal.

This grief you're feeling is completely normal.

You just don't want to get stuck there.

So...

And you have also mentioned, too, that you had grief over the missed academic opportunities.

What did that process look like for you specifically? And how has it shaped your work that you do now?

Well, I went from dropping out of high school to going back very nervously to community college.

Once I got treatment, things turned around so completely.

I mean, even now it's hard to believe.

I ended up graduating at the top of my class.

I was our commencement speaker, president of the Student Nurse Association.

those things.

I'm doing well for myself now.

It was both a sadness, a grief about how long it had taken to come to that realization and also really exciting because I was able to apply myself and realize goals.

I had never been able to reach a goal before.

Oh, I made tons of goals and never got there.

And I stopped making goals because of that.

And yeah, and the grief you talk about is very real.

My first real bout with the grief after my diagnosis was when I started the medication, which I didn't do right away because I thought that somehow magically in my head, now that I know what it is, it'll all just somehow get easier, which of course is not how that works.

And when I finally did start it, I was like, oh my gosh, this is what everyone else has been working with naturally.

Like, no wonder I'm so tired.

I was living my life with my hands tied behind my back and didn't realize it.

And that's when I...

My grief took the form of anger for a while.

I was pretty pissed off.

And for anybody listening who you're going through this right now, I just want you to know that's normal.

This grief you're feeling is completely normal.

You just don't want to get stuck there.

So...

And you have also mentioned, too, that you had grief over the missed academic opportunities.

What did that process look like for you specifically? And how has it shaped your work that you do now?

Well, I went from dropping out of high school to going back very nervously to community college.

Once I got treatment, things turned around so completely.

I mean, even now it's hard to believe.

I ended up graduating at the top of my class.

I was our commencement speaker, president of the Student Nurse Association.