The Initial Post-Diagnosis Years

Acceptance and Next Steps

My ADHD diagnosis brought a wave of relief—along with plenty of regret, as I described in my Late-Diagnosed ADHD entry. Finally, I could let go of so many negative thoughts about myself and my perceived shortcomings. And with stimulant medication? It was a game-changer. The difference was astonishing. I finally understood what it felt like to focus like a neurotypical person—and honestly, I was jealous.

But finding the right medication wasn’t instant. It took trial and error, something my son had already been through before me. His experience shaped my understanding of what to expect and made me more aware of the risks and challenges that come with ADHD treatment.

• If you’ve been diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, did you experience an initial wave of regret or relief—or both?
• What’s something you learned about yourself post-diagnosis that completely changed your perspective?
• Have you ever felt frustrated after discovering how different life could have been with earlier support? How do you cope with those feelings?