My partner was also the one who suggested that might have ADHD. It sort of made sense to at least try since I'd been struggling with being "normal" since I was about 8, so I gave it a shot.

So I got diagnosed last year as an adult. Getting diagnosed doesn't immediately change anything (well, no shit), but it can help you be better informed when developing systems to make your life more functional.

For example, having things you need to do a task close by on hand. By having a small trash can on my desk, compared to just a bigger bin on the other side of my room, I no longer pile up trash on my desk forever before throwing it away once I run out of room.

In regards to medication, if you've managed to make it this far and hold down a job like me, you're likely to be prescribed some short acting medication to start for days you really need to get things done.

I have inattentive type ADHD and I take Ritalin 10mg only on days I need to either get a lot of work done, or when I have long meetings to attend because I struggle to stay awake when I'm unengaged.

Before this was all suggested to me, I honestly thought I was narcoleptic because I was always such a sleepy person when I'm bored. It took having a mutual friend get diagnosed for my partner to realise similarities, and then me getting diagnosed to realise that the friends I attract tend to be "different" themselves.

My parents continue to refuse to acknowledge that I'm anything but neurotypical, which had made my younger years a lot harder than I wished it could've been.

The diagnosis just helped me be more aware about the specific challenges I have to face, like task paralysis, or the compulsive filling in I do when a friend pauses too long in the middle of a sentence, or how I struggle to remember things when I get distracted. The ADHD was always a part of you, but now you can find life hack tips that actually work!

Best wishes, from a fellow late-diagnosed person :)

are you me? I sort of recognise my own patterns in your description.

also wanted to get more info on the topic and looked up wikipedia. the banner made me chuckle.

Talk to a doctor about this.

If you don't feel like it's affecting you negatively then don't worry about it too much. Also, I'm sure there's more to the story but from the context here I'd be a little put off if someone mentoring me asked me that. You don't seem out of so I'll trust your judgement that it wasn't in a ride way. Other than that, all I can really say is talk to your doctor.

You got yourself a good colleague here. Seriously there are so many bad ways this conversation could have gone. But also the only type of person who asks someone if they're neurodivergent is another neurodivergent person. From what I understand neurotyps tend to interpret a question like that as offensive. Like they'd have to be a super ally, down with the neurodiversity movement, has a kid, partner or close family member who's neurodivergent type of neurotypical.

If you are neurodivergent then cool, enjoy the journey in rediscovering your identity. It's important to know that our capacity to function can be context dependent and relative to the supports / systems that we have in our lives. You may feel like you're doing fine now but there may be a point where things change and your capacity is reduced. This is where knowing you're neurodivergent can be helpful because it can be useful in developing self compassion and negotiating your support needs. Or maybe you've built up all of these coping and management strategies that work for you and you're able to just keep on keeping on. Either way it's always good to learn more about yourself.

FWIW it mostly depends on if you have anything else going on behind the scenes besides the ADHD.

The biggest thing you can do is be completely honest with your GP and get a referral to a psychiatrist. I've always had great actual coping mechanisms for when shit really hits the fan. CBT was something I had already looked into myself and worked on. I've always been the person to have my life and shit together, but it took waaaay more effort than anyone realized since I mask -relatively- easily.

It was pretty much immediately start medicine and go from there. Yeah, the antidepressants (SNRI/SSRIs) sucked ass and I'm no longer on 1st lines which is honestly the biggest issue people have with meds. I actually asked for Ritalin first since I heard about Adderall abuse, but Adderall >>>> Ritalin.

I've pretty much always known I had it, my mom said teachers and my school said I had it, she refused to medicate anyway due to the 80/90s OVERMEDICATING CHILDREN hysteria. Wonders why I always had issues finishing stuff that wasn't games. Oh hey, executive dysfunction is a thing!

Got diagnosed as an adult @ ~30. Took about 2 years to get a decent medicine regiment since we were also treating some panic disorder due to being a functional alcoholic too. Mild-Moderate depression mostly manifesting in numb/stoicism with some GAD. FWIW Naltrexone OP for the booze. It's cut my habit down by an extra $100/mo.

No joke though, amphetamines are like day and night for me. Similar to Leilys above, the tiredness I used to feel from morning to night basically vanishes. While I do take ~6 pills, the only real ones I take for ADHD is a pretty high dose of Adderall or Vyvanse (generic please hurry the fuck up) and Clonidine for fidgeting and offlabel to help sleep. A huge part of the high dose was due to the alcoholism and a regular cocaine habit so I process it pretty quickly compared to most lol. Oh yeah, Naltrexone helped for that too. Haven't had white in like a year?

I don't have anything to say but be careful with the medication. Take them seriously.

I mean maybe but that is not a thing you say to somebody who isn't a very close friend or family. That is not a line I'd ever cross with a coworker.