A Young Adult’s Perspective on Being Diagnosed with ADHD

To bring more awareness to ADHD among young adults, our Connect-OC intern, VIvi,  interviewed a local university student to talk about their first-hand experience. Per the request of the student, their identity will be kept anonymous.

 

As someone who is a part of the young adult demographic, what is your experience like with ADHD? Especially as someone a bit older?

            It’s been enlightening in a way? I think as someone older, I finally started to understand that some of my “habits” I have are the result of ADHD. I don’t view it as a negative, just something that is a part of me. I understand how I function under pressure or why I perform a specific way when doing work. A lot of people have a misconception that ADHD consists of set symptoms and that if you act a certain way you have ADHD, but that isn’t true at all.

 

With so many changes during the pandemic, how did you feel about the change from offline to online school and vice versa?

            Personally, for me, it wasn’t that difficult. I tend to get distracted pretty easily or I can’t concentrate as well without listening to music, so self-studying at my own pace really helped. Being alone in my room with my own music allowed me to tune out distractions, as opposed to in the classroom. Since most of my professors would post lectures or slide shows online, I can go over it as much as I want. However, in-person did help me learn where I could interact with my peers and have a more structured lifestyle.

 

Did you ever seek out wellness services or any type of support from school? If you did, what was your experience like?

            Now that I think about it, I never really did seek out these services since I never felt that it inhibited me. I do know that there weren’t any services specifically for ADHD, but there are counseling services available for students.

 

How did you feel when you got diagnosed with ADHD? And what tips would you give to someone who may suspect they have it?

            I felt validated when I got diagnosed! I finally realized that all the “bad habits” that people would say I had were something out of my control and not my fault. For example, I’d constantly misplace things and get called careless, or hyper-fixate on certain things and people would think I’m abnormally obsessed. But once I found out I had ADHD, it was a relief because I understood that it’s just who I am. A tip I’d give is not to dismiss anything that you may feel that could be ADHD. If you can, take notes on certain things you do and seek a professional!