ADHD Aha! Suicidal ideation, masking, and overlooked ADHD (From Hyperfocus)
20 snips
Dec 23, 2025 
Brandon Saiz, a veteran and writer, shares his journey with inattentive ADHD after a late diagnosis. He opens up about the challenges of masking his symptoms and struggling with anxiety and suicidal ideation. Brandon discusses how the military's structure both helped and hindered his experience, revealing insights into the often-missed signs of ADHD, particularly in boys. He also offers advice for veterans navigating similar experiences and highlights his creative work, including writing and game development.
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Late Diagnosis Triggered By Workplace Struggle
- Brandon discovered ADHD screening after struggling in a kitchen management job despite Coast Guard experience.
- A broken car transmission and racing thoughts marked the day he casually took the ADHD test and realized something clicked.
Structure Both Helps And Masks ADHD
- Structured environments can simultaneously support and hide ADHD strengths and weaknesses.
- Brandon found Coast Guard food service offered clear rules, creative space, and urgent motivation that fit his brain.
Small Tasks Had Big Consequences
- Small tasks like centering ribbon bars exposed Brandon's executive function struggles and social consequences.
- His missed uniform inspection led to a damaging evaluation that followed him out of service.