In this podcast, Madeline opens up about her recent ADHD diagnosis, reflecting on signs from her past. She discusses her struggles with motivation, school, and deadlines. Taking control of her life, she is pushing herself to be more social despite her distaste for company. Follow her journey on @PrettyLonesome.
The speaker embraced their ADHD diagnosis, finding validation and relief in understanding past struggles.
Motivated by work challenges, they pursued a formal diagnosis, acknowledging the need for medication to understand how their brain functions.
Reflecting on the ADHD assessment, the speaker highlighted gender bias and frustration with questions not aligning with personal experiences.
Deep dives
Personal ADHD Assessment Experience
The speaker recalls their experience with an ADHD assessment where they received their diagnosis on the spot, confirming their suspicions. Initially apprehensive about the diagnosis potentially making life more difficult, they eventually find relief in the confirmation and discover a sense of validation in understanding their struggles. Reflecting on shared childhood experiences with a friend who also has ADHD, the speaker finds comfort in the similarities and begins exploring ADHD research to better comprehend the condition.
Seeking Diagnosis for Improved Work Performance
Motivated by work challenges and concerns about their impact on colleagues, the speaker decides to pursue a formal ADHD diagnosis. Faced with organizational difficulties and a sense of being misunderstood due to ADHD symptoms, the speaker acknowledges the need for medication and expresses excitement about understanding how their brain functions under the condition.
Challenges Faced During ADHD Assessment
The speaker highlights the challenges encountered during the ADHD assessment, particularly pointing out gender bias in the questions asked. Expressing frustration with inquiries that may not align with their personal experiences due to heightened social awareness and self-control, the speaker reflects on the screening process intricacies and the impact on accurate diagnosis.
Navigating Emotional Permanence and Coping Strategies
The speaker delves into emotional experiences related to ADHD, discussing emotional permanence issues where extreme emotions dictate their outlook. They share strategies for managing emotional shutdowns, such as involving friends during challenging periods and prioritizing self-care to prevent descending into negative emotional spirals and coping with past relationships through forgiveness and introspection.
Personal Growth and Resilience in Adulthood
Focused on personal growth and resilience, the speaker reflects on past experiences and relationship challenges that have shaped their coping mechanisms. Emphasizing the importance of self-forgiveness, overcoming challenges through personal insight, and recognizing the benefits of forgiveness in navigating difficult situations and relationships to enhance emotional well-being.
(Video podcast available on Spotify & YouTube) For the second episode of Pretty Lonesome, join Madeline as she gets cozy and vulnerable in her car. She opens up about her recent ADHD diagnosis after deciding to seek help. She admits that there have been signs pointing to this disorder in the early stages of her life, but it wasn’t until she sat down to record her first episode of her podcast that she realized how much her attention deficit issues were taking over her life. She remembers experiencing a lack of motivation in school, falling behind on her work, and being unable to commit to deadlines. Madeline has since decided to take control of her life and not let these past difficulties define her. As a first step in her healing journey, she’s no longer rotting and taking the easy way out - but forcing herself to be around people despite her general distaste for company.
Follow and connect with all things @PrettyLonesome across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
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