ADHD / ADD Support Group
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and attention deficit disorder (ADD) are more common than you might think. It is a syndrome that exhibits symptoms such as hyperactivity, forgetfulness, mood shifts, poor impulse control, and distractibility. Join others who suffer from these conditions and share your experiences.
I am 32 and I have just had my assessment friday 31st. I have been diagnosed with ADHD combined, so both hyperactivity and inattentivness. I broke down when I was told because the mixture of emotions that I felt were very strong and i was overwelmed. Im happy to now know i have ADHD but I feel sad that I have struggled for so long and was weighed down by negative thoughts about myself, as I conviced myself I was the problem. I feel strange but also free. Did anyone else feel strange after they got their diagnosis?
When I was finally told I had ADHD, I expected relief, but what actually hit first was a huge emotional wave. Part of me felt validated and even hopeful, but another part was grieving all the years I spent blaming myself. I kept thinking about how many times I called myself lazy, unfocused, or “just not trying hard enough.” That realization was heavy.
The “strange but free” feeling is very real. For me, it felt like my whole life suddenly made sense, but at the same time I had to rebuild how I saw myself. It’s a weird in-between space - relief mixed with sadness and even a bit of anger about how long it went unnoticed.
What helped me most was starting to work with my psychotherapist Dr. Ditzell who understands ADHD (https://jeffditzellpsychiatry.com/adult-adhd/). Therapy gave me a place to process the grief and the relief at the same time. Little by little, I stopped seeing my past struggles as personal failures and started understanding them as part of how my brain works. That shift brought a lot of peace.
Over time, the diagnosis stopped feeling heavy and started feeling empowering. You’re not broken - you finally have the right lens to understand yourself.
So yes, feeling strange after diagnosis is incredibly common. And in my experience, that sense of freedom you’re starting to feel can grow much stronger as you process everything and get the right support.