9/19 My ADHD Story

Hey everyone,This week’s DNA meeting is going to be a little different — I’ll be leading it myself.

I want to talk about something that doesn’t get said enough: what it’s like to live with ADHD when you spend years not knowing, and what happens when the “solution” doesn’t actually feel like help.

I wasn’t diagnosed until college, after years of thinking I was just lazy, forgetful, or broken. Getting that label was a relief — it finally made sense why my brain works the way it does. But what followed was confusing: medication that dulled my personality, advice that didn’t fit, and a sense that I had to pick between being functional and being myself.

At this meeting, I’ll share:

• What being undiagnosed felt like growing up and in early college

• The grief and relief that come with finally getting a diagnosis

• Why I decided to stop ADHD medication and what I use instead to manage focus and overwhelm

• How I rebuilt routines that actually support my brain instead of fighting it

• How friends, professors, and peers can better support people navigating this same in-between space

Please arrive on time to our meeting at 7PM.