I was recently diagnosed with ADHD, and reading about someone else’s experience stopped me in my tracks. For years, I carried so much shame around my depression and couldn’t understand why I always felt like I was falling short. The diagnosis finally helped me see where so much of that pain was coming from.
It’s strange how relief and grief can exist at the same time — relief in finally having an answer, and grief for all the years I blamed myself. Recovery isn’t a finish line. It’s something we work at every single day.
I’m learning to treat myself with more patience, to recognize that healing doesn’t mean perfection. Managing ADHD and depression isn’t easy, but knowing I’m not alone makes it lighter. We may never be “cured,” but we can keep growing, understanding, and showing ourselves grace.
— Taylor, 26, Austin, TX
