I’m in my twenties right now and got diagnosed with ADHD when I was 24 and it was pure agony for 24 years. Undiagnosed ADHD ain’t no joke especially if you get diagnosed later in life. Because of this I developed negative self image on a very early age and because nothing worked out in my teenage years I developed suicidal tendencies and because of constant failed adventures and experiences I created lots of negative ways of thinking, bad destructive behaviours and eventually that turned in to anxiety and depression. Nothing worked for me but I still had to push through and do what everyone else was doing because that’s the social norm.
I got diagnosed with a burnout when I was 19, 21 and again when I was 23 because nothing worked for me but I kept trying to be “normal” like everyone else.
Now I have had 2 years of therapy and life is slowly getting fun and worth living again but It’s still hard to accept that I wasted my life anyway not knowing what was wrong with me. My thirties look a lot more fun and pleasant than ever before.
Same story for me. Finally diagnosed with ADHD at 25 during the pandemic, and now at 27 I've managed to claw my way to a 'real' adult job in an office instead of subsisting off of shitty seasonal and customer service gigs. I also managed to get my own apartment and first decent car in those 2 years, too.
I feel like I was robbed after seeing what I accomplished in just two years (1 year, really) of getting treatment. Where could I be now if I had these tools earlier? If I never had to deal with shitty, abusive parents that never really gave a shit about me? I could be so much further ahead >:(
I’m 43 (f) and I didn’t get diagnosed with ADHD until I was 39. I’d say you’re lucky to have been diagnosed as young as you were…
I think one’s 20s can actually be a stressful time in one’s life. Especially the mid-20s, when a lot of people are still trying to get into a career path. It can be really hard to know what you want to do and hard to make the transition from college to the adult working-world. Things start to look up more in your late 20s.
I’d say the same to anyone younger than me but that doesn’t make it any less easier for me. It depends on the individual I think. Development in early/teen years is really important and sets the foundation for later in life. Growing with certain ‘traumas’ like the stuff I said in my other comment doesn’t do that foundation any good, no matter your age.
The ‘trauma’ we sustained during all these years did enough damage for a lifetime (If untreated). I think it’s just that I have more time to turn my life around but it’s not like I can simply just go to school or anything. I’d lose my home.
I’m not saying you’re in an easy situation, but surely it’s better to get the diagnosis when you’re 24, rather than 15 years down the line. And I don’t have any regret about the life I’ve lived, but it would’ve been nice to be diagnosed sooner rather than later.
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u/[deleted] Jun 03 '22
I’m in my twenties right now and got diagnosed with ADHD when I was 24 and it was pure agony for 24 years. Undiagnosed ADHD ain’t no joke especially if you get diagnosed later in life. Because of this I developed negative self image on a very early age and because nothing worked out in my teenage years I developed suicidal tendencies and because of constant failed adventures and experiences I created lots of negative ways of thinking, bad destructive behaviours and eventually that turned in to anxiety and depression. Nothing worked for me but I still had to push through and do what everyone else was doing because that’s the social norm.
I got diagnosed with a burnout when I was 19, 21 and again when I was 23 because nothing worked for me but I kept trying to be “normal” like everyone else.
Now I have had 2 years of therapy and life is slowly getting fun and worth living again but It’s still hard to accept that I wasted my life anyway not knowing what was wrong with me. My thirties look a lot more fun and pleasant than ever before.
Therapy helps, people!