POST -ADHD: Female, 37, Teacher
I thought I was just disorganised and would just have to live with it.
I could do things well, just not reliably. My ADHD diagnosis explained why I could perform under pressure but not maintain routines.It wasn’t lack of effort. It was a regulation issue. After getting my report, I got on to treatment with medications. My goodness – what an improvement. I can focus, concentrate, lose fewer things and am just a lot better at being organised. As a teacher, that’s a gamechanger. I am aiming for a dept. head and I may get it. Even if I don’t, I definitely feel more capable. I wish I had got assessed years ago.
VOICES DIAGNOSIS
POST - AuDHD — Male, 50s, Civil Servant (medication impact)
I was diagnosed with ADHD first and started medication.
It helped with focus, but I suddenly noticed sensory things more — noise, light, social fatigue. It was like the ADHD had been masking the autism underlying the autism. That led to a second diagnosis. The pattern all makes sense now.
POST -Autism — Female, 26, Nurse (burnout)
I kept burning out and didn’t understand why. It wasn’t just workload — it was the noise, lights, crowds even smells in the hospital - constant overload. Diagnosis helped me realise I was overwhelmed due to autistic sensory responses, not just stress. It was a relief to know why I was struggling. I work in a different area now which suits me better. I got this job because I was able to give HR my diagnostic assessment, so they had to help. I am much happier about my work.