Unlearning Shame: My ADD through Diagnosis, Stigma and Medication

Originally published on Sips of Cha

I’m still digesting the unexpected surprise that was my ADD diagnosis last year (I’ll tell you more about that in a moment). here) But why was it so surprising?

The truth is that I’ve been given many diagnoses: anxiety, depression, dermatillomania, dysthymia (all symptoms)… but no one has ever considered ADD. Never. None of those other labels were as accurate, as enlightening and, above all, as transformative as this one.

When the diagnosis is finally right, everything changes. And perhaps that’s precisely why it has such an impact: because previous mistakes have already taken their toll. Because a misdiagnosis can have many consequences. The most obvious is inadequate treatment. Then there’s the financial waste, the emotional strain and, perhaps worst of all, the accumulation of frustration for those who live with the disorder without knowing it.

And when this frustration is silent, it becomes infiltrating everything.

This cycle of frustration and error is fueled by misinformation — and worse, the distortion of information. Even today, many health professionals are not prepared to recognize the different profiles and manifestations of ADD, which contributes to late or mistaken diagnoses. This…