ADHD and Entrepreneurship
My Journey of Discovery and Growth
As an entrepreneur, I've always credited my success to my ability to generate endless ideas, work at lightning speed, and juggle multiple projects. What I didn't realize was that these traits weren't just entrepreneurial spirit - they were indicators of something deeper.
The Professional Advantage: My mind has always moved at warp speed. Ideas flow constantly, and I've built my business on this creative energy. My parents even warned my husband about my "Rubber-band Man" tendencies - this endless stretch toward new possibilities. For years, this was my superpower in business.
The Entrepreneurial Challenge: But with these gifts came struggles. The inability to fully disconnect, the constant mental chatter, the challenge of traditional organizational systems. As my business grew, I started questioning if this level of mental busy-ness was sustainable.
The Unexpected Discovery: It was actually through researching my son's ADHD diagnosis that I began to understand my own patterns. The revelation came through studying the genetic links between parents and children with ADHD, leading me to explore my own neurodivergent traits.
The Diagnosis Process: I'll be honest - getting evaluated as an adult woman (even with good insurance) wasn't as straightforward as I expected. My internist wanted me to go for a full neuro-psych evaluation - that would take 1-2 days of testing and thousands of dollars out-of-pocket! After several attempts to find the right professional, I finally connected with a specialist who understands adult ADHD, particularly how it presents in women. Last week, I received my diagnosis: combination ADHD.
Understanding Combination ADHD: For those unfamiliar, combination ADHD means experiencing both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms. Suddenly, so many aspects of my life made sense - from my creative bursts to my challenge with traditional organizational systems.
Making Peace with My Mind: This will definitely be a continuous process but this diagnosis isn't just a label - it's a key to understanding myself better. Those traits that sometimes make me feel "too much"? They're not flaws to fix, but aspects of my neurodivergent brain to understand and work with.
Moving Forward: While this journey is still new, I'm learning to embrace all parts of myself. I will work on developing strategies that work with my brain rather than against it. Most importantly, I'm sharing this story because I know there are other women out there - especially moms and entrepreneurs - who might see themselves in these words.
A Message to Others: If you're a woman who's ever felt like your brain works differently, who's been called "too much," or who's wondering why traditional systems don't always seem to work for you - you're not alone. Whether you have ADHD or not, your journey to understanding yourself is valid and valuable.
I'm sharing this not because I have all the answers, but because I believe in the power of these honest conversations. Sometimes the path to loving ourselves starts with understanding ourselves - all parts of ourselves.