Hey Jesse and all the lovely folks here I’m Terrell (tear-l) I’m from Mumbai, India. I got diagnosed for mild ADD last year but always had this feeling that I was different. I mostly got checked cause I started struggling in basic things in my work @ relationships with ppl I cared about and it bothered me & severely lowered my self esteem.
I’m an a self taught artist and Professionally a product designer. Besides my work I’ve recently become a fitness freak that started with trekking and hiking which I still try to maintain. Otherwise I have a big checklist of hobbies I started and never really saw through (some honourable mentions karate, roller skating, contemporary dancing, guitarist)
Over the past year now I’ve really come to accept myself and how I am while also trying to evolve and grow.
Hi, I’m Tom from southern England and I’m 39. I’m currently awaiting an assessment but have suspected ADHD for years now. It all clicked into place when I was looking at the diagnostic criteria for my daughter who has ASD and the criteria could have been a direct description of me. I decided then to explore getting a diagnosis.
Hi Jesse and everyone else! I'm Corey. I live in Colorado near Boulder. I was diagnosed with ADHD during the neurodiversity wave of 2020 (i.e. when all of us started going insane being home and out of our routines and discovered our ADHD). Part of why I decided to get evaluated was because my kids had been diagnosed and I noticed a ton of similarities. I'm married to a fellow ADHD'er and 4 of my 5 kids have either Autism, ADHD, or both.
I love writing (my substack is https://www.chordquill.com), playing music (guitar, piano, bass, and more), playing video games, hiking with my dogs, cooking and a ton more. I work at Adobe as a Design Program Manager and love my job. I have 5 kids, 3 dogs, 2 cats, and 1 wife. I love them all.
I'm here for the same reason you all are - to share with like-minded folks!
Hi! I'm Mary Ann (aka: Moe). I'm 61 and was diagnosed about 8 months ago with ADHD and MDD. The MDD is probably from masking for 55 years of my life. Imagine a steryl salmon working furiously to get upstream all for nothing. That's me. I'm still in the discovery phase of things. I have found some coping methods, mostly cognitive and paper-based, but have so much learning to do, not just about this disorder, but about myself. When you have been masking since childhood it's hard to know who you actually are!
Hey there, Sugars. I'm Rachel and for a long time I thought I had to prove I was like everyone else and could do a 'normal' detail-y boring job to prove my value. Then I realized the normal folks would totally pay me for my perspective because what I bring to the table is a take they never would have thought of. They found value in what I never did! I hope I can bring hope and self compassion to other weirdos. Because, maybe we're not so weird, we're just the other half that makes the whole
Hi everyone! I'm Zeke! I have AuDHD— I got my ADHD diagnosis ~2019 and should hopefully be formally getting my autism diagnosis soon. I have a wonderful husband, a delightful boyfriend, and an amazing datemate, all of whom are also autistic, and only one of whom doesn't have ADHD. My husband goes in for his Disability doc exam tomorrow!!! which is huge for us.
I make TTRPGs and ARGs (as WeARGames), and do a little bit of freelance work (with a specialty in setting up functional and accessible Discord servers) when my disabilities allow me to. I'm currently working on the (unnecessarily detailed) world building for my next ARG, which involves painstakingly translating an IRL city map into what it might be like 750 years after an apocalypse. I'm slightly driving myself crazy with it, but it's also very fun.
I'm thankfully medicated for my ADHD (instant release Adderall twice a day and Wellbutrin in the morning) but even so, I still struggle a LOT with motivation and focus. Something that's been a huge help to me for a long time is MyNoise.net— Stéphane has dozens of (AI-free) sound generators to help with focus, relaxing, sleep, etc. Vintage Office is my favorite for working, with its background office chatter (but nothing is decipherable, so my brain doesn't focus in on the speech), dot matrix printers, and click-clacky keyboards. I've been using a combination of either Night Blue (jazzy/bluesy music generator) or Twin Black Lodges (Twin Peaks-inspired atmospheric music) with the train sounds generator to help me sleep (and block out my boyfriend gaming and chatting with friends at 4am).
Hi Jesse and all. I’m from Germany and I am 31 and married to also someone with adhd. I’m officially diagnosed and my husband not. But it’s pretty obvious… I follow Jesse for such a long time, but never engaged into an community. I am not good with words but I always relate so good to Jesses quotes and hope to deal better with my adhd. I really try to deal better with everything and was hoping, some direct contact to people like me will help more.
I’m working in Sales, but my profession was hearing aid specialist. I’m working in a new job since Oktober, but I already want to change 🫠 I think you can relate…. Ja, feeling a bit los in general 😂
I’m Denis, 42 years old. I live in Ukraine (used to live in Kharkiv, but after the war started, I moved to Lviv). I was diagnosed with ADHD last year, but as I was told, I’ve already managed to cope with many of the ADHD symptoms, so they aren’t visible to outsiders. :)
I’m married and a father to a tiny beautiful girl.
I’m a web developer, but I recently left my company to start my journey as a solopreneur. I’m trying to develop services that are helpful for people with ADHD (including myself).
Hey, y'all. I'm a journalist and researcher and I cover far right extremism. I was diagnosed with ADHD about ten years ago, but it seems clear it's been an issue my entire life.
Hi everyone, I'm Kelsey and I live in Auckland, New Zealand. I have far too many hobbies including cooking, painting, DIYing, and especially reading & sewing.
I've always known my brain works differently to most people, and have suspected I have ADHD for about four years since a friend was diagnosed. I did a ton of research and found I fit pretty perfectly into the classic "bright but anxious child becomes a burnt-out adult" story. Eventually I got up the courage to talk to my GP about possibly having ADHD but was immediately shot down, so my diagnosis journey went on hold for a couple of years.
We didn't know it at the time, but my brother (who lives in Australia) and I were both advised by our counsellors around the same time last year that we should be assessed for ADHD. My brother has since been diagnosed, and I'm working through the diagnosis process. Regardless of whether I get a formal diagnosis or not, I'm always looking out for strategies & tools to help me with my ADHD-like traits, and I love hearing stories from others about what works for them!
Hi Jesse! I am just a little north of you! I live on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. I was diagnosed with adhd almost 10 years ago after working within the medical model supporting ND kiddos for 15 years.
Everything i thought I understood about neurodivergence confused me, when I tried to understand the traits in myself, and my two ND daughters. There was grief, relief and after much rabbit- holing, hyperfocus and research, there was clarity.
After a decade in management for different service providers, human resources and a director in my last position, I took some time away to focus on my girls and then decided to start my own business supporting the different neurotypes in the workplace.
Actually, to be truthful, my story wasn't much different then yours. I tried to get back in the workforce but after years of being successful in management, I couldn't pass an interview. So, it was more a means to an end. I needed to work and I also didn't want to see others go through what I have. It seems to be the reason we all are attracted to this line of work, doesn't it? I have appreciated your insights and honesty over the years, so my heartfelt thanks for that.
The business is in it's second year and it is going well! I am grateful for the many connections and new friends, and I will be presenting at the annual CPHR conference this year for my peers. It will be a milestone for me.
I just gave my website a face-lift, check it out if you have the time;) www.mindmosaic.ca
MindMosaic looks super interesting, I'd love to hear more about that some time! Maybe you could do a guest post at some point and share a bit more about how businesses can make their workplace more inclusive of neurodivergent team members. I think that'd help people out a lot.
Hi Jesse! I'm Elizabeth and my brother lives in Puyallup! I'm down the way in Portland. I always thought ADHD meant under parented little boys who couldn't sit still, so I was surprised when my son was diagnosed in high school. (He grew up overseas otherwise I'm sure would have been diagnosed much earlier.) As I began to research what ADHD was, I recognized myself over and over and over. The lack of organizational skills. The time blindness. The interruptions. And much more. However, I took my time getting officially diagnosed, and it wasn't until a marriage counselor suggested I try meds. So I was over 50 when diagnosed. I can't remember how I found you, but I'm happy I did. I'm still learning a lot and sometimes I feel like my whole personality is ADHD! As I've learned more, I see it in extended family, and I'm pretty sure my daughter has it as well.
Hi Jesse and everyone else! I'm another British ADHDer based in the Paris area - nice to see I'm not the only one :) I'm not sure when I signed up to the Extra Focus newsletter (memory issues are a big ADHD symptom for me), but I bought the book in the Black Friday sale and so far it really resonates with me. Thank you, Jesse, for everything you share with us!
I got diagnosed with ADHD here in France in late 2023. I first suspected I had it in 2019 but was dismissed by various medical professionals (my GP told me it impossible that I had got so far without being diagnosed, and that ADHD was never diagnosed in adults...). Sadly, there is a long way to go when it comes to treating ADHD here. I have yet to find medication that works for me and is available in France (again, long way to go) and it feels like my old strategies (to combat procrastination, etc.) don't really work anymore, so I really appreciate your insights as I try to find new ones. Happy new year to everyone and keep it up, Jesse :)
Ugh, so frustrating to hear your (unfortunately common) story of getting dismissed when seeking ADHD diagnosis. Hopefully this newsletter and community will be a help for you without it needing to be official! Diagnosis is great for a number of reasons, but it's usually only really _necessary_ if you're seeking medication.
The PNP who diagnosed me put it well, I think. Putting the milk in the microwave is probably just an ADHD brain fart. Forgetting what the microwave is used for is a bigger problerm.
Hi! I’m Katt when I’m online, and I live on the Oregon coast. Born in Yakima; grew up in Tacoma, spent early adulthood in Seattle, and later lived a couple years in Puyallup. My ex’s Navy career took us up and down the west coast, from Bremerton to San Diego.
I was informally diagnosed by a therapist in my late forties, but meds were off the table, due to my other issues. I’ve tried various antidepressants, which were fails, but this year, got referred to a psych nurse practitioner who figured something out that works pretty well and doesn’t put me in a coma. At the age of 75, I can suddenly see how to plan a task or project, instead of just blundering through and losing momentum halfway through. It’s also helping with a couple of my other my other issues, and I’m not depressed for the first time that I can remember. It’s amazing.
I still lose my phone six times a day. Tile is my friend.
Thank you, Jesse. I’ve enjoyed reading your insights so much. I miss my Twitter ADHD group, but I left and burned down my account.
Hi Katt, where on the Oregon coast? My family likes to take short trips to an airbnb in Seaside from time to time which is a lovely place. And another person that's actually lived in Puyallup?! Wild!
Yeah, I miss the ADHD people on Twitter. We had a good thing going for awhile there. 😢
Glad you're here though! Hoping we can build more of a community vibe here and recapture some of that.
We’re on the central coast, in Newport. When I was a kid, we used to go to Oceanside, but I’ve never spent much time in Seaside. I mostly remember the boardwalk. We don’t travel much any more, as we’re at that fun age when we spend our time organizing doctor visits, and driving is a challenge. My dad would scoff at me; he was pretty spry until he hit 90, but he didn’t have autoimmune issues, either.
I have hopes for an ADHD community here and on bluesky, but I can get very quiet for ages, due to low energy. I’m hoping that improves, so I can contribute more. Or at all.
Hello! I’m from the U.K. but based in Paris, France :). I can’t remember for the life of me how I came across your newsletter but I have been loving your content since. I’m pretty sure I have ADHD, I got part way through the assessment with a psychiatrist which involved trialling different medication, I procrastinated following up for nearly 2 years after the medication gave me awful side effects. So I still don’t really know but I can relate with a lot of the symptoms.
I like being here and reading your content because sometimes being surrounded with neurotypicals at work and even in life who don’t seem to struggle with basic tasks like I do makes me feel like I’m broken or there’s something wrong with me. Your book and all the experiences you and the community share helps me realise that’s not the case and it was a super important mind shift I needed in accepting myself 😄. My focus now is a bit less on “trying to be as productive as possible to catch up with everyone else” but more “designing a life that brings me joy and works with my brain”. A WIP 😄
I tried a few medications and also had either side effects that were bad enough I stopped taking them. Which is a bummer, because I know some people have had really great success with finding the right med for them.
"Designing a life that brings me joy and works with my brain" sounds amazing. I'm here for it!
Hey Jesse and all the lovely folks here I’m Terrell (tear-l) I’m from Mumbai, India. I got diagnosed for mild ADD last year but always had this feeling that I was different. I mostly got checked cause I started struggling in basic things in my work @ relationships with ppl I cared about and it bothered me & severely lowered my self esteem.
I’m an a self taught artist and Professionally a product designer. Besides my work I’ve recently become a fitness freak that started with trekking and hiking which I still try to maintain. Otherwise I have a big checklist of hobbies I started and never really saw through (some honourable mentions karate, roller skating, contemporary dancing, guitarist)
Over the past year now I’ve really come to accept myself and how I am while also trying to evolve and grow.
Hi, I’m Tom from southern England and I’m 39. I’m currently awaiting an assessment but have suspected ADHD for years now. It all clicked into place when I was looking at the diagnostic criteria for my daughter who has ASD and the criteria could have been a direct description of me. I decided then to explore getting a diagnosis.
Hi Jesse and everyone else! I'm Corey. I live in Colorado near Boulder. I was diagnosed with ADHD during the neurodiversity wave of 2020 (i.e. when all of us started going insane being home and out of our routines and discovered our ADHD). Part of why I decided to get evaluated was because my kids had been diagnosed and I noticed a ton of similarities. I'm married to a fellow ADHD'er and 4 of my 5 kids have either Autism, ADHD, or both.
I love writing (my substack is https://www.chordquill.com), playing music (guitar, piano, bass, and more), playing video games, hiking with my dogs, cooking and a ton more. I work at Adobe as a Design Program Manager and love my job. I have 5 kids, 3 dogs, 2 cats, and 1 wife. I love them all.
I'm here for the same reason you all are - to share with like-minded folks!
Hi! I'm Mary Ann (aka: Moe). I'm 61 and was diagnosed about 8 months ago with ADHD and MDD. The MDD is probably from masking for 55 years of my life. Imagine a steryl salmon working furiously to get upstream all for nothing. That's me. I'm still in the discovery phase of things. I have found some coping methods, mostly cognitive and paper-based, but have so much learning to do, not just about this disorder, but about myself. When you have been masking since childhood it's hard to know who you actually are!
Hey there, Sugars. I'm Rachel and for a long time I thought I had to prove I was like everyone else and could do a 'normal' detail-y boring job to prove my value. Then I realized the normal folks would totally pay me for my perspective because what I bring to the table is a take they never would have thought of. They found value in what I never did! I hope I can bring hope and self compassion to other weirdos. Because, maybe we're not so weird, we're just the other half that makes the whole
Hi everyone! I'm Zeke! I have AuDHD— I got my ADHD diagnosis ~2019 and should hopefully be formally getting my autism diagnosis soon. I have a wonderful husband, a delightful boyfriend, and an amazing datemate, all of whom are also autistic, and only one of whom doesn't have ADHD. My husband goes in for his Disability doc exam tomorrow!!! which is huge for us.
I make TTRPGs and ARGs (as WeARGames), and do a little bit of freelance work (with a specialty in setting up functional and accessible Discord servers) when my disabilities allow me to. I'm currently working on the (unnecessarily detailed) world building for my next ARG, which involves painstakingly translating an IRL city map into what it might be like 750 years after an apocalypse. I'm slightly driving myself crazy with it, but it's also very fun.
I'm thankfully medicated for my ADHD (instant release Adderall twice a day and Wellbutrin in the morning) but even so, I still struggle a LOT with motivation and focus. Something that's been a huge help to me for a long time is MyNoise.net— Stéphane has dozens of (AI-free) sound generators to help with focus, relaxing, sleep, etc. Vintage Office is my favorite for working, with its background office chatter (but nothing is decipherable, so my brain doesn't focus in on the speech), dot matrix printers, and click-clacky keyboards. I've been using a combination of either Night Blue (jazzy/bluesy music generator) or Twin Black Lodges (Twin Peaks-inspired atmospheric music) with the train sounds generator to help me sleep (and block out my boyfriend gaming and chatting with friends at 4am).
Hi Jesse and all. I’m from Germany and I am 31 and married to also someone with adhd. I’m officially diagnosed and my husband not. But it’s pretty obvious… I follow Jesse for such a long time, but never engaged into an community. I am not good with words but I always relate so good to Jesses quotes and hope to deal better with my adhd. I really try to deal better with everything and was hoping, some direct contact to people like me will help more.
I’m working in Sales, but my profession was hearing aid specialist. I’m working in a new job since Oktober, but I already want to change 🫠 I think you can relate…. Ja, feeling a bit los in general 😂
Hi Jesse and everyone!
I’m Denis, 42 years old. I live in Ukraine (used to live in Kharkiv, but after the war started, I moved to Lviv). I was diagnosed with ADHD last year, but as I was told, I’ve already managed to cope with many of the ADHD symptoms, so they aren’t visible to outsiders. :)
I’m married and a father to a tiny beautiful girl.
I’m a web developer, but I recently left my company to start my journey as a solopreneur. I’m trying to develop services that are helpful for people with ADHD (including myself).
Hey, y'all. I'm a journalist and researcher and I cover far right extremism. I was diagnosed with ADHD about ten years ago, but it seems clear it's been an issue my entire life.
Hey Teddy, glad to have you here!
Hi everyone, I'm Kelsey and I live in Auckland, New Zealand. I have far too many hobbies including cooking, painting, DIYing, and especially reading & sewing.
I've always known my brain works differently to most people, and have suspected I have ADHD for about four years since a friend was diagnosed. I did a ton of research and found I fit pretty perfectly into the classic "bright but anxious child becomes a burnt-out adult" story. Eventually I got up the courage to talk to my GP about possibly having ADHD but was immediately shot down, so my diagnosis journey went on hold for a couple of years.
We didn't know it at the time, but my brother (who lives in Australia) and I were both advised by our counsellors around the same time last year that we should be assessed for ADHD. My brother has since been diagnosed, and I'm working through the diagnosis process. Regardless of whether I get a formal diagnosis or not, I'm always looking out for strategies & tools to help me with my ADHD-like traits, and I love hearing stories from others about what works for them!
Welcome Kelsey! New Zealand is about on top of places I'd love to visit, so it's always cool to hear about people from there that read Extra Focus. 😅
Ah yeah, the all-too-familiar "bright but anxious child becomes a burnt-out adult" story... 🫠
I'm glad you're here—good luck with the diagnosis!
Hi Jesse! I am just a little north of you! I live on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. I was diagnosed with adhd almost 10 years ago after working within the medical model supporting ND kiddos for 15 years.
Everything i thought I understood about neurodivergence confused me, when I tried to understand the traits in myself, and my two ND daughters. There was grief, relief and after much rabbit- holing, hyperfocus and research, there was clarity.
After a decade in management for different service providers, human resources and a director in my last position, I took some time away to focus on my girls and then decided to start my own business supporting the different neurotypes in the workplace.
Actually, to be truthful, my story wasn't much different then yours. I tried to get back in the workforce but after years of being successful in management, I couldn't pass an interview. So, it was more a means to an end. I needed to work and I also didn't want to see others go through what I have. It seems to be the reason we all are attracted to this line of work, doesn't it? I have appreciated your insights and honesty over the years, so my heartfelt thanks for that.
The business is in it's second year and it is going well! I am grateful for the many connections and new friends, and I will be presenting at the annual CPHR conference this year for my peers. It will be a milestone for me.
I just gave my website a face-lift, check it out if you have the time;) www.mindmosaic.ca
Kindly,
Lisa
Hi Lisa!
MindMosaic looks super interesting, I'd love to hear more about that some time! Maybe you could do a guest post at some point and share a bit more about how businesses can make their workplace more inclusive of neurodivergent team members. I think that'd help people out a lot.
Glad you're here!
Hi Jesse! I'm Elizabeth and my brother lives in Puyallup! I'm down the way in Portland. I always thought ADHD meant under parented little boys who couldn't sit still, so I was surprised when my son was diagnosed in high school. (He grew up overseas otherwise I'm sure would have been diagnosed much earlier.) As I began to research what ADHD was, I recognized myself over and over and over. The lack of organizational skills. The time blindness. The interruptions. And much more. However, I took my time getting officially diagnosed, and it wasn't until a marriage counselor suggested I try meds. So I was over 50 when diagnosed. I can't remember how I found you, but I'm happy I did. I'm still learning a lot and sometimes I feel like my whole personality is ADHD! As I've learned more, I see it in extended family, and I'm pretty sure my daughter has it as well.
I'm seriously so surprised that people have heard of Puyallup, let alone lived here (or have family living here!)
I also often feel like my whole personality is ADHD. It's not out of choice or anything, it's just the reality because it affects so much of my life.
Welcome Elizabeth! 🙂
Hi Jesse and everyone else! I'm another British ADHDer based in the Paris area - nice to see I'm not the only one :) I'm not sure when I signed up to the Extra Focus newsletter (memory issues are a big ADHD symptom for me), but I bought the book in the Black Friday sale and so far it really resonates with me. Thank you, Jesse, for everything you share with us!
I got diagnosed with ADHD here in France in late 2023. I first suspected I had it in 2019 but was dismissed by various medical professionals (my GP told me it impossible that I had got so far without being diagnosed, and that ADHD was never diagnosed in adults...). Sadly, there is a long way to go when it comes to treating ADHD here. I have yet to find medication that works for me and is available in France (again, long way to go) and it feels like my old strategies (to combat procrastination, etc.) don't really work anymore, so I really appreciate your insights as I try to find new ones. Happy new year to everyone and keep it up, Jesse :)
Hi Lucy, welcome!
Ugh, so frustrating to hear your (unfortunately common) story of getting dismissed when seeking ADHD diagnosis. Hopefully this newsletter and community will be a help for you without it needing to be official! Diagnosis is great for a number of reasons, but it's usually only really _necessary_ if you're seeking medication.
Glad you're here!
The PNP who diagnosed me put it well, I think. Putting the milk in the microwave is probably just an ADHD brain fart. Forgetting what the microwave is used for is a bigger problerm.
Hi! I’m Katt when I’m online, and I live on the Oregon coast. Born in Yakima; grew up in Tacoma, spent early adulthood in Seattle, and later lived a couple years in Puyallup. My ex’s Navy career took us up and down the west coast, from Bremerton to San Diego.
I was informally diagnosed by a therapist in my late forties, but meds were off the table, due to my other issues. I’ve tried various antidepressants, which were fails, but this year, got referred to a psych nurse practitioner who figured something out that works pretty well and doesn’t put me in a coma. At the age of 75, I can suddenly see how to plan a task or project, instead of just blundering through and losing momentum halfway through. It’s also helping with a couple of my other my other issues, and I’m not depressed for the first time that I can remember. It’s amazing.
I still lose my phone six times a day. Tile is my friend.
Thank you, Jesse. I’ve enjoyed reading your insights so much. I miss my Twitter ADHD group, but I left and burned down my account.
Hi Katt, where on the Oregon coast? My family likes to take short trips to an airbnb in Seaside from time to time which is a lovely place. And another person that's actually lived in Puyallup?! Wild!
Yeah, I miss the ADHD people on Twitter. We had a good thing going for awhile there. 😢
Glad you're here though! Hoping we can build more of a community vibe here and recapture some of that.
We’re on the central coast, in Newport. When I was a kid, we used to go to Oceanside, but I’ve never spent much time in Seaside. I mostly remember the boardwalk. We don’t travel much any more, as we’re at that fun age when we spend our time organizing doctor visits, and driving is a challenge. My dad would scoff at me; he was pretty spry until he hit 90, but he didn’t have autoimmune issues, either.
I have hopes for an ADHD community here and on bluesky, but I can get very quiet for ages, due to low energy. I’m hoping that improves, so I can contribute more. Or at all.
Hello! I’m from the U.K. but based in Paris, France :). I can’t remember for the life of me how I came across your newsletter but I have been loving your content since. I’m pretty sure I have ADHD, I got part way through the assessment with a psychiatrist which involved trialling different medication, I procrastinated following up for nearly 2 years after the medication gave me awful side effects. So I still don’t really know but I can relate with a lot of the symptoms.
I like being here and reading your content because sometimes being surrounded with neurotypicals at work and even in life who don’t seem to struggle with basic tasks like I do makes me feel like I’m broken or there’s something wrong with me. Your book and all the experiences you and the community share helps me realise that’s not the case and it was a super important mind shift I needed in accepting myself 😄. My focus now is a bit less on “trying to be as productive as possible to catch up with everyone else” but more “designing a life that brings me joy and works with my brain”. A WIP 😄
However you found it, I'm glad you're here!
I tried a few medications and also had either side effects that were bad enough I stopped taking them. Which is a bummer, because I know some people have had really great success with finding the right med for them.
"Designing a life that brings me joy and works with my brain" sounds amazing. I'm here for it!