I’m starting this ADHD-friendly blog in hopes of building a bigger community for neurodivergent people to feel safe, accepted, and seen.

              My personal journey with ADHD started more than 3 years ago, right after coming out of lockdown, which, quite honestly I am still recovering from.  I was helping a family member through the ADHD assessment process. I hadn’t put too much thought into whether I had ADHD or not until the doctor started asking my family member questions and it was like an alarm was going off. “Do you feel as if you’re being run by a motor?” I am a person who rides my bike from San Francisco to LA for fun. “Do you have trouble completing tasks?” I looked around the messy house and the pile of dishes and unfinished art projects.  “How often do you fidget or squirm with your hands or feet when sitting for a long time?” I am a person who has trouble sitting through an entire movie, even if it’s something I enjoy it gets to a point that I’ve squirmed so much I just have to get up.   

‘Interrupting others‘, check, the list went on and on. Almost every screening question the doctor asked my family member was true for me as well.  This family member had been on a waiting list for almost a year. I knew I needed to get assessed, and I knew I was in for a long wait, so I started the process right away.  I called the doctor’s office the next day to schedule my own assessment. 

I was told I didn’t qualify for an assessment, I was dumbfounded. For the next eight months, I continued through extreme anxiety at home and work. I tried every natural remedy, all the normal tricks that would usually help me cope. They helped a little but it was an uphill battle. I finally called the doctor’s office again, telling them I was really struggling and that I needed to be assessed for ADHD.  Again, they told me I didn’t qualify for an assessment.

Things continued to get harder in my life in all aspects, due to a tricky situation at work. I was off-the-charts stressed. At one point, I even ended up in the emergency room with stress-induced vertigo.  I waited a couple more months before calling the doctor for an ADHD assessment. Once again, they told me I didn’t qualify for an ADHD assessment. 

Things went downhill very quickly. I was let go from my job.  This was a blessing and a curse.

              After being unemployed for about 5 months. I called the doctor’s office again. I told them I was unemployed and greatly struggling. They told me I was finally eligible for an ADHD assessment appointment, and we got it on the books.  I was furious that it took about 3 years to be assessed.  I am now formally diagnosed with Combination type ADHD, and this has left me with a greater understanding of what I am dealing with.  I’ve also learned that many women often get misdiagnosed or have similar trouble getting an assessment.  I want to share what I’ve learned along the way and want to hear what you’ve learned as well. I am so glad I kept fighting to finally get an assessment and a formal diagnosis.

              This week, I want to talk about the benefits of exercise, not only for a healthy body, but the positive effects it can have on mental health.  I work out almost every day to help clear my mind and give myself a positive start, “I already got through the toughest part of the day”.  I have found traditional meditation practices can be challenging because my mind starts to wander as soon as I am sitting still, and then I start stressing that I am not meditating properly. What was meant to be relaxing often becomes the source of more stress. I’ve found ways of being mindful with movement.  I love going for a walk and being mindful as I notice the sounds of the birds, the low hum of distant traffic, and the rustling leaves as the wind blows.  I notice how the cold wind feels on my face or the sun warming my body as I walk along. I find my walking time so peaceful. 

              I love to follow YouTube workout videos. Which were especially helpful for my mental well-being during lockdown, and which I continue to appreciate because I don’t even have to leave the house.  Having a workout channel I already follow helps me bypass decision fatigue: I will just do the workout of the day. If I am having a day when I am especially dysregulated, I like to break up my workouts in micro workout: putting in 10 minutes every couple of hours, helps me stay motivated and energetic.  Strength training is really fun and gives me time to be mindful since I am mostly concentrating on counting and breathing. Sometimes, I just walk around with light weights when I need a movement break, adding fun music or a podcast.

              Bike riding is so amazing as an ADHD’er! It gets us places fast and we can travel through several towns in one day. I am very lucky to have found the AIDS lifecycle community. Which I train with and travel with.  I will take any excuse to ride my bike.  It’s so challenging physically and mentally.  Not to mention, biking increases the serotonin and dopamine in our brains. It’s a win win win.

              I hope you can get out there and find a way to use exercise to help your mind and body.