"Sometimes I wonder if I have ADHD."

Whether going in to high school, starting college or entering the workplace, you may have noticed an increase in demand for you to "be more adult". This is because as we mature, more is expected of us: to be organized, to plan ahead, stay on task, to meet deadlines, make decisions, control emotions and not act on impulses that aren't healthy. ADHD affects the exact part of the brain center that is in charge of all these skills. It's called Executive Functioning for a reason. This part of your brain is like your own CEO and it needs the right mix of neurotransmitters (dopamine and norepinephrine) to function. You can think of the ADHD brain as not having the optimum levels of what it needs to function at capacity.

Unfortunately, ADHD can be misdiagnosed as Generalized Anxiety Disorder. While it's true that anxiety can occur alongside ADHD, it may not be the root concern. If you've been struggling to start and/or complete tasks, feeling overwhelmed and shutting down, leaning too heavily on screen time to relax, it may be time to consider at least ruling out ADHD. 

I used to be better getting stuff done, but now I feel scattered, forgetful, not motivated and overwhelmed. 

The role of hormones in the way ADHD is expressed is still being studied, but there is compelling research being done to see how drops in estrogen play an important role in increasing symptoms of ADHD. 

Oftentimes parents get a later in life diagnosis after their child gets an ADHD diagnosis. This is because learning what ADHD actually is is very helpful.