Julie and Jel Legg discuss the adult ADHD diagnosis process in New Zealand – what lead them to seek a diagnosis in their 50s, the assessment procedure, and their personal journey.They share their experiences navigating professional evaluations, uncovering hidden impairments, and reflecting on past behaviors through the lens of ADHD. With insights into the emotional relief and self-discovery that follow, they highlight how a diagnosis offers clarity, improved coping strategies, and a framework for personal growth and better understanding of ADHD's influence on daily life. KEY TAKEAWAYSWhy Seek a Diagnosis? Personal and family-related curiosity often sparks the journey toward ADHD assessment. Symptoms like work struggles, life transitions, or past undiagnosed behaviors often prompt individuals to seek clarity.Assessment Process: Diagnosis requires professionals such as clinical psychologists or psychiatrists. Psychologists can assess and diagnose; psychiatrists can prescribe medication. The process involves interviews, trait analysis over a lifetime, and ruling out other disorders. Questionnaires may be included to ensure comprehensive assessment.Reactions to Diagnosis: Receiving a diagnosis can bring relief, clarity, and validation - along with grief and anger. It reframes lifelong experiences and provides a new lens for understanding challenges. Diagnosis often sparks a journey of self-discovery, addressing hidden impairments and developing tailored strategies.Navigating Adult ADHD: Adults approach diagnosis proactively, considering its impacts and benefits on their personal and professional lives. While traits may not change post-diagnosis, understanding ADHD allows for improved relationships, self-acceptance, and coping strategies.Challenges in Diagnosis: Waiting times and the emotional risk of confronting potential outcomes, like ruling out other conditions, can make the process daunting. Diagnosis requires honesty and self-reflection to ensure accuracy.Post-Diagnosis Reflections: Diagnosis provides a framework for understanding behavior and decisions. It can help reshape perspectives on past struggles and current strategies, fostering growth. Self-awareness helps individuals identify strategies that worked pre-diagnosis but might need adjustments to align with better outcomes post-diagnosis.LINKSJulie is the author of THE MISSING PIECE:  A Woman's Guide to Understanding, Diagnosing and Living with ADHD (Harper Collins, 2024)ADHDifference - InstagramDo you have a story to share? We'd love to hear from you if you have inspiring ADHD experience/journey you'd like to share. We are looking for strategies that work for you, uplifting stories of overcoming adversity, or celebrating success.  Did you find this podcast helpful? Please subscribe if you'd Send us a textThanks for listening. 📌 Don’t forget to subscribe for more tools for beautifully different brains. 🌐 WEBSITE: ADHDifference.nz 📷 INSTAGRAM: ADHDifference_podcast 📖 BOOK: The Missing Piece: A Woman's Guide to Understanding, Diagnosing and Living with ADHD ℹ️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or ADHDifference.

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