Kelly Baums, a 33-year-old from Chicago, discovered she had ADHD at the age of 30 and decided to become an ADHD coach to help others in similar situations. Growing up, Kelly always felt different from her peers, struggling to maintain friendships and focus on school work. When she received her ADHD diagnosis, she experienced a mix of relief and grief. She finally had answers, but also felt sad for her younger self who spent so many years feeling lost. Kelly now uses her experiences and knowledge to support adults with ADHD and dispel misconceptions about the condition through her coaching work and popular TikTok channel. It wasn’t until her fiance mentioned the possibility of ADHD during a walk that Kelly even considered the condition. She became hyperfixated on researching ADHD symptoms and realized that they perfectly matched her own experiences. Throughout her life, Kelly had always felt different and like a “weirdo,” constantly questioning herself and missing social cues. She struggled to concentrate in school, often completing assignments last-minute. She also frequently lost friendships and wondered what was wrong with her. With encouragement from a psychologist, Kelly sought an official diagnosis through a full neurological psych evaluation. After three days of tests and questions, it was confirmed that she had ADHD. While she felt relieved and validated, she also went through a grieving period, mourning for her younger self who struggled without understanding why. ADHD was once believed to primarily affect children, but research now shows that it can persist into adulthood. In Australia, it’s estimated that one in 20 adults has ADHD. Additionally, one in 20 children are diagnosed, with many continuing to experience symptoms as adults. Shaunna Bullard, a registered counselor who specializes in ADHD, notes that there has been a significant increase in adults seeking ADHD diagnoses. This isn’t necessarily because there are more people with ADHD, but rather because previous research didn’t fully understand how ADHD presents in adults. Shaunna, who discovered her own ADHD diagnosis at age 60, explains that adult ADHD often looks different than childhood ADHD. The hyperactivity associated with ADHD is often internal rather than physical, leading to behaviors like picking skin, twiddling hair, or biting nails. Adults with ADHD may also feel like they have multiple conversations happening in their minds simultaneously, making it difficult to focus. Children with ADHD tend to act more impulsively due to a lack of regulation skills, while adults have learned to navigate life and society to some extent. They may still struggle with impulsiveness, but it’s not as overt as in children. After her diagnosis, Kelly went on a journey of self-acceptance and unmasking. Unmasking refers to the process of revealing one’s true self, including ADHD traits that had previously been concealed or substituted with neurotypical behaviors. Kelly stopped forcing herself to make constant eye contact during conversations because it caused her to lose focus. Instead, she embraced her natural tendencies and allowed herself to look around the room while talking. With a better understanding of her brain and ADHD, Kelly sought professional help to manage her thoughts, emotions, and daily life. She realized that she had been hitting a wall in therapy and discovered that ADHD was the underlying barrier preventing her from implementing certain strategies. Kelly’s goal now is to find a balance between what she can and cannot control, without beating herself up for minor setbacks. She hopes to help others in similar situations by sharing her experiences and providing guidance as an ADHD coach.
Discover Common Symptoms of ADHD: My Diagnosis at 30 Years Old
