As a child, I always felt an inexplicable loneliness, a sensation that never left me, shadowing every phase of my life. I constantly felt unseen and misunderstood. My attempts to please everyone around me were a desperate bid for friendship, but I always found myself drifting between groups, never truly belonging.
This isolation followed me into my teenage years. In a bid to fit in, I started smoking, thinking it would make me one of the "cool kids", I'
ll fit in now.. That decision marked the beginning of a series of self-sabotaging behaviors.
I started working at a very young age, and while I loved earning money, the daily grind wore me down. Amidst the chaos, I discovered a talent for working with children and poured my heart into learning about ADHD and Autism. I became proficient in various tactics, tools, and knowledge to help others. Yet, my own life remained in disarray.
Weekends became synonymous with binge drinking, leading to poor choices and reckless behavior. My self-image took a hit at every turn. I gained weight from comfort eating, a coping mechanism tied to my ADHD. A toxic relationship with a partner who likely had ADHD as well left me feeling trapped and unhappy.
Despite nine years of therapy and countless prescriptions for antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications, I felt increasingly broken. Each new dose failed to bring relief.
Throughout this time, my low self-esteem made decision-making a constant struggle. I distrusted my own judgment, often second-guessing myself and fearing that any choice I made would lead to more pain and failure.
This lack of confidence compounded my feelings of helplessness and isolation.
At 28, I found myself in a hospital bed after a clinical burnout. It was then that I realised something had to change.
My journey toward understanding my ADHD began in earnest. Doctors had always advised me to take my medication to improve focus, but focus was not my primary issue. The side effects of ADHD—days lost to procrastination, emotional dysregulation, bursts of rage followed by tears, forgetfulness, chronic lateness—were wreaking havoc on my life.
In a moment of clarity, I became very, very still. I took stock of my life and figured out what I needed to do to find happiness again. I envisioned a life where waking up each day wasn't filled with dread, a few months of hard work and my dream of this calmer happier life took shape, Is ADHD still there? yes. The difference I now have the tools and understanding to cope with it, this is why I am now so passionate about what I do. I never want another soul to feel as lonely and isolated as I did.
You don't need to feel this way. Together, we can harness your ADHD to work for you instead of against you. ADHDCoaching changed my life, and I am eager to see it transform yours as well. Are you ready to be brave and try something new? Are you ready to pursue the life you know you are capable of living?
Charlotte Fry Coaching
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