Holly Morris Opens Up About Late ADHD Diagnosis: "The pros and cons in my relationship!"

[@miokjr6286]

I think that what I would say to someone calling ADHD a trend is this: “It is true that ADHD is trending, but that just means that more and more people are getting diagnosed. That does not diminish the impact of the condition. It merely means that there are more awareness about it and that more people get the help they need”

[@tickhillian]

More people MAY get the help they need. There is a long line of waiting to be diagnosed.

[@kristinhernandez8946]

ABSOLUTELY! We don’t behave/function like this because we think it’s cool! I’m EXHAUSTED. 😅

[@marys2035]

That's definitely true. If you know what ADHD entails, no one is saying "Yes, sign me up!" 😂 However, the trending factor simply means people are finally getting the diagnoses they should have had 3, 4, 6, decades ago. I personally was not diagnosed until I was 36 yrs old. I went to check it out after I told someone I was working with at a temp job that I always say I have adult onset ADHD. He asked me why, and I explained I have so many symptoms, but wasn't diagnosed when I was in school. He asked if I got his grades or not, and I said yes. I eventually figured out I did really well in school because I love learning and didn't have any other learning disabilities. I was also smart enough that I didn't really need to study, so no one thought my well behaved quiet self might have it. They didn't really test much for it anyways at that time. My symptoms started to show up more after college, although I was always called very sensitive, and I did talk too much in class the older I got, which can be considered the hyperactivity in girls often. I had very surprising Boomer parents too, and was too scared of getting in trouble to do too much wrong. My impulsivity and other things started to show up more in middle school, and after high school.

[@marys2035]

got 'good grades or not', not 'his grades or not'

[@christopherlamott9351]

It wouldn't surprise me if the percentage of people that have ADD symptoms is increasing... the sheer volume of information we are all exposed to, combined with the availability of high level dopamine hits (technology) must have an impact. ❤

[@clairedot657]

Big up to Holly’s Mum! She sounds like the most awesome Mum!

[@holymorridge]

She is :)

[@Saintly2]

28 is late-life?! 58 is late-life. 28 would’ve been such a blessing!!🙄

[@cwright821]

🤗

[@Tiffanieg81]

It was 42 for me too. 😅 I’ve noticed that I sleep a lot but can’t recover so constantly feel tired I went to see a neurologist and gave me 4mg of melatonin and a soft anti depressant he says to reboot my brain. Has anyone gone through this?

[@TheTomoye]

37 was when I received my diagnosis. It was like all the puzzle pieces finally started fitting, and I felt like I took the first deep breath in a while.

[@MsDeeVee]

I am with you on that point. We Gen Xers are a lost generation.

[@howareyou857]

53 here

[@Queenread82]

"Dig in" with me was always "push through" because often it is a struggle mentally or physically. I pushed through years and years of pain and fatigue and now I am adjusting to listening to my body, giving room to rest. It's tricky. My therapist reminds me that this feeling of frozen or overwhelm should be respected.

[@kristinhernandez8946]

I am just in tears…thank you for sharing, Holly. 🩷

[@dancinginmaltesers]

My uni story is very similar to yours. It took me 5 years to graduate but got no extra support. I left EVERYTHING till the last minute, I stayed up for 3 days finishing my dissertation. It was horrible.

[@souley2752]

5 years seems normal to me (I don't know if this is a country difference but here you CAN do it in 3 years if you sacrifice every ounce of your mental health and are normally gonna do it in 4-5 years) I'm probably gonna need 10 if this state continues and I am not getting a diagnosis soon

[@UlyssesZopol]

My professors thought I was super attentive as I always sat in the first row (to reduce distractions) and stared and nodded at them constantly while my mind on another planet.

[@rooeykate]

Holly is an absolute joy.

[@DADADRTR]

Well done on graduating with extra effort to overcome the ADHD restraints. It took me six years to finish my engineering degree, despite being "chemically restrained" (GP's words) with anti-depressants; which turns out to have been a misdiagnosis for me. ...a very big thank you to my peers & academic manager for providing close support that allowed me to eventually graduate; thanks Rob, time to get yourself sorted too.

[@siena_miller]

I am Russian, living in Canada and speaking English most of the time and I am in love with her British accent and her story. I feel I went through something similar... and only been diagnosed at 36... thank you

[@jasonhilliker492]

You did a good job finishing university in 5 years. Mine was similar. 7 years of school but with a 3 year drop out in the middle and a change in major.

[@lilacDaisy111]

"Lazy people actually enjoy relaxing." I've heard this before, and I don't get it, as it relates to ADHD. Because when I'm in the zone, designing a website or researching something interesting, it looks very lazy, and I couldn't give two hoots about the week's worth of dishes in the sink!

[@suesalti]

😊

[@alexaarrah696]

So relatable I go in with trauma. I ask very real questions to people. Im very open about my story. Dinner party situation is relatable.

[@kellydecamp3656]

I think Holly is an ENFP, and I relate to her so much because I’m an INFP with ADD. 😊(intuitive feeler perceivers) but she’s more extroverted and energetic. I have had chronic fatigue since childhood from biotoxin illness.

[@stuartclark7488]

Her description of university resonates with me. During my undergraduate I struggled with every deadline, Douglas Adams quote "I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by." was how I lived. I was fortunate to be diagnosed with dyslexia in my first term which gave me extensions and other dispensations. And if it wasn't for one particular friend who supported me emotionally I am not sure if I would have made it to graduation. I have only just been diagnosed with ADHD, and I am trying to do a PhD in physics. Without the structure of a taught course and having moved away from the support structure I had during my undergraduate I am struggling. I live in a perpetual state of imposter syndrome, just waiting for them to kick me out. Her description of her early childhood sounds like my daughters. They are so incredibly brave in so many ways, but they cannot watch a movie without the peer pressure of other children (ie. Watching a movie in class). We still regularly watch Disney Junior cartoons aimed at much younger children. Balancing the pressures of being a PhD student and a good parent is something I am constantly struggling with.

[@cwright821]

Wow, that is a full plate! Keep being kind to yourself in all your different hats, it's tough out there ❤ sending you hugs and admiration, and hopes that you get some lie-ins over the hols 😉 🤗

[@stuartclark7488]

Thank you for your kind words. I will survive, I am more concerned for my children. As for lie-ins... I am fortunate to have a very supportive wife who's currently taking up too much of the slack while I am titrating.

[@souley2752]

The last part is actually one of the things that makes me question my symptoms as a child. Like I loved watching movies and never had issues of not concentrating on them but since I realized body doubling was a thing, I tend to wonder if that was the reason for not struggling. I never watched them alone and if I did in my later life always had to do something else or getting up going to the kitchen and so on. But maybe I was also just mesmorized by the animations when I was smaller and that's why

[@chrisjordan7181]

53 and yes we and our parents with autism adhd etc were just in the mix and treated as different in many bad ways and some good.

[@kristinhernandez8946]

I’ve been watching for less than five minutes and I can relate to everything Holly says. SO GRATEFUL to finally be connecting the dots in my life. Thank you to both of you! ❤️❤️

[@ritcha02]

“So much talking is done but nothing is said” ding ding ding!!! 🛎️

[@DADADRTR]

@23:05 very relatable, my washing has been waiting in the basket for a fortnight to ensure there is enough sunshine to run the macine & maximise the solar power...& because I keep forgetting to put it on when it's sunny.

[@jedimasterlees]

37:33 i always have to remind myself this. So glad she mentioned it!

[@jbug884]

I’ve got this 100% but I’m too embarrassed to go for a diagnosis, because EVERYONE now has it apparently 🤦‍♀️ In a way it’s good, because it’s the new normal

[@chrisjordan7181]

I was in uni for 5 years too and always felt bad about that till now. 1st year 2nd 2nd 2nd 3rd friends family and a good probably autistic tutor in the last few years got me through it

[@TheHalfmanofOz]

Thanks for sharing such a relatable and enjoyable conversation.

[@Queenread82]

That part about laziness would make a good short.

[@Queenread82]

Am I lazy or is it overwhelm? great point about lazy people glorying in laziness, vs. feeling guilty for taking a break.

[@SideCharacter12303]

23:34 as another sims girlie honestly the irony of me also purchasing the laundry day pack was not lost on me 😭😂 and it’s one of my favourite packs too. This part took me out lol

[@emmajlatham]

This is me, I’m 25, intelligent and pretty girl - one of those people that just slipped under the radar because “I don’t look neurodivergent.” So important to realise that neurodivergence doesn’t have a look, but most people don’t get that yet. I’m so grateful for going through this discovery process but can’t help but think of all the people that so badly need support and aren’t getting it.

[@Queenread82]

She looks so cozy and comfy. Is a splotchy black and white print a cow print or a pinto pony print? I like the idea of having pony pants.

[@juliefairbank1557]

I could tell in your episode with Matt Hancock you were feeling that he was taking too long to get to the point as your fidget was going frantic in your hands and it was also making me feel Aghhhh!!! Even though it did watch it all and persevered as he actually made a great many good points. And I can really relate to much of what Holly says when feeling frustrated with someone not getting to the point when they are talking! 😂😂

[@Lynee5290]

Very relatable and so helpful thankyou! 🙏🏻

[@ralitsailieva2205]

Thank you for sharing! That’s exactly me!

[@Squishmitten5]

Ahhhhhh!!! The crying thing!!!! That’s one of my biggies!!

[@shelleysmith6667]

Boy do i relate!! ❤❤❤

[@pamengland7863]

And why is it that after all the years I’ve taken Adderall & it literally saves my job life u can’t get it filled as there’s apparently a national shortage. 🙆🏼‍♀️

[@aliceindiamonds-77]

Lol the Adderall factory needs Adderall

[@ralitsailieva2205]

That’s why I am not on meds because I don’t want that addiction. I am kind of afraid to experiment with that but rather stay dysfunctional…

[@mattng4707]

I want her parents

[@MsDeeVee]

Late diagnostic? Yes but try 59 y/o. Now that is… later. We are a lost generation, raised in the ‘70’s when both science and awareness were barely there, except for schoolboys with disruptive behaviors in class and low grades.