‘I self-medicated for years – until I was finally diagnosed with ADHD’

Francesca Jackson, 29, never considered her symptoms such as fatigue, racing thoughts, and mood swings were due to ADHD - (Francesca Jackson)

Throughout my life, I’ve always struggled with being overwhelmed by my feelings. I didn’t always know how to manage them. I’d often zone out – up to 60 times a day. I had mood swings and negative thoughts. I lacked motivation and I would crash out a few times a day with fatigue. I couldn’t retain information. My memory was shocking. I had no idea any of it could be traits of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD – as I only knew about the disorder in the form of hyperactivity. I was always going to my GP explaining these individual symptoms, asking for help and saying, “There is something wrong with me.” I was handed antidepressants or therapy. I felt useless.

I had been through so much trauma. Surely this was the only reason I was struggling to cope? I remember being quite anxious as a child. My parents separated when I was just one year old, and my older sister and I grew up with my dad, who often had to work away from home. As a teenager, I had a tough time at school being bullied. I was dyslexic and struggled to focus. I had very low self-esteem.