How ADHD diagnosis helped my mental health | Letters

2026-03-08 - 17:23

I spent my life pre-diagnosis suffering from depression and low self-esteem, writes Francesca Finch-Andrews In suggesting there is a possibility that we all lie somewhere on an ADHD continuum, your correspondent (Letters, 27 February) is missing the point. ADHD – and autism – are neurodiversities, meaning that the brains of individuals with ADHD and/or autism are “wired” differently from those of people with “typical” brains. In other words, you either have it or you don’t. To suggest that everyone is a bit ADHD or a bit autistic is insulting to those of us who actually are ADHD/autistic, and diminishes our lived experience. Yes, self-help tools can be useful. But the affirmation of a diagnosis can also be hugely beneficial. Continue reading...