ADHD Plot Twist: Turns Out I Wasn't "Lazy"

If you’d asked me a few years ago what ADHD looked like, I probably would’ve described my oldest son. He was diagnosed with ADHD in first grade and was the “typical ADHD boy” you hear about. Bro was always bouncing off walls, getting into everything, and keeping his teachers on their toes.

Meanwhile, I was the complete opposite. Growing up, I was calm, always aiming to be the “perfect” student. The worst complaint my teachers ever had? That I was a “Chatty Cathy.” (I know, you’re shocked, right? Ha!)

But when my son was diagnosed, the psychiatrist looked at me and asked, “Krista, does Ryan know about your diagnosis? It usually helps kids understand better.” I must have looked completely lost because when I replied, “Um… what diagnosis?” She paused, glanced at my husband, and said, “Oh… well, you’re just super… colourful.” And at that, my husband lost it, bending over in a full-on belly laugh. Apparently, it was clear to everyone but me that I had ADHD.

Perfectly Behaved Kid, Secretly Struggling Inside

On the outside, I might have looked like the “good” student. The one who was quiet, polite, and well-behaved (aside from my nonstop talking). But internally, it was a different story. I struggled, a lot. All my friends seemed to breeze through learning new things, while I was constantly falling behind on the basics. The older I got, the more it seemed like something just wasn’t clicking for me, and I genuinely started to feel stupid.

I can’t count how many times I heard, “if you’d just try harder” or “pay attention.” And every time, I’d think, I am trying!. It felt like no one understood how hard I was actually working to keep up. I was putting in all my energy just to stay afloat, yet it never seemed enough. I often felt like I was somehow broken or not good enough, and those feelings stuck with me for years.

It wasn’t until my son’s diagnosis that I started to understood: I wasn’t lazy, stupid, or just “not trying hard enough.” My brain was just wired differently, working harder than anyone realized to keep up.

After my son’s diagnosis, I dove headfirst into all things ADHD, hyper-focusing on every bit of information I could find. I wanted to know everything there was to know!

Even now, these are still some of my absolute favourite ADHD resources:

Jessica McCabe’s book is a super easy read! You can open it to any page, read just a bit, and still walk away with something valuable. Perfect for busy (and easily distracted) brains!

Stimagz are my FAVOURITE fidget tool! They are a A high-quality magnetic stim toy designed to provide a balance of physical and cognitive stimulation. Watch this video to learn more about them! They're seriously a life saver, especially if you’re someone who tends to bite nails, pick at skin, or needs a little extra sensory focus throughout the day!

The Lightbulb Moment

So there I was, floored and wondering how everyone else had pieced together what I hadn’t seen in myself. But as I started reading up on ADHD, it was like reading a biography of my own brain. Difficulty staying organized? Check. Constantly distracted? Check. And then there was the part about hyper-focusing on things I love while everything else falls to the wayside... double check! That one day at the psychiatrist’s office opened up a whole new world of understanding!

What Exactly Is ADHD, Anyway?

For those who may not know, ADHD stands for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and it impacts how people manage focus, impulsivity, and sometimes activity levels. It doesn’t always look the way people expect. In kids, like my son, ADHD can look like high energy, curiosity, and a tendency to dive headfirst into everything. But in girls and adults, it can be more subtle, like a constant mental ping-pong game that makes even the smallest tasks a struggle.

There are three main types of ADHD:

1. Inattentive Type – The “Wait, What Was I Doing?” Type.

2. Hyperactive-Impulsive Type – The “Let's Do All The Things Right Now!” Type.

3. Combined Type – A delightful blend of both.

   
   

My diagnosis? Combined Type. Because why go halfway, right?

Did you know there were 3 types of ADHD?

• 0%Sure did!
• 0%I had no idea!

Why I Advocate for ADHD Assessments!

Getting an official diagnosis was actually a relief. All those times I thought I was just lazy or scatterbrained, it turns out there was a reason for it. I wasn’t just “quirky” or “super colourful”—I had ADHD. My brain didn’t want to do things the “normal” way, but it had its own strengths, too.

I’d always thought it was just me being me, but now I could understand myself better, and, most importantly, give myself a little grace.

For instance, I finally understood why I can dive so deeply into something I love (hello, 4-hour editing sessions!) while other tasks, like folding laundry, feel like climbing a mountain. And I also saw that ADHD isn’t all challenges; it comes with some perks, too, like creativity and hyper-focus when I’m really into something.

If you've ever felt like this, you're not alone! I'm only one email away if you ever want to pick my brain!

Krista xo