As a schoolboy, David Powell struggled with a short temper, had difficulty concentrating and lacked organisational skills. These problems would only continue into his adulthood – leading to long bouts of unemployment and failed relationships.
But a message from an online stranger in 2002 would change his life forever. The then 40-year-old was browsing an online classic cars forum when he was contacted by another user. The person asked if he had ADHD.
“My behaviour was very unreasonable,” he said. I was being impatient, not processing information and jumping to conclusions. I caused utter mayhem on the forum – grabbing the wrong end of every stick, getting into pointless arguments and exploding all over the place.”
READ MORE:
“I contacted my GP but, in those days, it was completely unrefined. It was before the NHS accepted ADHD in adults. They had nothing in line of signposting.
“I was sent to a consultant psychiatrist and they said they knew nothing about it. It was a complete waste of everyone’s time.”
David, who is now 60, eventually turned to a private clinic in a desperate bid for a diagnosis. It took four long years to get the answer he already knew deep down – he had adult ADHD.
“I call it my day of rebirth: June the 30th, 2006,” he continued. I drove over to Sheffield 100 per cent sure I had ADHD. I knew I hadn’t really been 100 per cent sure, because I was 100 per cent sure on the way home.”
Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health disorder that includes a combination of persistent problems, such as difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behaviour.
Later in life, it can lead to unstable relationships, poor work or school performance, low self-esteem and other problems. Though it's called adult ADHD, symptoms start in early childhood and continue into adulthood. In some cases, ADHD is not recognized or diagnosed until the person is an adult.
Throughout his childhood, David, who lives in Ashton-under-Lyne, struggled at school and was unable to concentrate or hand homework in on time. “I found a box of all my old school reports and they all basically say 'ADHD,’” David continued.
“In the 70s, the term hadn’t even been invented. It was a pattern of: ‘If only he would concentrate, he would achieve great things’, ‘never hands homework in on time’ and ‘lack of organisation’.
“I’m 60 now and I have a lifetime’s worth of baggage – baggage of never-achieved potential. It was normal for my peer group at school to become doctors, lawyers and senior positions in management.
“I’ve never been promoted out of a junior position in my life, ever. I’ve had long periods of depression because I was so frustrated with myself. I’ve had long periods of unemployment which makes you even more unemployable.
“My relationships, because of my explosive nature, have been very short-lived. I’ve never been married and I don’t have any kids. It’s been a long, lonely road with not a lot of money and a lot of disappointment. That in itself has a knock-on effect.”
David now takes medication to help with his ADHD symptoms. Though he has suffered some side effects, he believes the pros far outweigh the cons.
“I’m a big fan,” he continued. “I’m much more together. My thought process is a lot clearer, my control over my emotions is a lot stronger so I’m nowhere near as explosive.
“It’s like adding an extra layer of skin so I have thicker skin, or an extra tenth of a second of thinking time when you reply to someone so you don’t say anything stupid.
“Once you’ve got to a decent level of medication, it’s like walking from a TV show where every single TV is on in my head to an empty cathedral where the silence is tangible and you can hear yourself think. You only have one thought at a time instead of them all in a ball.”
David is now an ADHD advocate for mADDchester, a support group for those with ADHD. The group is based in Manchester and they regularly hold meet-ups across the region.
Anyone can attend, especially the undiagnosed who may be looking for answers and advice from those with experience. For more information, visit www.maddchester.com .
Read next:
- Mum-of-three's anger after council tells her to leave home with two days notice
'Another day another shambles'... Reports of more long queues at Manchester Airport this morning
Warning that UK could be on the brink of new Covid wave with virus becoming 'more dangerous'
Manchester City Centre Castlefield Viaduct transformed into 'sky park' and set to open next month
Man who sold illegal boxes showing Sky and BT Sport flees to Cyprus to avoid justice
