If I’m honest, I’ve always felt like I approached things differently. I’ve always had big ideas, adapted to challenges in ways that others didn’t, and pushed boundaries where other people might hesitate. Looking back, it all makes sense now, but for years, I just thought I was wired differently—never realising that ADHD was the reason behind it all.
Before My Diagnosis: The Breaking Point
Before my diagnosis, I was reaching burnout. I had three children under ten, my husband was travelling internationally for work a lot, and I was running activ Marketing remotely. I have always loved work, but things began to dip in all elements of my life. As I was spread more and more thinly, it became harder to keep the mask on at all times.
A turning point came one day when I found myself sitting on the floor of my office in my house, crying my eyes out over a printer that wouldn’t work.
My husband was abroad, one of my kids was ill at home from school, and I had just reached breaking point. The demands of life—both in work and at home—had got too much.
My head was a fuzz, and I couldn’t get done what I needed to make sure everyone that depended on me was okay. My employees, my kids, my friends, my family. Let alone my own mental health and wellbeing.
Now, of course, it wasn’t about the printer. I had just pushed myself too far—masking, working all hours to catch up from the downtime I had to give myself, feeling guilty that I wasn’t being the best mum I could be to my three children, the best wife I could be, or the best business leader.
At that point, the stars aligned, and my mum happened to turn up at my house. She hadn’t seen how deep into burnout I had got. I remember she just said to me: “Katie, just go private and get a diagnosis.”
So I did.
Getting My ADHD Diagnosis
I went online to the ADHD Centre, booked an online assessment, and had it within 30 minutes.
I cried for the whole two-hour assessment and got my diagnosis a week later once all the supporting evidence from my husband and school reports had been gathered.
When I got my diagnosis over Zoom with my consultant, I completely broke down. But this time, I was happy—everything finally made sense.
I knew why I was creative, why I could think about things in a way that others didn’t, and why I pushed boundaries and never took no for an answer. I knew why I believed in myself, why I couldn’t stand injustice or inauthentic people.
I now knew why I felt emotions deeply and why I could read people so quickly.
I also knew why I’d get social burnout, why I relived conversations in my head for fear I’d said the wrong thing, and why I’d always found it hard to remember everything.
It was totally liberating.
I started medication four weeks later, and I have not looked back.
How ADHD Has Shaped My Entrepreneurial Journey
It’s made me think big, it’s made me ambitious, and it’s made me not afraid to push boundaries, make an impact, and disrupt things.
Since my diagnosis, the impact on my business has been immeasurable. I have a focus and clarity to my driven approach.
I can clearly build the business in a way that is strategic and effectively execute my ideas in a measured and controlled way.
Since my diagnosis, we have moved into offices, my team has grown, the business is thriving, we have seen growth, we’ve been shortlisted for awards, been noticed by the industry, and continue to excel. We’re smashing the business plan. I’ve even met Steven flipping Bartlett!
Don’t get me wrong, I still have days where I know I am struggling, but I know how to deal with it. I can take that step back and make things better.
What I Have Learned
Through this journey, I’ve learned some powerful lessons. If you’re navigating ADHD or just feeling like you’re wired a little differently, I hope these insights help!
1. Self-Awareness is Everything
Once I understood my brain, I was able to work with it, not against it. I stopped forcing myself into traditional structures that didn’t suit me and built a way of working that played to my strengths.
2. You Don’t Have to Do Everything Alone
I spent so long thinking I had to keep up with everyone else, but the truth is, asking for help and delegating made me a better leader, a better mother, and a better person.
3. Your Differences Are Your Superpower
For years, I thought I was maybe not good enough to shoot for my dreams – and this limited the growth of the business. Now, I realise that my way is just different—and that difference has been the absolute key to my success. Thinking outside the box, challenging norms, and seeing the world in a unique way is what sets entrepreneurs apart.
My Only Regret
My only regret is that I didn’t know what ADHD was earlier in life. It may have saved some major heartaches in my teens and twenties, led to improved relationships with certain people, and maybe I’d have made multi-millions by now (jokes!). But I truly believe life is a journey and we are all on the path that has been chosen for us, and I wouldn’t be the me I am today.
I would say to anyone who thinks they may have ADHD to have an assessment.
You’re not just ‘jumping on the bandwagon’—it’s a real thing that can massively impact everyday life and, if not addressed, affect relationships, mental health, and life overall.
So here I am at 40, embracing my ADHD, running a thriving business, and showing up as my authentic self every day. And honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.
If you are struggling and you want to chat, drop me a message over on Instagram. Always happy to help!
