u/Correct-Hyena4743

Does anyone else diagnosed late as an adult (I’m 42) feel the urge to overshare and tell everyone? Like I’m treated now with stimulants and it’s just so wild that my brain hasn’t ever worked like this before and ADHD just explains everything about me and my struggles?? It’s such a bizarre feeling to realize that having 3 songs in your head, a TV screen of ideas with a busted remote control changing channels every 30 seconds is not the experience of most people. And now that I’m in this cool place of self discovery it’s like - I gotta share it!

Feels good to share my story, so here goes.
I’m 42. By most measures, I have a successful life: a career I love, a good marriage, and two kids. I’m a pediatrician.
For years, coworkers suggested I might have ADHD. I brushed it off, but looking back, the signs were everywhere. I constantly forget simple things like signing orders, lose my pen almost daily, and struggle to stay engaged in conversations unless they’re directly relevant. I can focus well with patients—until the room gets chaotic—but it comes at a cost. By lunch I’m exhausted. Complex cases leave me drained, and after clinic I have nothing left. At home I struggle to listen, connect with my wife, or enjoy hobbies. I become irritable when plans change. I quit alcohol recently, and in hindsight I wonder how much I was using it to squeeze out some enjoyment after mentally exhausting days.
Looking back, childhood and school make much more sense. My preschool teachers worried because I spent entire days building with Legos instead of playing with other kids. In school I read the textbook during class and finished assignments while the teacher lectured, so I rarely had homework. College taught me I needed extreme quiet to study, but procrastination was constant unless I was deeply interested. In medical school I skipped lectures because every side conversation pulled my attention away. Watching recordings at 2× speed worked far better, and my grades improved dramatically.
I’ve always considered myself introverted and disliked small talk. Anxiety has been a constant companion, especially during new rotations. I rely on structure and still preview my clinic schedule each day. I fidget constantly, though most of it feels internal. There’s always a song in my head, multiple thoughts competing, and ideas that seem random to others but make perfect sense to me.
Eventually I brought these concerns to my PCP, who suggested a stimulant trial. (Continued in comments…)