Long-Time Listener, First-Time Poster

[Rat Fink]

I've been listening to the podcast for a long time. My first was around episode 50, and before long I'd back-listened to episode 1. It was fun to hear Paul get slightly more awkward with each episode as I went backward. Every single episode had at least one take-away point that's helped me.

I feel cheated. I wasn't diagnosed with ADHD (inattentive) until age 40. Looking back, it's certainly screwed up my life. I've always been interested in the things I'm least suited for, like science and engineering. Even though my friends told me I was "smart", I barely made it through high school, then struggled and eventually failed in college. Knowing that I wasn't stupid or lazy, I blamed the world, starting with the seemingly indifferent and heartless teachers.

I've gone back and gotten that engineering degree, at great time and expense. Graduation was a bittersweet victory as all I could think was all the years I'd wasted to get there, and how I was decades older than my fellow graduates.

Now I'm married and raising a child with ADHD. Thank God they were born in a time and place where they could get help with it.

It's a struggle to fight off the bitterness of past failures, to keep it from polluting my kid. At times it's embarrassing to admit such a first-world problem, especially since I make a good living (when I can keep a job! Don't get me started on that).

Anyhow, enough about me.

[manuel_moe_g]

Hello Rat Fink, welcome to our little forum! Make yourself at home in the threads and topics here.

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I know the bitterness of getting a diagnosis and cure late in life. I dream of going through high-school and college with the tools and knowledge that I have now. I remind myself that my struggles have softened me and given me compassion for others, which is important.

Please take care, all the best, keep the lines of communication open, we here are cheering for you and for your greatest today and tomorrow!