I spent so many years trying to “fix” myself before I was diagnosed with ADHD.
I wrote a letter to my undiagnosed younger self. To the girl who put the salt in the fridge and never felt safe enough to come out of hiding.
If you were diagnosed later in life as well, this one’s for you.
Posts by Elizabeth Lord
Hey ADHD Brain! There are 49 more days left in 2025. There are so many messages out there about squeezing every productive ounce out of these last few days to finish the year strong.
What if you didn’t? What if instead you focused on maximizing joy?
Hey ADHD brain! Ever been told to use a planner? Yeah me too! Here’s some other terrible advice too! Along with what actually works.
The inattentive traits of ADHD are strong with my ADHD brain! Here’s what happened when these came out while ordering breakfast.
Hey ADHD Brain! Ever felt sad or mad over the fact that you just didn’t have the capacity to get much done? This one’s for you.
Ah… bummer! for me it would have been time and PATIENCE!!
ADHD: There's ALWAYS time for LEGO!!!!
Hey ADHD Brain! Does perfectionism take over your weekends, too? The pressure to figure out the perfect activity to recharge so you’re ready for the week ahead? This challenge might help!
Hey ADHD brain! Those endless to-dos got you wishing you weren’t an adult anymore?! Same! Here’s what I did to make them easier.
Hey ADHD brain! What if the victory isn’t about finishing the race, but about the lessons you learned and the person you became along the way? Read this for the story.
Hey ADHD Brain! Are you stuck? Worried you'll make the wrong move? Maybe the best advice I have ever received will help you too.
Hey ADHD brain, do you ever feel crushed by the pressure to be productive?
For years, I thought the key was finding the perfect app. I tried dozens of them. I got rid of most of them. But in the end, I deleted something else that was far more powerful.
Ever feel like you’re stuck watching an unwanted movie of your own failures? Last week, my ADHD brain felt the same. This is the letter I wrote about what I did to finally walk out of the theater.
Hey ADHD brain! You need to hear this.
Your worth is not measured by your productivity.
It’s one of the biggest lies that we internalize.
We typically have big goals as ADHDers. We expect a lot of ourselves.
You are worthy whether you completed your to-do list or not. The two are unrelated.
Life with ADHD is hard sometimes.
It’s not cheating to make life easier. You don’t get bonus points for how much you struggle.
If you can find something, anything that makes your life even 10% easier, that’s more energy for the things that actually matter to you.
Our culture is stuck in hustle mode.
We’re constantly being fed messages: Be a morning person! Push through! Do more!
ADHD brains already struggle with inconsistent energy patterns. The “just try harder” mentality isn’t just unhelpful, it’s actively harmful.
My ADHD brain LOVES black and white thinking. If I can't do it the "right way" my brain doesn't see any other options. If you're stuck in the same pattern, you're not alone. Read this!
Hey ADHD brain! Do you wear a mask all day long? It’s exhausting isn’t it. Here are 5 tips to start feeling like yourself again.
If your ADHD brain no longer wants to finish the thing, that’s not a lack of willpower.
You are not lazy.
Try making it a little more interesting to your brain.
I wore a mask for so many years. I tried desperately to compensate for my ADHD traits. At the time I didn’t know that I had ADHD. Knowing helped a lot along with the things I talk about in my latest letter.
if you wear a mask too, this one’s for you.
When I say, I’ll remember. I will forget. Now, I put it in the calendar, set a reminder, make a visual cue. I do not rely on my brain to remember.
I used to get annoyed that I couldn’t remember simple things. Now I just view it as a sign that my ADHD brain needs a bit more support in that area.
ADHD is exhausting when you spend your energy pretending to be "normal".
I wore a mask for decades. I faked it. I appeared organized, like I was holding it together. But I was falling apart inside.
Unmasking isn't instant or easy.
If you've ever felt like you're "too much", this is for you.
Why is cooking so hard?
Not the fancy kind, the just getting dinner on the table kind!
This week’s letter is about ADHD, executive function, and what really goes into making a meal.
It’s not you. It’s the 47 hidden steps!
Ever forgotten to return something… for months?
Same.
This week’s letter is for every ADHD brain that’s lost money to missed returns, ignored reminders, and car trunks full of packages.
(Plus, I rated all my reminder systems. Spoiler: “just remembering” scored a 1/10.)
Maybe that sock in the hallway isn’t a sign of failure.
Maybe it’s just evidence that you live here.
I hear you! It’s such a strange shift to realize how high we’ve been setting the bar all along. Thanks for sharing your story.