Pretty sure it’s not your husband!

Sometimes on the journey of raising a child with neurodiversity you start to question whether you or your spouse may also be neurodivergent. As I sat in appointment after appointment with my son learning about ADHD and the way the brain works I suddenly had the thought ‘I wonder if I have ADHD?’.

For as long as I could remember I had repetitive patterns of workaholism that led to burnout, through high school, university and then throughout my working life. I had behaviours that were strange where I would forget things, get overwhelmed easily, act before thinking and interrupt people mid conversation. I also had a ridiculously massive capacity and ability to hyper focus. Up until this point these very things caused me an immense amount of shame and condemnation.

Suddenly I realised there was a reason for my constant need for dopamine, for my inability to rest, for my inability to cope with boredom - just like my son!

I was in an appointment with my son’s psychiatrist and I told him of my new discovery and he said with a big smile, '“well it’s probably you or your husband and I’m sure it’s not your husband.” It was almost a relief for him because my understanding of my differences would greatly help our journey.

Amy Jorgensen