BLOG 1 - Why My Psychologist Missed My ADHD
“My Psychologist Didn’t Believe Me — And Here’s Why That Happened (So You Can Do It Differently)”
I’ll never forget sitting across from that first psychologist, trying to explain how hard everything felt.
I talked about how overwhelmed I was. How guilty I felt for not being able to “just do things.” How lazy and broken I must be to keep dropping the ball.
She listened kindly. Then she smiled and said,
“It sounds like you’re just a bit anxious. Maybe try some mindfulness and breathing exercises.”
And just like that, I went home feeling small, confused, and ashamed — because I knew something wasn’t right, but apparently, I just needed to “breathe more.”
Looking back now, I know exactly why she didn’t believe me.
1. I was masking like hell.
I didn’t want her — or anyone, even myself — to see how much I was internally struggling.
Because if I let the façade down, would I be able to put it back up? Or would I just fall to pieces?
So I smiled, joked, made eye contact, and held it together just long enough for her to think,
“She’s functioning fine.”
But that’s the thing about masking — it hides the truth from everyone, including the people who are supposed to help us.
2. I talked about how I felt — not what was happening.
I told her I was overwhelmed, guilty, lazy, ashamed, nervous… all the feelings.
But I didn’t give her anything tangible to measure.
I didn’t say, “I’ve been late to work five times this month.”
I didn’t say, “I’ve got seven half-finished projects sitting on my laptop.”
I didn’t say, “I forget to eat until I’m dizzy and shaking.”
And without that kind of concrete evidence, all she heard were emotions — not symptoms.
So she gave me mindfulness and breathing exercises.
(You can imagine how well that went down for someone with ADHD.)
3. I didn’t show her any proof.
I couldn’t show her how ADHD showed up in my day-to-day life — how often it happened, how much it affected me, or how intensely I felt it.
I was relying on my memory (which, let’s be real, is already shaky) and hoping I’d remember the right examples in the moment.
Spoiler: I didn’t.
And because I couldn’t prove it, she couldn’t see it.
Want to listen to my whole diagnosis story?
So here’s what you’re going to do differently.
You’re going to stop walking into appointments empty-handed.
You’re going to track your real-life examples, write down what’s actually happening, and turn your lived experience into proof that no one can ignore.
Start by writing things down as they happen — not how you feel, but what you do.
Example:
“Missed two calls because I zoned out scrolling.”
“Forgot to eat until 4pm and felt shaky and dizzy.”
“Started a new project and hyperfocused for 8 hours straight.”
Then note down how often it happens, how big of an impact it has, and how intense it feels.
That’s your data. That’s your evidence.
And if you don’t want to figure it all out from scratch…
That’s exactly why I created The Proof Portfolio.
It’s everything I wish I’d had back then — a guided, fillable system that helps you collect, organise, and explain your experiences in a way professionals understand.
You’ll get:
✨ 22 symptom scorecards with examples
🧠 Clinically recognised questionnaires (RAADS-R, DIVA-5, ASRS)
🎨 Colour Your Spectrum chart to map your traits visually
🪞 Reflection prompts to help you find the right words
💖 Calm-your-nerves toolkit for before your appointment
It’s not just a workbook — it’s a bridge between your lived experience and professional understanding.
So when the questions come, you’ll already have the answers.
And when your brain freezes, your proof will speak for you.
👉 Grab your copy of the Proof Portfolio and walk into your diagnosis feeling prepared, grounded, and ready to be believed.
