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ADHD was there all along – even if nobody noticed the signs

perfectionism and burnout

Maybe no one saw the signs when you were a child.

Maybe you didn’t either – not until the burnout hit, the wheels came off, and everything started to feel unmanageable with the school admin, your next big work deadline and the brain fog of perimenopause.

This episode is for the women who have spent years masking, pushing through, and wondering why life still feels so hard.

You got the grades.

You looked like you were coping.

You held it all together on the outside.

But inside?

You were overwhelmed. Overthinking. Hiding the chaos.

And no one ever called it ADHD.

In this episode, I talk about the fear so many women bring into ADHD assessments — the worry that it won’t “count” if nobody noticed it when you were a child.

We’ll explore:

  1. What childhood ADHD symptoms actually look like — especially in girls and high achievers

  2. Why ADHD often goes undiagnosed until adulthood

  3. The emotional rollercoaster of being “on it” one day and burnt out the next

  4. How masking makes it harder to recognise (even in yourself)

  5. Why it’s not too late — and you’re not too much

Because this isn’t about how well you performed.

It’s about how you felt.

And if the signs were there all along – you deserve to understand them now.

Book a call with Michaela to talk about ADHD assessment, therapy or coaching:

Michaela Thomas – ADHD Assessment clarity call | TidyCal

DM Michaela on Instagram with your questions: www.instagram.com/the_thomas_connection

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Michaela Thomas
Michaela Thomas

Senior Clinical Psychologist & CBT Psychotherapist

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