Understanding Adult ADHD: What Every Late-Diagnosed Adult (and Their Loved Ones) Needs to Know

The Aha Moment That Changed Everything.

For most of my life, I had a running script in my head. One that told me I needed to try harder, be more disciplined, and just get it together. At school, I was lucky enough to be reasonable at sports. I loved music and ballet, and I was eager to please, wanting to do well academically. Socially, I had many lovely friends, but I remember feeling insecure, intimidated and at times, like I didn't really fit in. 

Throughout my adult years, I have been successful in so many ways, yet I constantly felt like I was running a race where everyone else had a head start.

Deadlines would sneak up on me, my to-do list seemed to keep growing a new tail, and despite my best intentions, I was often stuck in a cycle of procrastination and exhausted overwhelm. I chalked it up to personality flaws, perfectionism, or simply not being "a bit crap at life".

Then came my ADHD diagnosis.

It was a huge aha moment, like finally getting the missing page of an instruction manual I didn’t even know I needed. Everything suddenly made sense; the way my brain processed information, my struggles with time management, the intensity of my emotions, and even my ability to be brilliant in a crisis. As long as it's someone else's crisis and not my own!

Fast forward 4 years, and here I am today. Helping and supporting other late-diagnosed adults navigate their own ADHD discovery, whilst meeting so many incredible humans along the way. 

“How did I not know this sooner?” 

“Why has my whole life felt like one long battle with time, focus, and overwhelm?” 

“I’m successful in so many ways, so why do I still feel like I’m constantly behind?

If you’ve been diagnosed with ADHD later in life, these thoughts have likely crossed your mind. For many adults, their diagnosis brings both relief and frustration. Relief, because it finally explains the challenges they’ve faced for years. Frustration, because no one recognised it sooner.

ADHD in adulthood is misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and often masked by coping mechanisms that work, until they don’t. It’s why many high-achieving executives, parents, and business owners find themselves hitting a wall in their 30s, 40s, and beyond.

But here’s the good news: Understanding ADHD is the first step toward working with your brain rather than against it.

That’s exactly why Julie Legg (ADHD advocate, author of The Missing Piece) and I are hosting a live webinar for late-diagnosed adults in Australia and New Zealand.

Why ADHD in Adults Looks Different Than You Expect

For decades, ADHD was seen as something that only affected hyperactive little boys, the kids who couldn’t sit still, talked too much, and disrupted the classroom.

But ADHD doesn’t disappear in adulthood. It just shows up differently: 

Chronic procrastination: starting tasks at the last minute, no matter how important they are. 

Time blindness: underestimating how long things take or missing deadlines completely. 

Mental clutter: a constant stream of thoughts, making it hard to focus on one thing. 

Emotional dysregulation: intense reactions, rejection sensitivity, or feeling overwhelmed. 

Masking & burnout: overcompensating with systems, structure, or sheer willpower… until it’s unsustainable.

For many late-diagnosed women, ADHD was hidden under years of perfectionism, anxiety, or being labelled as “too sensitive” or “disorganised.”

For men, it often presents as career struggles, impulsivity, or difficulty with emotional regulation.

Understanding how ADHD uniquely affects adults is a game-changer, because once you recognise the why, you can start implementing strategies that actually work.

Join Us for an Eye-Opening Webinar on Adult ADHD

🔹Understanding Adult ADHD: Your Journey Starts Here 📅 Wednesday, 12 February 2025 (NZT) | Thursday, 13 February 2025 (AEDT) 📍 Online (Zoom)

👥 Who should attend?

• Adults (35+) who are late-diagnosed or suspect they have ADHD.
• Partners, family members, or friends of someone with ADHD.
• Anyone who wants to better understand ADHD in adulthood.

🚀 Hosted by: ✨ Caroline Beresford – ADHD & Executive Function Coach, Founder of The Addvocacy Project (TAP) ✨ Julie Legg – Author of The Missing Piece, Co-host of The ADHDifference Podcast

🔗 Register Here – Limited Spots Available! 

We hope to see you there! 🚀

Warmly,

PS: The webinars were a huge success. You can download the webinar recording to watch and listen to now.