Student me didn’t like to draw attention to herself. 😆 The search for stimulation & dopamine-increasing behaviour is evident! I was a walking oxymoron. SO worried what people thought of me yet behaving in the opposite way. 

👩‍🏫 At uni, I felt a sense of freedom. I was doing what I always wanted to do - teaching, moved out & experienced student life! I was ALWAYS on the go. If not studying, working my job and when I wasn’t there.. I’m sure you can see my priorities. I didn’t know how to relax. I wasn’t able to.

🎉 I met some of my best friends at uni & started to feel like myself. But behind the mask, I had constant social anxiety and a fear of rejection.
As soon as I got my own place I was queen of the house parties and loved to arrange events. I have NO IDEA why. The thrill of the arranging maybe? But when it came to it, it never lived up to my unrealistic expectations.
Actually, here’s a public apology to my poor friends that were subject to the most stupid games & my over the top party planning! 😂 You never let me down; I know I was annoying!

🍺 Binge drinking was a problem; I never knew my limits! I know now that part of the reason for this is that I get overwhelmed and overstimulated in social settings. It was a coping mechanism. I rarely drink now and if I do, you’ll know about it because I’ll no doubt be doing the splits. There’s no in between. I’m working on it. 😬

🔥 I regularly burnt out and never learned my lesson. Thankfully I did well at uni because I was interested in my degree but I CONSTANTLY left assignments to the last min and struggled with time management. 🕰️ 

✈️ Any type of thrill and I was there! I took the opportunity to study in Sweden and Holland. I went with a friend of mine, Emma and let’s just say we definitely influenced each other. 😂 We totally clicked! Last year, we were both diagnosed with ADHD weeks apart!!

I loved my student days however I can’t help but think having my diagnosis sooner would have offered me reassurance & enabled me to identify/manage my struggles 🧡