Discovering ADHD in my mid-40s.
My personal journey from rock bottom to hope.
My early years
Growing up in South Korea, where academic excellence is held in the highest regard, my childhood was a whirlwind of expectations and pressures. My parents, who were posted in Seoul for work, like many in the local culture, placed immense importance on academic success. I was constantly under scrutiny, pushed to perform, and expected to excel in every subject. The competition was fierce, and the stress was unrelenting.
As a child, I found it difficult to focus. My mind would wander during classes, and staying on task was a monumental challenge. But in our household, there was no room for excuses. Discipline was the mantra, and I learned to push through my struggles, masking my difficulties with sheer willpower and determination. Occassionally, my parents resorted to corporal punishment.
I recall one particular incident in primary school when we were preparing for the end-of-year exams. I was seated in my usual spot by the window, trying to concentrate on my math problems. Outside, I could hear the distant sounds of children playing in the summer rain, birds chirping, and life moving on.
My mind drifted to a thousand different places. Before I knew it, the teacher was standing beside me, looking at my nearly blank…
