The Brain Charity

“I was very hyperactive, always distracted, always getting into trouble. But it was never seen as anything other than me being naughty.” 

From an early age, teachers struggled to manage his behaviour in the classroom. Instead of support, he often received punishment or isolation. 

“They’d move me away from everyone, put me in the corner, make me face the wall. My card was basically marked every year.” 

At home, the message was similar. His mum, as he describes it, came from a more traditional perspective. 

“She’s caring, but quite old school. It was more like ‘stop doing that’ rather than understanding why I was doing it.” 

Looking back, Ryan now recognises many of those behaviours as early signs of ADHD, but at the time, there was no framework for understanding them. 

School struggles and being labelled 

As Ryan moved through school, the challenges persisted. Despite repeatedly trying to improve his behaviour, he found himself falling back into the same patterns, something he now recognises as a symptom of ADHD rather than a lack of effort or discipline.

He often felt understimulated in lessons, even in subjects he enjoyed, making it difficult to stay focused and engaged. By the time he reached GCSEs and A-levels, the impact was becoming increasingly apparent. While other students were granted study leave, Ryan was required to remain in school and work independently, an experience that reinforced his feeling of being treated differently.

“You start every year with a label already on you. That follows you everywhere.”

Looking back, he believes the assumptions made about his behaviour often overshadowed the underlying reasons behind it, making it harder to access the understanding and support he needed.

The moment ADHD was first suggested 

The turning point came later than Ryan expected. 

At university, a seminar tutor was the first person to directly suggest ADHD might be the reason behind his struggles. 

“It wasn’t me thinking it. It was someone else saying, ‘I don’t think you’re doing this on purpose. I think you might have ADHD.’” 

That moment stayed with him. Not long after, he went through a formal NHS assessment, which confirmed the diagnosis at age 21. 

The diagnosis process itself, he says, was intense but validating. 

“It’s quite a rigorous process. Lots of assessments, lots of written feedback from family and people close to you. It made me realise how I’d been seen. Not as a bad kid, but as someone who was struggling and didn’t know why.” 

Medication, resistance, and finding what works 

At first, Ryan was reluctant to try medication because he worried it would change his personality and alter who he was. As a result, he chose not to pursue medication for several years after his diagnosis.

It wasn’t until the increasing demands of work in adulthood began to feel overwhelming that he reconsidered. By late 2024, he felt he was struggling to keep up with everything and decided to explore treatment options.

The process wasn’t straightforward. Ryan initially tried several medications but experienced side effects, including increased anxiety, which made it difficult to continue with them.

Eventually, he found a medication that worked well for him, something he describes as a significant turning point in managing his ADHD.

“When it kicks in, I can do in a few hours what used to take me all day.”

Rather than changing his personality, Ryan says the medication has helped him manage the more challenging aspects of ADHD and cope more effectively with everyday responsibilities.

Coping strategies that actually work 

Alongside medication, Ryan has built his own systems to manage day-to-day life. 

One of the simplest has been the most important. 

“I’ve had a checklist in my phone since 2018. Every day.” 

What started as basic reminders has become a core part of how he functions. 

“Brush teeth, shower, simple things at first. Now it’s more detailed, but I still use it every single day.” 

Without it, he says, things quickly fall apart. 

“If I don’t write it down, I forget. That’s just how my brain works.” 

He describes it as something grounding that keeps his day structured. 

Work, support, and practical understanding 

Ryan works in client services within digital marketing, a role he enjoys because of its fast pace, variety, and constant challenges. While the demands of the job can be intense, he finds that the dynamic nature of the work suits the way his mind operates.

He credits much of his success to working in an environment that offers flexibility and understanding. Rather than formal mental health support, it is the small adjustments that make the biggest difference, such as being able to step away from his desk, take a short walk, or reset when he begins to feel overwhelmed.

This level of understanding has allowed him to manage his ADHD more effectively and work in a way that plays to his strengths. Reflecting on his time at university, Ryan recalls having access to similar accommodations but admits he rarely made use of them because he felt self-conscious.

Looking back, he recognises how valuable those adjustments could have been.

“I didn’t always take advantage of it then, but it would have helped more if I had.”

Reframing ADHD as a strength 

For Ryan, ADHD is no longer just something to manage, it’s also something he values. 

“I’m always in a good mood. Always on the go. Always positive.” 

He describes this energy as a key part of who he is both professionally and socially. In his work, it helps him stay positive and engaged, even during busy or high-pressure periods, while in his personal life it contributes to his enthusiasm and outgoing nature.

Rather than viewing ADHD solely as a challenge, Ryan believes it has strengths as well as difficulties. He credits it with giving him a strong sense of drive, energy, and passion, qualities that have helped shape both his career and relationships.

“It’s not all negative. There’s drive, energy, and passion. That’s all part of it.”

At the same time, he’s honest about the challenges. 

“I can still get overstimulated. I can still talk too much or go too fast. But I understand it now.” 

Raising awareness in his own way 

Ryan is reluctant to position himself as an ambassador or spokesperson for ADHD, but he is passionate about helping others who may be going through similar experiences. Through volunteering with ADHD and autism support groups, he offers encouragement and a listening ear to people who are struggling to make sense of their diagnosis or challenges.

He hopes to continue expanding that support in the future, believing that even small acts of understanding can make a meaningful difference to someone’s life.

For Ryan, raising awareness is less about campaigning and more about helping people see ADHD in a balanced and realistic way. He believes greater understanding can reduce stigma and help people recognise that ADHD is not something to be ashamed of.

“It’s not something wrong with you. It’s something you learn to understand and work with.”

A message to others 

Looking back, Ryan believes that greater awareness and understanding of ADHD during his school years could have significantly changed his experience. With the benefit of hindsight, he can see how many of the challenges he faced were linked to a condition that was largely unrecognised at the time.

At the same time, he is careful not to view ADHD solely through the lens of difficulty. While he acknowledges the obstacles it has created, he also recognises the role it has played in shaping his character, outlook, and personality.

“It shaped me. A lot of my personality comes from it. I wouldn’t change everything.”

His message now is simple. 

“You’re not strange. You’re not broken. You just need to understand how your brain works, and find what helps you function at your best.”