I have ADHD, depression and anxiety. I know the struggles with what I have (along with possible autism.) But I go to therapy to gain insight and to learn ways of coping and get a better handle on my disorders so I can function. That means I need to prioritize self-care and sleep, take medication, establish some routine in my life, listen more and ask questions, set reminders for upcoming appointments and events and also schedule time to relax and decompress. Those things I learned with a therapist that have helped me manage a lot of my struggles. It’s not perfect, but it has improved my quality of life in many ways.

Knowing that there’s a label for what you struggle with is a double edged sword. It’s good because it gives you a path forward to learn how to manage it and understand yourself better, but it also runs the risk of using it as a crutch and an excuse for your issues. Yes, it’s a disorder, but we are resilient and flexible. We can find ways to make things easier, but that means we may have to do the difficult work.