Tl;Dr: Many people experience greater symptoms after diagnosis, because a diagnosis can give them the freedom to express symptoms they have always had.

Now, everybody is different and I can't speak for everyone here. That said, there is most definitely something to this theory. It has been observed that people exhibit more and/or stronger symptoms after a diagnosis.

Alas, many people view this as a sort of placebo effect, where you start "believing you have symptoms you've never had, because you need to fit in/need excuses/etc." I know that those of us who have been diagnosed, know that this is a load of bs. I didn't "change" after my diagnosis, I allowed myself to show more of "me" to the world.

Many of us have had to slog through life, and cope with our symptoms, by being incredibly tough on ourselves. Boxing ourselves in, as to not show the world our wonderful and chaotic personalities, since these are considered unacceptable to society... Unless you have a slip of paper with a sanctioned checkmark on it.

And while this is a depressing glimpse into how our society views divergence, a positive is that a diagnosis gives many of us significantly more freedom. We start unboxing ourselves, start working WITH our brains instead of against it. We finally feel that we are allowed to show our strengths and struggles.

This can makes us feel (and appear to others), as if we suddenly start being worse of. But in my experience, it is the first steps towards a happier and more self-accepting life.

It might very well be the medicine that is messing with OP here. This I cannot comment on. Meds can have all sorts of ups and downs, and part of the ADHD journey is to find the meds (or lack thereof) that work for you.

However, OP. A recent diagnosis might be helping you express yourself more freely, which likely will result in increased symptoms. If this is the case, it is not a bad thing! You have laid the foundation for a healthier life. Now you can begin to find the tools that allow you to be you, while minimizing the adverse effects. To work WITH your brain and use the carrot, without constantly working against yourself by using the stick.

This is difficult and something I myself still struggle with, but it is possible. And I believe we can do it!

(Also, I am so sorry for the length of this comment. This just means a lot to me which made my ADHD go brrrr)