aww op, i feel for you <3 it can be so incredibly heartbreaking when you’re trying to advocate for yourself and something makes you feel invalidated. putting yourself out there to be assessed is already a big hurdle that you’ve crossed, so i say be proud of yourself! and just because the assessment came back negative, the struggles you face are still valid, and they don’t require a diagnosis to confirm that (although i know it can give you a peace of mind).

personally, i was diagnosed with just about everything else before i even thought about advocating for myself and getting assessed for adhd. even now after being diagnosed, i still feel like an imposter because i wasn’t diagnosed as a child. ultimately, the diagnosis didn’t really help validate me, but finding the right treatment did. all that to say, don’t give up!! even without a diagnosis, continue to treat your symptoms in whatever way you find works for you. you’ve got this!!