I Have ADHD Podcast 381 BITESIZE | Grieving the Life You Could Have Had (Late-Diagnosed ADHD)
Feb 26, 2026
A newly diagnosed 46-year-old reflects on missed opportunities and long-held regret. The conversation validates grief tied to late diagnosis and lists common life losses. Practical ways to honor grief are suggested, from crying to movement. Grief is framed as a pathway to repair relationships and do the deep work needed to move forward.
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Late Diagnosis Changed Dana's View Of Her Past
- Dana is a 46-year-old who received a recent ADHD diagnosis and began medication, which she calls a game changer.
- She expresses recurring regret about missed opportunities and mistakes she believes medication earlier would have prevented.
Regret Keeps You Stuck In The Past
- Kristen highlights that living tethered to past regret keeps you from becoming a different person in the future.
- She frames repeated rumination as a ball and chain that prevents forward movement and change.
Use Grief To Release Regret
- Grieve the losses caused by undiagnosed ADHD to release regret and move forward.
- Kristen advises naming those losses and allowing strong emotions like crying or rage walks to process the grief.