Why It's Important to Share Your Story with Others

When I was a little girl my parents found me standing in my bedroom crying uncontrollably. They were alarmed. It wasn’t your normal, ‘I’m hungry or tired’ kind of cry. It was hysterical.

They couldn’t understand why I was so upset. I know, because my mom has relayed this story to me many times.

As it would happen, I’d have many episodes like this throughout my life. Moments where no amount of reassurance or pats on the back could calm my restless cries.

I thought these episodes were a normal part of growing up. That it was normal to wake up in the morning with a tightness in my chest, with dread resting deeply in the pit of my stomach, the constant worrying and overthinking. I didn’t have the language to describe what these feelings were, so I endured them without saying a word.

I struggled in school to pay attention, study for tests and exams, and take my schoolwork seriously. I got by with Bs, Cs, and Ds and did what I could to get into a 4-year college. I presented well enough that no one considered there was anything wrong. I was simply perceived as disinterested in my studies. But school was truly difficult for me, and I always felt ashamed by that.

What I really wanted was to be an A+ student. The person who finished their exams with flying colors, who raised their hand and got the question right on the first try.

Instead, I was the outspoken one, the one who talked too much and wasn’t 'smart' enough to make honor roll like her friends did.

I let these painful grade school experiences crush my self-confidence and keep me stuck in the same story of, “I’m not good enough, smart enough or quick enough.”

As a result, I partied and binged drank my way through my early twenties as a means of dealing with the inadequacies I felt deep within. Although I appeared like a ‘normal’ functioning college student, I was struggling to finish assignments and operate at the level I so desperately wanted to.

Years later, as I was scrolling on TikTok I stumbled upon #adhdtiktok. I devoured every video that showed people sharing their experiences around ADHD. I called my mom and said, “It all makes sense."

I knew I had to get tested; so I went to my general practitioner, got a referral, and made an appointment with a neuropsychologist in Boston.

The test was a long, grueling three hours of questions that instantly brought me back to grade school.

Sure enough, my neuropsychologist diagnosed me with ADHD (combined presentation) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. While the ADHD didn’t come as a total shock, the anxiety disorder did.

Receiving these answers felt clarifying, reassuring, and was the missing puzzle piece I had been searching for my entire life.

(It also makes sense why alcohol was so detrimental to my mental health, as it heightened the anxiety I was experiencing).

Now I finally have answers and language to describe what I’ve been experiencing and can make informed decisions that support the life I've been working to create.

Without finding those videos on TikTok, I never would've known the truth. I might’ve never found the clarity I so desperately needed as a young person.

How powerful it is to speak up, to talk about the things that are difficult for us, to be courageous and vulnerable enough so that we may serve others through sharing our own stories.

If you’re reading this and nodding your head in agreement, I encourage you to share your story. Someone like me may need to hear it and you never know who you might be helping.

And if you need help, I invite you to put your name on the waitlist for my Thought Leadership Circle. A mastermind that will give you personalized feedback on your posts so you can master the art of content creation and never feel stumped on what to say again.

P.S. If you also struggle with anxiety and are 'sober-curious' like I am, try Ritual Zero Proof - Sometimes the ritual of making a drink is even better than the ‘real’ thing. It’s been a great addition to my alcohol-free life, I think you’ll enjoy it just as much as I do (use code 'annav' for 20% off).