ADHD and ME by Mark Williams

I just knew I wasn't think. Since school I have battled many battles first having speech therapy and then specialist reading classes, so you can you imagine that my schooling throughout the eighties wasn't something I typically enjoyed. Even my blogs has to be proofed due to learning difficulties but not this one today only sorry. If you ever think of someone who just wasn't interested in their school lessons that was me. But for some reason I took information better when it was something that grabbed my attention mainly sport. I can't honestly remember a time when I did any of my homework and was told by a teacher that I wouldn't even get a job when I left school. What was crazy about a person in a professional role that he didn't know I had two jobs as a paper boy and my own window cleaning round from the age of 13. I think that helped me question people in authority that they are not always right.

Where I didn't get my confidence in school, I got plenty of it from our local Youth Club and it was thanks to an amazing man who spent over 50 years volunteering at the Wyndham Boys and Girls Club that I went on to focus on becoming a British Champion. In fact I went on to become National Champion for my country in three different sports. That man was Stan"The Man"Norris M.B.E. a man that give me my values in giving up your time to help others in which I now plant the seed into my own sons head. He also made me realise thanks to my own mother as well that helping people is good "Soul Food"

School was hard for me in class lessons to keep still and it was only the fact that I wasn't bullied and had some great friends that made my schooling bearable....When I was there of course. I honestly feel I have been blessed and lucky to be successful in my life so far, but something has always been troubling me deep down with the feeling that some people due to their status are better than me. It hasn't given me confidence that the fact that I left school at 15 with not one single GCSE. Even today I need reinsurance by professionals and great friends around me about the work I am doing in perinatal mental health. For some reason my racing thoughts have always got the better than me and sometimes it has made me depressed and really low to the point of giving up.

It wasn't until 2011 a bad year for me just as bad as watching my wife go through the hell of postnatal depression in 2004. My grandfather had currently lost his battle from Alzheimer's that Christmas and than finding out my mother had cancer had a impact on my work in which being commission based had me worrying about my livelihood. Once again my racing thoughts were taking over again. But for some reason that year opened up a journey for me that would change my life forever. As people who know my work will know I have gone on to do some projects and have found at last my purpose in life. I have also met some of the most inspirational people which I know you know who you really are guys. 

So why am I so happy today and writing this at 4am in the morning, well it's the day I finally got all my answers in my life so far and in fact I have joined an elite team of inspirational people. Richard Branson, Robin Williams, John F Kennedy, Will Smith, Henry Ford, Beethoven and hundreds more inspirational people....Yes I have ADHD (Attention_deficit_hyperactivity_disorder). Sadly many people don't  find the answers like I have today and after my own denial this year fully accept due to being given medication privately it stopped the televisions and noises sounds in my head. Within 30 minutes I could give my full attention to my loved ones, I could listen better without over talking over the person , my speech was slower and calmer and felt for the first time at totally ease with myself without fighting it. Remember I have already learned all other coping skills like Mindfulness and CBT which has helped so much, but this medication made me fully focus.

I have also admitted this week that I have moderate dyslexia and the issues while working in a office 
before going to do my work  on the hospital wards had a massive impact after being told by a 
independent doctor I had anxiety in the workplace this year. In January last year I had a two and half 
hour meeting with a psychiatrist with my wife in which I told him things that I had done in my life that not even my wonderful wife of being together for 18 years knew at the time. That meeting was turned to a test and references from my schooling to my shock of being told I ADHD in which I knew nothing at all about. I met up with a wonderful organisation for ADHD and met an amazing lady who for the first time and only time a person who had the same thoughts as myself had totally got the way I was thinking and acting which give me reinsurance. Sadly the psychiatrist retired after many years and was dismissed of the conditions after a 15 minutes meeting with the new consultant. As luck would have it I was now meeting people who had specialist knowledge in different professions and it wasn't until a lady came up to me after my public speaking on postnatal depression and men that she told me to get myself checked again as she told me I had ADHD.

At 40 years of age I can honestly say that ADHD has made me the person I am today. Unfortunately I have had numerous jobs before I worked in mental health and it has made me impulsive all my life. I am a person who will end on a positive and believe if it wasn't for this condition I may not succeeded in everything I have set out to do in my life and the drive I have to do these things. My family and friends love my personality and that all that counts. I have travelled the world and have given up work impulsively to do this in my life. I have been a Champion in many sports. I have been top sales person for three different blue chip organisations. I have done my bucket list at 40 with only a sky dive left to achieve. I have been on national television and radio and written a book. I have walked the red carpet with celebrities and royalty. I have my own business which can be found at www.reachingoutpmh.co.uk and now setting up other social enterprises. I have an amazing family and friends and a wonderful social life. I am married to my loving wife Michelle who has had to put up with so much and my hyperactive behaviour at 7am in the morning and late at night. I have an amazing son who means the world to me. I am also proud to say that I am still a voluntary youth worker and football coach at the youth club that helped me and put me on the right path in life today.

So remember this WE SHOULD NEVER LOOK DOWN ON ANYONE UNLESS WE ARE 
HELPING THEM UP.  And always buy the best bed and the best pair of shoes you can find , as if your not in one..your in the other... You must listen to me honestly ...I'm not thick.