For people who are waiting for a diagnosis, Middleton shares her advice for handling anxiety. “It’s really important to remember that although it’s very frustrating to not be able to get those answers, so much of what has changed in my life since getting an ADHD diagnosis is a result of me changing my life, not a tick of approval from a doctor.

So yes, medication is a big factor in making life more manageable with an ADHD brain, but aside from that, a lot of things you can do for yourself. As a neurodivergent person, you don’t need permission or approval from a doctor to be able to do things like body doubling, using a planning system that suits you, taking more breaks and working with your brain rather than against it.”

Ellie Middleton is the author of Unmasked: The Ultimate Guide To ADHD, Autism & Neurodivergence

NHS clinics currently have an 8-year backlog for ADHD diagnoses