ADHD and recovery, man, they’ve both been a real journey. It wasn”t always smooth sailing, far from it. Now I try to embrace the ADHD as much as I can, and I see it as a part of what makes me, me. Honestly, before I got clean, I didn’t even know I had ADHD…
It wasn’t diagnosed until after I got into recovery, and that kind of blew my mind. Looking back, it makes so much sense: the impulsiveness, the restless energy, the way my brain never seemed to slow down. I was always chasing the next thrill or distraction, and for a long time, substances were how I coped with that chaos, and I just never knew it
Struggles I’ve Overcome
Before recovery, I didn’t really know why I was constantly feeling out of place, like I couldn’t keep up with life. Drugs gave me this temporary silence, this break from all the noise in my head, but it was just that, temporary. The hardest part was not understanding why I felt so different, so disconnected from how people around me seemed to function. ADHD wasn’t even on my radar, so I just thought I was flawed, always seeking something to fill the gap

Substance abuse was my way of managing the overload I guess. When I was using, it felt like everything slowed down and I could finally catch up, but it was just all a massive illusion. In recovery, I’ve had to face the rawness of ADHD without the numbing effects. That’s where the real growth came in. Recently learning to manage those impulses, that restlessness, without substances has been tough, but eye opening
Embracing ADHD
Now that I understand my ADHD, I can see it was part of the reason I turned to substances in the first place. But in recovery, and mostly through therapy, along with atomoxetine, I’ve learned how to harness it better. Before, I’d struggle to sit still, my mind always racing, chasing highs to find some peace.
Now, I use that energy differently. I structure my day around how I work best, short bursts of focused energy, lots of movement (Like a lot!) I have to be out quite a lot, and plenty of flexibility. May Thai and MMA has been huge for me, it gives me an outlet for all that extra energy, and in a way, it’s become a part of therapy. I’ve always advocated for exercise.
ADHD is no longer something I fight too much. In recovery, I’ve learned to accept that I process the world just differently. Having and interest based rewards system instead of a importance based rewards system
Substance Abuse and ADHD
Getting clean showed me how much of my substance use was tied to managing undiagnosed ADHD (along with BPD, but I still feel. bit weird about it and if it’s even true). It’s been a process of rewiring my brain, understanding that I don’t need substances to deal with the sensory overwhelm, that I can handle the highs and lows without running to something external. Therapy, routines, and understanding my triggers have helped a lot. Recovery has been about finding balance, realizing that it’s okay to have chaotic moments, but I don’t need to run from them anymore through drugs
Health wise, I’ve realized that I just need to stay active, mentally and physically. It’s not just about hitting the gym, training martial arts, or eating right, I have to nourish my mental energy. I need regular outlets, whether that’s through sport or creativity
For my career side of things, it’s kinda been a blessing in disguise. I used to work in Sales for 10 years, so that does offer a lot of creativity which I guess is why I didn’t really spot it. Turns out ADHD and entrepreneurship go hand in hand. What is has done for me though, is it allows me to juggle multiple projects, dive into things I’m passionate about, and work at a pace that suits me.
I’m not built for the 9-to-5 grind, and that’s okay. If anything, it really hurts me. The creativity and hyperfocus that come with ADHD and making sure I stick to my interests, have been key to building my businesses and living life on my terms
ADHD has taught me that my life’s work won’t be one thing, it’ll be a mix of everything I’ve done, the businesses, the creative projects, the relationships, the learning and giving back to the world. Recovery gave me the clarity to see that ADHD is a gift, and it’s shaped the way I move through the world
When it comes to relationships, recovery itself has been a game changer. Take away the drugs, and all of a sudden, you’re left with just yourself and dealing with life. I’ve had to learn how to be present, how to communicate what I need, and how to listen to others. ADHD might make me really impulsive, and I’ve got my own coping strategies for this that I’ll share at a later date, but recoverys taught me to slow down, reflect, and build deeper connections. I’m grateful for the people who’ve stuck with me through it all, and I’ve learned to be kinder to myself along the way
Also knowing I have it, I’ve learned to communicate better and say, these are my downfalls, and to surround myself with people who get how I work
In the end, I’ve embraced ADHD not as something to “fix” but as part of who I am. It’s brought a whole ton of challenges, sure, but it’s also brought me so many opportunities to grow. And now, clean and sober, I’m learning how to work with it, not against it