ADHD Unscripted
ADHD Awareness Month

ADHD Unscripted: Every ADHD Story Is Different

To mark ADHD Awareness Month, we’re proud to share the third installment of ADHD Unscripted—a celebration of diverse voices and lived experience.

There is no single way to experience ADHD. It can shape learning, work, relationships, wellbeing and a person’s sense of self in very different ways. For some, diagnosis brings clarity and self-understanding. For others, the journey is complicated by missed recognition, stigma or a lack of appropriate support.

In their own words, our contributors share the challenges, turning points, strengths and everyday realities that have shaped their lives. Each story offers a raw and deeply human perspective on living, working and finding your way with ADHD. Together, they highlight the resilience, creativity and individual strengths within our community, while reminding us there is no single ADHD experience.

Some experiences may feel familiar; others may challenge what you thought you understood. Together, they create a richer, more honest picture of ADHD—and the many ways people adapt, connect, contribute and thrive.

We invite you to explore the stories, share them with others and join a more open and informed conversation about ADHD.

Oli Steven
Oli Steven Unscripted: Finding My PaceADHD Unscripted

Oli Steven Unscripted: Finding My Pace

Oli Steven shares how understanding ADHD and finding the right support helped him build confidence, resilience and success in school, sport and life—at his own pace.
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Adrien Koning ADHD Unscripted
Adrien Koning Unscripted: Becoming the Calm in a CrisisADHD Unscripted

Adrien Koning Unscripted: Becoming the Calm in a Crisis

Once treated as “the problem”, student paramedic Adrien Koning now brings calm, empathy and safety to others during life’s overwhelming moments.
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Meagan Cooke
Meagan Cooke Unscripted: Little Miss Scatterbrain Meets Her DiagnosisADHD Unscripted

Meagan Cooke Unscripted: Little Miss Scatterbrain Meets Her Diagnosis

Called 'Little Miss Scatterbrain' by friends but 'highly organized' by colleagues, psychologist Meagan Cooke's journey from masking to self-discovery reshaped her professional practice.
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Felicity Everest Unscripted: The Balancing Act of AuDHDADHD Unscripted

Felicity Everest Unscripted: The Balancing Act of AuDHD

Diagnosed with ADHD at 46 and autism at 47, Felicity Everest finally understood her lifelong burnout, transforming overwhelm into authentic living and meaningful support for her children.
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Felicity Henry
Felicity Henry Unscripted: Finding Myself Through ADHDADHD Unscripted

Felicity Henry Unscripted: Finding Myself Through ADHD

Felicity Henry spent years as a perfectionist hiding her struggles. Her ADHD diagnosis brought clarity, compassion, and a mission to ensure children receive the support she never had.
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Byron Rangiwai
Byron Rangiwai Unscripted: Decolonising the ADHD NarrativeADHD Unscripted

Byron Rangiwai Unscripted: Decolonising the ADHD Narrative

After decades of invisible struggle, Byron Rangiwai is decolonizing ADHD research, creating strengths-based Maori frameworks that restore dignity and possibility for neurodivergent Indigenous peoples.
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Anthony Brown Unscripted: My ADHD journey starting with a flatpackADHD Unscripted

Anthony Brown Unscripted: My ADHD journey starting with a flatpack

Anthony Brown's first day on ADHD medication taught him that focus alone isn't enough—true progress requires self-understanding, acceptance, and patience with yourself.
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Lexy Staniland
Lexy Staniland Unscripted: I’m Not Broken and You’re Not EitherADHD Unscripted

Lexy Staniland Unscripted: I’m Not Broken and You’re Not Either

Years of self-doubt and perfectionism masked Lexy's ADHD until a TikTok algorithm revealed the truth: she wasn't broken, just neurodivergent.
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Senator Jordon Steele-John - AADPA ADHD Unscripted
Senator Jordon Steele-John: From Personal Journey to Political ChangeADHD UnscriptedLived Experience

Senator Jordon Steele-John: From Personal Journey to Political Change

Drawing from his own struggles, Senator Jordon Steele-John championed the inquiry's findings, emphasizing the need to reframe ADHD within neurodiversity rather than as a deficit.
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Dr Ha Le - ADHD Unscripted
A Mother’s Perspective: When ADHD Research Becomes PersonalADHD UnscriptedLived Experience

A Mother’s Perspective: When ADHD Research Becomes Personal

As a parent of a child with ADHD and ASD, Dr Ha Le was inspired to become a dedicated researcher in neurodiversity and child health. Read Ha's personal story here.
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Alix Sampson-Grunwaldt ADHD Unscripted
Alix Grunwaldt-Sampson: Finding Strength in Identity and DifferenceADHD UnscriptedLived Experience

Alix Grunwaldt-Sampson: Finding Strength in Identity and Difference

Diversity champion Alix Grunwaldt-Sampson's path to ADHD diagnosis intertwines with her LGBTQIA+ journey, demonstrating how embracing multiple identities can create powerful spaces for authenticity and inclusion in the workplace.
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Emma-Rose Parsons - ADHD Unscripted
The Long Run: Emma-Rose Parsons Therapeutic TrailADHD UnscriptedLived Experience

The Long Run: Emma-Rose Parsons Therapeutic Trail

Psychologist Emma-Rose Parsons uses ultra-trail running to manage her ADHD and raise funds for neurodivergent children, turning personal challenge into community impact.
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