Empowering minds: Izzat conducting a training session for adults with ADHD.
JOHOR BARU: Growing up, Izzat Zaid always felt different from those around her, but she couldn’t pinpoint what made her unique.
It was only when she was doing her Master’s in Clinical Psychology at the age of 28 that she finally came to terms with what she had been experiencing all along – attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.
“When I was doing my practical, I came across an ADHD-related case involving a teenager.
“While attending to the case, I learnt a lot about ADHD and its symptoms.
“Eventually, it struck me that these symptoms are the very things that I had been experiencing all these years,” she said in an interview.
Izzat, now 31, then consulted her counsellor about the symptoms and was advised to meet a specialist for an official diagnosis.
“I went to see a psychiatrist who carried out an ADHD assessment, and it turned out that my intuition was true.
“It was a surreal moment. Knowing that I have a neurodevelopmental disorder is scary, as I will have to live with this condition for the rest of my life.
“However, it was also a huge relief as I finally found out what I was going through and knowing for sure that it was never about me being lazy or unmotivated,” she added.
Despite getting the diagnosis, Izzat still finds it difficult to open up about her condition due to the stigma and misunderstanding about ADHD.
“Throughout my life, I have constantly been told that I just lack willpower and that I have to work harder.
“I could not understand why I was always lagging in everything I did, no matter how hard I tried. I feel as though I was doing more than everyone else, yet I still fell short. Even after being diagnosed, it was still difficult for me to explain my condition.
“People either perceive me as incapable due to my ADHD, or they doubt my ADHD because I am still able to perform,” she said.
Izzat said she was also discouraged from asking for help as she was often told to just be more organised.
“However, there are also people who are willing to listen and try to understand me.
“One of them was my research supervisor, Ellisha Othman, who would patiently ask me what was going on instead of dismissing my symptoms as just something that everyone struggled with.
“She helped me regain my self-esteem, and this motivated me to help others with ADHD learn their strengths and find ways to cope with their condition,” she said.
The encouragement from her supervisor led her to develop ‘Minda Inklusif’, a digital platform that aims to provide support and access to mental health professionals in dealing with those having ADHD and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
“I want others to get the kind of support Ellisha gave me, which is unfortunately not straightforward for people with ADHD.
“Apart from connecting people with clinical psychologists or counsellors, we also offer workshops and training, mostly focusing on adult ADHD,” she said, adding that it also aims to increase public awareness.
Toh Ting Jii, who discovered she had ADHD later in life, received her diagnosis at the age of 31.
“My second child was diagnosed with mild autism and speech delays. As a mother, I wanted to know about my child’s condition so that I could make life easier for him.
Late diagnosis: Toh discovered she had ADHD after researching autism following her child’s evaluation.
“While reading up about autism, I came across a chapter about ADHD. It felt oddly familiar. I could not help but feel that it was a clear explanation about what I had been experiencing my whole life,” said Toh, who is now 39.
She then informed her son’s psychiatrist about the symptoms and was told to get an assessment for herself.
“That was when I found out I have ADHD. Later, I also realised that my eldest also has ADHD,” said the mother of three.
Toh, who is currently doing her doctorate at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, said she has been open about her diagnosis.
“I want to ensure that future generations have improved access to help and opportunities to pursue their own uniqueness.
“I need to do my part to raise awareness and remove the stigma as well as misunderstandings about ADHD.
“Many are still not convinced that a seemingly normal person like me has a neurodevelopmental disorder,” she added.
