What do you think?
Rate this book
The Year I Met My Brain: A travel companion for adults who have just found out they have ADHD
Matilda Boseley’s adult ADHD diagnosis was a massive, earth-shattering event. She was given a prescription but had no idea what ADHD meant for her identity, her relationships or her future.Twelve months of confusion later, journalist Matilda embarked on an epic voyage to figure out what’s really happening in the stormy seas of the ADHD brain and write the guide she wished she’d had.The Year I Met My Brain is the ultimate travel companion for navigating and enjoying life as an ADHD adult, what adult ADHD symptoms look like- why so many ADHDers (especially females) are missed as kids - how the disorder impacts our relationships, careers and self-esteem- why we unfairly treat ourselves like failures – and how to find self-forgiveness and healing- practical tips for social and organisational wins- and, most importantly, how to make our lives work to fit our brains rather than trying to force our brains to fit our lives.Uplifting, empowering, deeply researched and sparkling with 'a-ha' moments, The Year I Met My Brain is an invaluable resource for ADHDers and those who love them.
433 pages, ebook
First published October 3, 2023
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
October 17, 2023
I was diagnosed with ADHD a year ago at 45. Since then I’ve been looking for a book to help me understand the condition, how to navigate it and how to explain it to others. Nothing has been quite right until now. This is it, this is the book we’ve been waiting for.
The Year I Met My Brain is brilliantly researched and explained in easily accessible language. I also I loved Matilda’s analogy’s (my adhd kids and I have already adopted ‘Ethel’ as a way of talking about our ADHD brains).
But the thing I loved most was the way Matilda weaved in her own experience of ADHD in her highly relatable diary entries.
I listened to the audiobook, but found it so interesting and helpful that I went out and bought a hard copy too so that I could mark the bits I might refer back to - I’ve marked a LOT of pages.
The Year I Met My Brain is brilliantly researched and explained in easily accessible language. I also I loved Matilda’s analogy’s (my adhd kids and I have already adopted ‘Ethel’ as a way of talking about our ADHD brains).
But the thing I loved most was the way Matilda weaved in her own experience of ADHD in her highly relatable diary entries.
I listened to the audiobook, but found it so interesting and helpful that I went out and bought a hard copy too so that I could mark the bits I might refer back to - I’ve marked a LOT of pages.
October 20, 2023
As a person with ADHD and a primary school teacher, I absolutely adored this book. I laughed along with Matilda’s stories as I also have so many equally embarrassing ones and throughly enjoyed saying ‘hahaha omg I do this too!’ for most of the book. As a teacher, this book made me feel more equipped to broach difficult conversations with parents of the kids I teach about beginning the diagnosis process. I also feel significantly more informed about how to assist my ADHD students. I’m 90% sure it should have counted as professional development hours and that I should be able to claim it on tax. Thank you Matilda for letting us into your brain as it help me to learn so much more about mine.
November 30, 2023
Matilda Bosely is IN MY HEAD! Felt like my $450 roller skating impulse purchase was DIRECTLY attacked! This was literally so perfect and validating and I am very grateful to understand a bit more about my brain!
January 29, 2024
I’d make an adjustment to this title to “for *young* adults who have just found out they have ADHD”. This is a book written by a young adult who watched TikTok videos about ADHD, found that they resonated with her own experience, and went to a psychiatrist who confirmed the diagnosis. On that, Matilda, I’m so sorry that you had the experience you did with that psychiatrist. It is unacceptable, but sadly not that uncommon, for people to experience the coldness and rudeness that you did from that psychiatrist.
Whilst the book is conversational and uses research to back up opinions, there are some fundamental issues that I think need to be considered.
I did wonder if the research described in the book was chosen to align with the author’s pre-existing views, as there are some glaring omissions that are glossed over - eg the impact of smart devices and social media on focus and attention span. Effectively the author reduces this to “it’s not an issue because I don’t think it is one”. (I wonder if the reluctance to explore this issue has something to do with the author being a journalist who makes social media content for the Guardian?) Dissenting views are met with disdain if not contempt (not just through the choice of written word but in the tone of the author’s voice reading the audiobook). This frames the book not as an exploration of the condition from a neutral standpoint, but as a book firmly couched in the “ADHD is a massively under diagnosed condition and anyone who has anything negative to say about it or who wants to apply critical thinking to this is actually an arsehole who should be cancelled” camp.
On a broader note, I am concerned that the author believes that there are humans out there who find life easy, who go about their day with nary a moment’s hesitation about sitting down to do hard or boring stuff. If these people exist, I am yet to met them. It is also concerning that getting lost in an enjoyable and appropriately challenging activity has been pathologised as hyperfocus rather than “flow” (Csikszentmihalyi). I also find it disheartening that the author lists things like “forgetting hidden vegetables in the fridge/clothes in the wardrobe”, “feeling exhausted at the end of a work day” and “half finished craft projects” in amongst others as examples of ADHD. Is this an overreach? Surely this not exclusive to those with ADHD? Do we need a diagnosis in order to practice self compassion?
And yes, you need to get a diagnosis from a psychiatrist. However, is there a risk that a book like this, which categorizes many instances of what is likely within the normal range of human experience as part of ADHD, could lead a significant number of readers to self-diagnose with ADHD after finishing the book?
Whilst I don’t doubt that some people have a greater degree of challenge in areas of executive functioning etc than others on a bell curve of human experience, and that these people will benefit from greater support, skills +/- medication if appropriate, it’s worth bearing in mind that ADHD is a clinical diagnosis (that is via self report in a clinical interview etc, rather than via blood tests/brain scans etc). Therefore there is likely to be a degree of subjectivity to the diagnosis. This goes both ways - there may be people who do get a diagnosis going to one psychiatrist who may not get the same diagnosis if they had seen another, and vice versa. As Matilda points out, there are many things that can produce similar symptoms to ADHD - eg trauma, anxiety. It’s worth noting that although it may be that there have been shown to be observable brain differences on scans in those with ADHD symptoms (as mentioned in the book), at present scans are not part of the diagnostic process. In addition, it’s worth remembering that the DSM V is a flawed tool (earlier iterations of the DSM listed homosexuality as a mental disorder until 1974!) (DSM - Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).
It will be interesting to observe the evolution of ADHD diagnosis and treatment over the next few decades.
Whilst the book is conversational and uses research to back up opinions, there are some fundamental issues that I think need to be considered.
I did wonder if the research described in the book was chosen to align with the author’s pre-existing views, as there are some glaring omissions that are glossed over - eg the impact of smart devices and social media on focus and attention span. Effectively the author reduces this to “it’s not an issue because I don’t think it is one”. (I wonder if the reluctance to explore this issue has something to do with the author being a journalist who makes social media content for the Guardian?) Dissenting views are met with disdain if not contempt (not just through the choice of written word but in the tone of the author’s voice reading the audiobook). This frames the book not as an exploration of the condition from a neutral standpoint, but as a book firmly couched in the “ADHD is a massively under diagnosed condition and anyone who has anything negative to say about it or who wants to apply critical thinking to this is actually an arsehole who should be cancelled” camp.
On a broader note, I am concerned that the author believes that there are humans out there who find life easy, who go about their day with nary a moment’s hesitation about sitting down to do hard or boring stuff. If these people exist, I am yet to met them. It is also concerning that getting lost in an enjoyable and appropriately challenging activity has been pathologised as hyperfocus rather than “flow” (Csikszentmihalyi). I also find it disheartening that the author lists things like “forgetting hidden vegetables in the fridge/clothes in the wardrobe”, “feeling exhausted at the end of a work day” and “half finished craft projects” in amongst others as examples of ADHD. Is this an overreach? Surely this not exclusive to those with ADHD? Do we need a diagnosis in order to practice self compassion?
And yes, you need to get a diagnosis from a psychiatrist. However, is there a risk that a book like this, which categorizes many instances of what is likely within the normal range of human experience as part of ADHD, could lead a significant number of readers to self-diagnose with ADHD after finishing the book?
Whilst I don’t doubt that some people have a greater degree of challenge in areas of executive functioning etc than others on a bell curve of human experience, and that these people will benefit from greater support, skills +/- medication if appropriate, it’s worth bearing in mind that ADHD is a clinical diagnosis (that is via self report in a clinical interview etc, rather than via blood tests/brain scans etc). Therefore there is likely to be a degree of subjectivity to the diagnosis. This goes both ways - there may be people who do get a diagnosis going to one psychiatrist who may not get the same diagnosis if they had seen another, and vice versa. As Matilda points out, there are many things that can produce similar symptoms to ADHD - eg trauma, anxiety. It’s worth noting that although it may be that there have been shown to be observable brain differences on scans in those with ADHD symptoms (as mentioned in the book), at present scans are not part of the diagnostic process. In addition, it’s worth remembering that the DSM V is a flawed tool (earlier iterations of the DSM listed homosexuality as a mental disorder until 1974!) (DSM - Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).
It will be interesting to observe the evolution of ADHD diagnosis and treatment over the next few decades.
October 16, 2023
Absolutely wonderful, thoughtful, immaculately researched, engaging, insightful, reaffirming and validating. I devoured it. Thanks for helping to explain my brain.
December 9, 2023
SO VALIDATING, IM SO GLAD I READ THIS
At 26 I have just been diagnosed with ADHD. The constant self doubt of 'do I actually have this'? didn't even stop after I got diagnosed. This book makes me feel SEEN. It's evidence based, and written in an approachable way. I think its an essential read for ADHD'rs even when you already know all the symptoms. I also think this will be very useful for friends and family of ADHDR's. Im hoping my mum will read it, as she doesn't believe my diagnosis. I enjoyed the highlights on biases on gender and race and even adult versus children. The research is still kind of in its infancy.
Takeaways;
- THIS IS ME TOO (especially as a kid) "I had a bad habit of thinking about my life inn terms of a movie or tv series, organising events into scenes, turning people into character archetypes and viewing traumatic moments as climaxes". I can distinctly remember expecting friends conversations to be carried out word for word like some scenes in movies.
- ADHD cause is inconclusive still but experts pretty sure its combination of/accumulation of genetic and environmental factors.
- There are so many gaps in research because historically it was thought only children could have it. The data we do have suggests 50% of families with ADHD child will have at least one ADHD parent. But again issues of under diagnosis warp stats.
- In adulthood the hyperactive part of ADHD tends to present as constant inner restlessness
- hyperactive/impulsive types linked with peer rejection, risky driving and accidentally injuring yourself. MEEEEEE, I only have one limb I haven't broken in the past 2-3 years.
- people can and often change presentations over course of life (Hyperactive/impulsive, inattentive, and combined) pretty sure I've got combined
- ON SLEEP AS A CHILD (again, me 100%) " warning signs; your child constantly popping out of bed to ask for another glass of water, one last hug, or sleep in big bed with you" "I would toss and turn filled with pure boredom that felt close to physical pain" - this is still me. As a kid id beg mum to sleep with me so I had someone to talk to
- MORE ON SLEEP; moving excessively during sleep was a DSM diagnostic criteria in the 80's, 85% of ADHD adults report excessive sleepiness during the day, poorer quality of sleep, more trouble drifting off and waking up more in night. ME AGAIN
- ON MENSTRUATION; "Oestrogen is mostly in ovaries but also produced by brain, its known to affect cognitive ability and functioning of dopamine, therefore mentrual cycles have been found to impact levels of attention, impulsivity, memory, mood regulation and executive functioning" basically your cycle makes your ADHD symptoms worse, because ADHD and dopamine are so closely linked. I can definitely attest to this.
- Anxiety is the most common comorbidity as well as depression , 44.7% of ADHD adults have anxiety verses 4.9 % without.
-"We call ourselves failures because our brains are filled with all these passions and ideas and ambitions, but for some reason we can't make our actions match our abilities" ME
- I RELATE TO THIS SO HARD and it had me CONNECTING THE DOTS;
" it felt like I had this secret, that I was actually a really dumb person, and I could never let people find out, I think that manifested into, okay ill do really well at other subjects at school and then I can say well I'm a layer" She's referring to being bad at maths (again me). I think I tried so hard at school to prove my worth, to show I wasn't lazy.
- ON DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BOYS + GIRLS; Hyperactive girls might be more emotional- with ecstatic bursts of joy, tendency to dissolve into uncontrollable tears,struggling to control the impulse to interrupt - ALL ME
- Girls tend to internalise rather than externalise, so instead of a boy who might say I failed the test because its dumb, a girl would say I'm so stupid that's why I failed = crippling self esteem
- We do not have a culturally neutral system of health are for ADHD. its based on western medical models, white adults treating white kids. Important to remember this..
- ADHD people 50% more likely to suffer accidental injuries - me!
- ON REJECTION SENSITIVE DISORDER (not a clinical or diagnostic term yet) still helpful to describe experiences. Around a third of ADHD teens and adults find RSD most impairing aspect of condition.
- ADHD PARALYSIS (not a clinical or diagnostic term yet) I experience this constantly. I remember my part time job in uni was 5pm-9pm, yeah I couldn't do anything that day because I had work later; "when you have a task or activity scheduled later in the day and find brain goes into a holding pattern, unable to focus or get anything done until then".
- These loose cultural terms are becoming more mainstream, although not scientific I'm finding them incredibly useful, something tangible that I can say THATS ME TOO. Hopefully these new terms that are super popular on socials will motivate researchers to look into them.
ON RECEIVING DIAGNOSIS;
- "It's hard to describe how destabilising it can feel to realise that the core. of who you are- elements of your personality that you love and cherish are proud of - are actually, symptoms"
- "After years of swimming in trauma and shame, its only natural that we would be suspicious of a life raft appearing out of the blue that allows us to forgive ourselves. Self-forgiveness is probably a brand new concept"
"ADHD doesn't invent new problems, it just exacerbates universal ones"
ON STIMULANT MED STIGMA
- parents are scared so lots of kids miss out
- one psych says "I wish stimulant meds were a bit addictive, so my patients would remember to take them. They don't wake up craving them, and they don't get significant withdrawal symptoms from stopping them"
- A large-scale Swedish study showed that those on ADHD stim meds were 31% less likely to have a substance abuse disorder
- There's a tension between the concept of ADHD the medical disorder and ADHD the identity.
At 26 I have just been diagnosed with ADHD. The constant self doubt of 'do I actually have this'? didn't even stop after I got diagnosed. This book makes me feel SEEN. It's evidence based, and written in an approachable way. I think its an essential read for ADHD'rs even when you already know all the symptoms. I also think this will be very useful for friends and family of ADHDR's. Im hoping my mum will read it, as she doesn't believe my diagnosis. I enjoyed the highlights on biases on gender and race and even adult versus children. The research is still kind of in its infancy.
Takeaways;
- THIS IS ME TOO (especially as a kid) "I had a bad habit of thinking about my life inn terms of a movie or tv series, organising events into scenes, turning people into character archetypes and viewing traumatic moments as climaxes". I can distinctly remember expecting friends conversations to be carried out word for word like some scenes in movies.
- ADHD cause is inconclusive still but experts pretty sure its combination of/accumulation of genetic and environmental factors.
- There are so many gaps in research because historically it was thought only children could have it. The data we do have suggests 50% of families with ADHD child will have at least one ADHD parent. But again issues of under diagnosis warp stats.
- In adulthood the hyperactive part of ADHD tends to present as constant inner restlessness
- hyperactive/impulsive types linked with peer rejection, risky driving and accidentally injuring yourself. MEEEEEE, I only have one limb I haven't broken in the past 2-3 years.
- people can and often change presentations over course of life (Hyperactive/impulsive, inattentive, and combined) pretty sure I've got combined
- ON SLEEP AS A CHILD (again, me 100%) " warning signs; your child constantly popping out of bed to ask for another glass of water, one last hug, or sleep in big bed with you" "I would toss and turn filled with pure boredom that felt close to physical pain" - this is still me. As a kid id beg mum to sleep with me so I had someone to talk to
- MORE ON SLEEP; moving excessively during sleep was a DSM diagnostic criteria in the 80's, 85% of ADHD adults report excessive sleepiness during the day, poorer quality of sleep, more trouble drifting off and waking up more in night. ME AGAIN
- ON MENSTRUATION; "Oestrogen is mostly in ovaries but also produced by brain, its known to affect cognitive ability and functioning of dopamine, therefore mentrual cycles have been found to impact levels of attention, impulsivity, memory, mood regulation and executive functioning" basically your cycle makes your ADHD symptoms worse, because ADHD and dopamine are so closely linked. I can definitely attest to this.
- Anxiety is the most common comorbidity as well as depression , 44.7% of ADHD adults have anxiety verses 4.9 % without.
-"We call ourselves failures because our brains are filled with all these passions and ideas and ambitions, but for some reason we can't make our actions match our abilities" ME
- I RELATE TO THIS SO HARD and it had me CONNECTING THE DOTS;
" it felt like I had this secret, that I was actually a really dumb person, and I could never let people find out, I think that manifested into, okay ill do really well at other subjects at school and then I can say well I'm a layer" She's referring to being bad at maths (again me). I think I tried so hard at school to prove my worth, to show I wasn't lazy.
- ON DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BOYS + GIRLS; Hyperactive girls might be more emotional- with ecstatic bursts of joy, tendency to dissolve into uncontrollable tears,struggling to control the impulse to interrupt - ALL ME
- Girls tend to internalise rather than externalise, so instead of a boy who might say I failed the test because its dumb, a girl would say I'm so stupid that's why I failed = crippling self esteem
- We do not have a culturally neutral system of health are for ADHD. its based on western medical models, white adults treating white kids. Important to remember this..
- ADHD people 50% more likely to suffer accidental injuries - me!
- ON REJECTION SENSITIVE DISORDER (not a clinical or diagnostic term yet) still helpful to describe experiences. Around a third of ADHD teens and adults find RSD most impairing aspect of condition.
- ADHD PARALYSIS (not a clinical or diagnostic term yet) I experience this constantly. I remember my part time job in uni was 5pm-9pm, yeah I couldn't do anything that day because I had work later; "when you have a task or activity scheduled later in the day and find brain goes into a holding pattern, unable to focus or get anything done until then".
- These loose cultural terms are becoming more mainstream, although not scientific I'm finding them incredibly useful, something tangible that I can say THATS ME TOO. Hopefully these new terms that are super popular on socials will motivate researchers to look into them.
ON RECEIVING DIAGNOSIS;
- "It's hard to describe how destabilising it can feel to realise that the core. of who you are- elements of your personality that you love and cherish are proud of - are actually, symptoms"
- "After years of swimming in trauma and shame, its only natural that we would be suspicious of a life raft appearing out of the blue that allows us to forgive ourselves. Self-forgiveness is probably a brand new concept"
"ADHD doesn't invent new problems, it just exacerbates universal ones"
ON STIMULANT MED STIGMA
- parents are scared so lots of kids miss out
- one psych says "I wish stimulant meds were a bit addictive, so my patients would remember to take them. They don't wake up craving them, and they don't get significant withdrawal symptoms from stopping them"
- A large-scale Swedish study showed that those on ADHD stim meds were 31% less likely to have a substance abuse disorder
- There's a tension between the concept of ADHD the medical disorder and ADHD the identity.
January 16, 2024
Thank you Matilda for writing this book. Amazing. I laughed and cried with you. Well researched and a good mix of anecdotal vs factual. This is an Incredibly important read for anyone who knows someone in their life with ADHD or is someone with ADHD.
November 8, 2023
As a woman who for diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 30, this book resonated with me on such a deep level. Boseley does such a fantastic job at describing what it’s like to live with ADHD while simultaneously drawing all the research, facts, and nuances. I felt so seen and validated throughout the entire book.
October 9, 2023
Can be a hard read - overwhelming - but it’s very well researched with plenty of personal anecdotes that brings the theory to life.
October 7, 2023
I just got my clinical ADHD diagnosis, on top of having been diagnosed with Autism not long ago. There is so much for me to learn about both these conditions, and with books like this I feel like I'm starting to understand who I really am.
October 8, 2023
Look, I don't love the use of 'ADHDers' to describe adults with neurodiversity but not being one, I guess it's not my call. A frank and helpful guide for those new to the world of adult neurodiversity.
January 2, 2024
What a fabulous book, packed with evidence and tips it manages to also be personal, heartbreaking and funny! Personally I loved her diary entries which had me laughing out loud. Think this book is going to be so useful for anyone who thinks they have ADHD or is newly diagnosed. A warm hysterical and evidenced based record of the authors first year after diagnosis.
January 4, 2024
I’ve consumed a lot of books, articles, and podcasts about ADHD since I got diagnosed and nothing has made me feel as seen as this one.
Matilda’s experiences and inner monologue were so similar to mine that there were a handful of times that I felt like she was inside my head with me. Her perspective is realistic - it’s not some kind of BS about ADHD being our “super power” like some authors pose. She acknowledges how difficult it can make navigating ~everything~ and the book is filled with stories that sound like they’re out of my own memories.
I really loved her approach to describing ADHD as more than just a clinical diagnosis, but a way of seeing the world that differs from the “”norm.”” Definitely a perspective I’ll carry with me.
Plus it was somehow both super well researched and at the same time very personal. We love a girl who can do it all.
Matilda’s experiences and inner monologue were so similar to mine that there were a handful of times that I felt like she was inside my head with me. Her perspective is realistic - it’s not some kind of BS about ADHD being our “super power” like some authors pose. She acknowledges how difficult it can make navigating ~everything~ and the book is filled with stories that sound like they’re out of my own memories.
I really loved her approach to describing ADHD as more than just a clinical diagnosis, but a way of seeing the world that differs from the “”norm.”” Definitely a perspective I’ll carry with me.
Plus it was somehow both super well researched and at the same time very personal. We love a girl who can do it all.
January 15, 2024
I loved this book. I had consumed Matilda's content online before reading, and I felt like the same zest she has in other work came across in this.
I was amazed at how much ground the book covered on ADHD generally without feeling as though it was darting around or shallow. The combination of research and vulnerable but humorous anecdotes made the whole read feel very relatable, while still conveying a lot of information.
The final chapter of the book so clearly articulated the complex relationship between oneself and the condition, that it felt as though it was written for me. The book helped me view the condition more broadly, and as though I can springboard off ideas raised into my own research or self exploration.
This is a great book for anyone newly diagnosed with ADHD, or anyone wanting to better understand the condition and/or those that have it. Very easy read. Chapters were small and broken up into subsections, so easy to refer back.
I was amazed at how much ground the book covered on ADHD generally without feeling as though it was darting around or shallow. The combination of research and vulnerable but humorous anecdotes made the whole read feel very relatable, while still conveying a lot of information.
The final chapter of the book so clearly articulated the complex relationship between oneself and the condition, that it felt as though it was written for me. The book helped me view the condition more broadly, and as though I can springboard off ideas raised into my own research or self exploration.
This is a great book for anyone newly diagnosed with ADHD, or anyone wanting to better understand the condition and/or those that have it. Very easy read. Chapters were small and broken up into subsections, so easy to refer back.
November 6, 2023
This was a fantastic book. Heavily researched accurately that gives you all the information you need as someone that what’s to know more about ADHD either as a supportive person, a person already diagnosed with ADHD or someone considering seeking a diagnosis.
I really loved how is was in a nice chronological order that followed, was very succinct for my wondering brain, was heavily backed up but very recent research and also has her own personal experience.
Thank you for your hard work in putting this together!
I really loved how is was in a nice chronological order that followed, was very succinct for my wondering brain, was heavily backed up but very recent research and also has her own personal experience.
Thank you for your hard work in putting this together!
December 27, 2023
99% of the content I already knew, but this serves as a pretty good and current crash course in adult ADHD. Refreshing to hear it from the Australian context as well instead of the mostly US-centric content you can find online. There's a good chance I'll be presenting this to my family as a "hey ADHD doesn't just apply to hyperactive 7-year-old white boys in classrooms" factsheet. If that's your baseline level of understanding of ADHD I think this book is probably a decent place to start.
January 5, 2024
MATILDA! I love you so much. This made me howl with recognition and laughter, and also made me cry.
I listened to the audio book and Matilda was a great narrator. I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and I wish someone handed this book to me at the Psychiatrist's office. Not enough is know about females with ADHD that doesn't involved cliches, tiktok trends and various other misunderstandings.
This is an easy, important read.
I listened to the audio book and Matilda was a great narrator. I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and I wish someone handed this book to me at the Psychiatrist's office. Not enough is know about females with ADHD that doesn't involved cliches, tiktok trends and various other misunderstandings.
This is an easy, important read.
January 10, 2024
A stellar companion for ADHD brains. It took me a while to brave this book but I'm so grateful that I did. Naturally, I listened at 1.3 speed while racing around from one task to the next or luxuriating in some bizarre floor crouch. So many moments brought a proud, teary smile to my face. To be seen and to feel hopeful that there are so many ways to work with my spicy brain, instead of against it. Thank you.
October 29, 2023
[4.5 stars] WOW. Every word of this book called me out 😅
January 4, 2024
If you, or someone you love has (or suspects they have) ADHD, you NEED to read this.
I was diagnosed 2 years ago now and so much of this book felt like Matilda was inside my brain!
I think this will be an annual re-read to remind myself of all the things, because well, ADHD.
I was diagnosed 2 years ago now and so much of this book felt like Matilda was inside my brain!
I think this will be an annual re-read to remind myself of all the things, because well, ADHD.
January 9, 2024
Great read even for those without ADHD. It is really well researched but also funny and really validating for anyone who shares a similar experience with getting an ADHD diagnosis as an adult, especially for women!
January 18, 2024
This was such an accessible guide to ADHD and I recommend it to anyone with ADHD as well as those supporting people with ADHD.
November 20, 2023
A lot of interesting information and data, but more importantly, emphasis on the importance of self compassion, and perspective shifting. Loved the idea of Pelagic brain.
November 29, 2023
I have ADHD!! Surprise!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
October 18, 2023
This was like interpreting the inside of my head…it was so relatable and makes me want to find out more.
November 27, 2023
Some parts are untenably woke - please let's not get into the problems of black inner city kids in the US when you are Australian, let's not bring prisons, sexism, racism, politics into it, and for the love of all the gods please don't say that "people who went through a 'female' puberty get pregnant"(sic). (Yes, female with inverted commas. What are words for??)
I'm happy 'just' to hear about ADHD and not go down 25 rabbit holes.
I found the author very self absorbed, but oh well, early 20s.
Otherwise, a good repository of up to date info about ADHD.
I'm happy 'just' to hear about ADHD and not go down 25 rabbit holes.
I found the author very self absorbed, but oh well, early 20s.
Otherwise, a good repository of up to date info about ADHD.
February 6, 2024
I have never felt so seen!! So heartwarming with relatable personal anecdotes and great humour. An engaging book but quite lengthy and too scientific at times!
January 10, 2024
It all makes sense now.
The Year I Met My Brain gave me more understanding of my brain and impairments. I've often wondered why I am the way I am with so many of my struggles, and the book gave me a much-appreciated light. Everything talked about in the book was a checkbox answered with so much thoughtful information. Like, yep, that's me!
What does ADHD mean for a grown-up? Acute executive dysfunction, time blindness, vulnerability to addiction, overthinking, anxiety, higher depression rates, early academic struggle, etc.
The book was so informative and accurate to my ADHD brain. The stories the author shared were deeply relatable, from the symptoms, self-esteem issues, needing body doubling, and hyper fixating on things.
Learning that you have ADHD as an adult is fantastic news. It answered questions I never knew I had, and I can forgive myself for the struggles that come with the condition. It's a path of who I am that I sadly lacked the information for most of my life. I love you, brain.
The Year I Met My Brain gave me more understanding of my brain and impairments. I've often wondered why I am the way I am with so many of my struggles, and the book gave me a much-appreciated light. Everything talked about in the book was a checkbox answered with so much thoughtful information. Like, yep, that's me!
What does ADHD mean for a grown-up? Acute executive dysfunction, time blindness, vulnerability to addiction, overthinking, anxiety, higher depression rates, early academic struggle, etc.
ADHD very rarely travels alone. It has a whole host of friends who like to tag along. These are known as common comorbidities, which just means other disorders that for some reason often occur in the same person at the same time. These are corrolated with ADHD. Anxiety is one of the most common comobidities affecting 44.7% of adults with ADHD compared with 4.9% of those without. Depression rates are also right up there, found in around 42% of us vs. 4.7% of non-ADHDers. ADHDers are also 3.8x more likely to experience an eating disorder than non-ADHDers and 5.7x to. have bulimia nervosa specifically.
Eating disorders are very common among those with ADHD. Low self-esteem coupled with a predisposition towards hyper fixation, perfectionism, and the obsessive need to make up for perceived deficits in other areas of one's life to gain self-acceptance, it's not hard to see why.
Most of the symptoms of ADHD are just normal human struggles amped up a few, potentially quite a few notches. Without a proper understanding of your brain, it's extremely easy to assume that you're simply a bit worse than other people. We tell ourselves we're clumsy, stupid, forgetful, lazy. We tell ourselves we're thoughtless, hopeless, unreliable, and selfish. We've learned to talk to ourselves this way because we were taught to.
The book was so informative and accurate to my ADHD brain. The stories the author shared were deeply relatable, from the symptoms, self-esteem issues, needing body doubling, and hyper fixating on things.
Learning that you have ADHD as an adult is fantastic news. It answered questions I never knew I had, and I can forgive myself for the struggles that come with the condition. It's a path of who I am that I sadly lacked the information for most of my life. I love you, brain.
November 12, 2023
Honestly is very, very, terrifying reading this book because it easily could be that Boseley is inside of my head or being a creepy stalker, watching my every movement. Talking about her personal experience she could totally be talking about myself - she talks about how she Ethel, who is the little office lady in her head or how she says she looks at her life like it’s a TV show or a movie - she could be talking about me. I connected with so many of her personal antidotes that is simultaneously comforting and frightening.
This book made me realise how many of these wired little aspects about me and my personality are actually explained by a neurodivergent diagnosis. Such as having little emergency kits (mini tissues packets, tampons etc) in her handbag and making enough for every bag so she doesn't have to worry or think about the things she will likely always forget or that all the teachers would say she had potential if she only focused or sat still or knuckled down. OMG THE JIGGLING LEG thing is something I has been chastised for my entire life. Oh and the Duolingo idea, the streak idea I do that everything and I did not realise that that was something that could be considered a coping mechanism with someone with undiagnosed ADHD. Honestly this book was just like go running through step-by-step of my life. There really is a generation of us girls who have fallen through the cracks with society's failure to look past the 'naughty white cis boys' idea of ADHD.
The mixture between neuro scientific and behavioural science and personal experiences was nicely done here. It was a time or two when the scientific bits got a bit boring but then again that could be my (undiagnosed) ADHD brain zoning out when I got bored. I also have to commended Boseley for constantly reminding the reader that even though she had done a lot of research and has confirmed scientific information she is still not an expert and that this is just her experience in neurodiversity. It was a humble way to make sure the reader isn't being dished out terrible advice that has no foundation in science or truth. This isn't the usual advice book that has an option of I had this experience so everyone else will and what I write is tried and true and the only way to do or think.
This book made me realise how many of these wired little aspects about me and my personality are actually explained by a neurodivergent diagnosis. Such as having little emergency kits (mini tissues packets, tampons etc) in her handbag and making enough for every bag so she doesn't have to worry or think about the things she will likely always forget or that all the teachers would say she had potential if she only focused or sat still or knuckled down. OMG THE JIGGLING LEG thing is something I has been chastised for my entire life. Oh and the Duolingo idea, the streak idea I do that everything and I did not realise that that was something that could be considered a coping mechanism with someone with undiagnosed ADHD. Honestly this book was just like go running through step-by-step of my life. There really is a generation of us girls who have fallen through the cracks with society's failure to look past the 'naughty white cis boys' idea of ADHD.
The mixture between neuro scientific and behavioural science and personal experiences was nicely done here. It was a time or two when the scientific bits got a bit boring but then again that could be my (undiagnosed) ADHD brain zoning out when I got bored. I also have to commended Boseley for constantly reminding the reader that even though she had done a lot of research and has confirmed scientific information she is still not an expert and that this is just her experience in neurodiversity. It was a humble way to make sure the reader isn't being dished out terrible advice that has no foundation in science or truth. This isn't the usual advice book that has an option of I had this experience so everyone else will and what I write is tried and true and the only way to do or think.
January 26, 2024
I think this is a book everyone would benefit from reading. Especially if you are the target audience of course - an adult who has just been diagnosed with adhd - but anyone else too, because it’s a useful and contemporary survey of neurodiversity at large.
Now I must say, I have a personal distaste for overly anecdotal, conversation writing. The style is very much that. I often found myself wishing the editor (if there was one?) was stricter. The book would have been a third of the length. Regardless, part of the message of the book that one would be remissed not to accept is of learning to love ones neurodiverse self in all its excesses. I’m sure I disliked the chattery verbosity because I too am a verbose adhd-c woman and it reminded me too much of my own character indulgences which I constantly must reign in.
And one should not miss the forest for the trees here - the text is thoroughly researched and spoke to the myriad questions many people have about adhd across time, gender, and socioeconomic class. It also highlighted some pertinent correspondences between neurodiversity and poverty, work prospects/earning power, life expectancy, criminality, gender expression, and more - asking timely questions about how all of these things would be changed significantly with greater understanding and treatment of adhd and neurodiversity. You come to understand why, post diagnosis, people become a bit neurodivergence-pilled - like, society at large starts to become filtered through the lens of neurodiversity/neurotypicality.
I would say that if you’re a selective adhder like myself who would otherwise be off put by the fugly cover design (tip: read it on an e-reader) and brassy tone you’d be missing a perfect opportunity to (firstly, confront your shadow self, and) be supported through the pivotal lifestyle changes that await you post-diagnosis.
Now I must say, I have a personal distaste for overly anecdotal, conversation writing. The style is very much that. I often found myself wishing the editor (if there was one?) was stricter. The book would have been a third of the length. Regardless, part of the message of the book that one would be remissed not to accept is of learning to love ones neurodiverse self in all its excesses. I’m sure I disliked the chattery verbosity because I too am a verbose adhd-c woman and it reminded me too much of my own character indulgences which I constantly must reign in.
And one should not miss the forest for the trees here - the text is thoroughly researched and spoke to the myriad questions many people have about adhd across time, gender, and socioeconomic class. It also highlighted some pertinent correspondences between neurodiversity and poverty, work prospects/earning power, life expectancy, criminality, gender expression, and more - asking timely questions about how all of these things would be changed significantly with greater understanding and treatment of adhd and neurodiversity. You come to understand why, post diagnosis, people become a bit neurodivergence-pilled - like, society at large starts to become filtered through the lens of neurodiversity/neurotypicality.
I would say that if you’re a selective adhder like myself who would otherwise be off put by the fugly cover design (tip: read it on an e-reader) and brassy tone you’d be missing a perfect opportunity to (firstly, confront your shadow self, and) be supported through the pivotal lifestyle changes that await you post-diagnosis.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews