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Chloe Botting. ADHD UK Ambassador

My name is Chloe and I live in West Sussex. I am currently studying towards a BSC (Hons) Psychology with Counselling degree.

For as much of my life as I can remember, I always felt different and spent most of my early life feeling isolated and struggling to fit in. I would look at other children at school and wonder how they could form such good relationships, sit still in class and not get overwhelmed by the school environment to the point of frequent panic attacks. Because of this, my mental health took a huge decline and I was first referred to CAMHs when I was 12 years old where I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression, and put on antidepressants.

The medication didn’t make a difference but still no one would explore other options and I was told I’d grow out of it. Because of this, I struggled the whole way through school with minimal support because I was referred to as a ‘naughty child’. My parents were frequently told I was a massive distraction to others, and that if I didn’t learn to concentrate I wouldn’t succeed or pass any of my exams. My grades while I was attending school were below the bare minimum. As a result, I barely attended secondary school for the final part of it because I knew the way I was being taught wasn’t working for me, so I taught myself from home and got myself ready for my exams. I left school with 10 GCSEs.

I became obsessed with anything and everything that would quieten my mind and found myself falling down a dark path of addiction and frequent episodes of a mental health crisis. My whole life started to fall apart, my relationships with my family suffered and I completely lost hope.
When I was 18, I was diagnosed with EUPD. As much as it explained some of my symptoms, it still left me with a lot of unanswered questions. I was given more medication and referred for DBT therapy – but it was a group environment and within about 4 weeks I gave up because I struggled to focus in groups of people and I was told if I wasn’t willing to help myself, no one could help me either.

In 2021, my lead practitioner at the time said that he had done some research on ADHD being misdiagnosed as EUPD – especially in young women. We began the process of pushing for an assessment but I was told if I had ADHD the children’s mental health services would’ve picked up on it.

I continued to push my consultant for my assessment and in 2023, she finally agreed. I was diagnosed with ADHD combined type and referred for an autism assessment in November 2023 at the age of 22 – and then the wait for medication started.

I had no support in the meantime, and I was asking every 5 minutes when I’d finally be able to try medication. 6 months later, I was started on my medication. But the struggle didn’t stop there.

The national shortage of ADHD medication in the UK has made it extremely challenging for me to access my medication and I have experienced days/weeks at a time without it which has forced me into withdrawal (which, by the way, is horrendous). This is one of the many problems that needs to be fixed.

Even after diagnosis, the support has been minimal and I have had no NHS support while navigating my life through diagnosis and treatment.

No one should have to fight for years to be listened to. No one should have to go into medication withdrawal. No one should be left feeling isolated and unsupported. No one should have to feel that sense of hopelessness and self-doubt.

ADHD is difficult and it can be debilitating, especially without a correct diagnosis or treatment pathway. It can lead to other mental health difficulties forming, social difficulties and in some devastating cases even suicide.

I have previously fundraised and worked alongside Mind and Samaritans and I have appealed to the local MP for better mental healthcare. I use my social media platforms to raise awareness and try to educate others as much as possible.

I have ADHD – but I am also a friend, a daughter, a sister, a student, and a young woman trying to navigate my way through all of life’s ups and downs. I am 4 years sober, living independently, doing a degree and I am now also a cat mum!

I came across ADHD UK while doing my own research into what support was available and frequently signpost people to the website to gain information and support. Being an ambassador for ADHD UK means the world to me, and I am so honoured to be working alongside the team to push for change, advocate for others and educate my community on neurodiversity. My main goals are to advocate for better understanding within the education system, the NHS and increasing the quality of support available.

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