Hi! I’m Alastair Cassie, Founder of The ADHD Dojo™. I wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD until my 50s. I’d spent over 50 years living with ADHD without realising it. I’d always known there was a missing, unexplained element to why I felt different to other people.

For most of my adult life, I battled undiagnosed sleep apnoea and insomnia. Working in the wine trade for over 30 years meant managing alcohol intake was challenging. I pushed my physical and mental health to the limits. It took a Cardiology Consultant to insist on sleep tests after my GP had dismissed my concerns for years with “just lose weight”. Given the results, I was lucky to be alive. But once armed with a CPAP machine, I embarked on creating my own solutions for sleep and alcohol consumption, as traditional advice had always failed me. It was on this path that I realised the underlying thread was probably ADHD.

Once I had solutions that worked, I started sharing them with friends and colleagues. They saw the transformation and pushed me to help more people. I conducted research, completed coaching qualifications, gained CPD provider accreditation, and became a member of the ADHD Coaches Organisation. The ADHD Dojo™ now combines courses in sleep strategies, RSD regulation, and alcohol moderation with a supportive community where members celebrate wins and help others.

In addition to the courses and coaching, I’ve also just launched ADHD Skills not Symptoms™ on social media, a space focused on skills and strategies for improving ADHD life rather than getting trapped in a negative loop of constantly being reminded why we’re different. I was getting “symptom overload” every time I looked at my phone!

ADHD UK has been instrumental in my understanding of ADHD, and they do fabulous work despite their financial constraints. I’m bringing my fundraising experience, enthusiasm, and the ADHD strategies I’ve developed to the organisation as an ambassador and volunteer.