With NHS waiting lists for ADHD assessments growing across the UK, many adults are choosing to seek private assessments to get answers sooner. However, people are understandably concerned about spending money on an assessment only to find that the NHS will not recognise it.

Over the last few years working as a psychologist and therapist with adults with ADHD, I’ve become increasingly interested in the role that psychological defense mechanisms play in how many people cope before diagnosis — and sometimes long after it.

If you've ever sat down to do a small task (reply to a text, sort the laundry, stack the dishwasher) and felt like you were trying to walk through treacle, this post is for you.

If you've spent any time on TikTok or Instagram lately, you've probably caught yourself thinking "wait, is that me?" more than once. Maybe it was a video about ADHD. Maybe it was about autism. Maybe both. And now you're not sure which (if either) actually explains what's going on for you.

If you are thinking about booking a private ADHD assessment, you are probably wondering what actually happens. Will it feel like an exam? What do you need to prepare? How long will it take? This guide walks you through the whole process from the moment you book through to receiving your final report, so you know exactly what to expect.

Over the last few years, dopamine has become the internet’s favourite neurotransmitter. It’s blamed for distraction, burnout, social-media addiction, and often invoked in conversations about ADHD. The idea that ADHD is just a “dopamine deficiency” that can be hacked, boosted, or “reset” through tricks like dopamine fasting has a certain appeal. Unfortunately, it’s also a big oversimplification — and sometimes a harmful one.