Three Simple Ways I’m Coping With ADHD FOMO

And how I’m finally learning to accept my neurodivergent path

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I’ve spent most of my life questioning my choices and comparing myself to others.

I never wanted to be normal—the thought of a husband, kids, job, and house seemed stifling. But I also craved the stability that an established life path could provide and the friendships that seemed effortless for others to cultivate.

While ambitious, I lacked the focus everyone else seemed to have.

And yet, to an outsider, I became successful anyway. I didn’t become an Olympian, but I still got to star in ice shows alongside them. I stumbled into writing, crafting hundreds of pieces on everything from figure skating to film festivals, interviewing famous athletes, and landing a book deal at 21. At the same time, I earned three degrees and helped run a small business and two nonprofits.

Some people have said that I couldn’t have ADHD due to my accomplishments, but they didn’t understand how I felt throughout all these achievements. Inside, I was frequently emotionally off-balance, unfulfilled, and worn out. I managed to keep all the balls in the air without them crashing to the ground. Instead, I did the crashing.