ADHD can reduce life expectancy by as much as 13 years… a story.

Once upon a time, there lived a fifty-year-old communications professional who was diagnosed with ADHD. At the moment of diagnosis, everything made sense to him to bring clarity to his personal and professional challenges.

The man learned that according to Dr. Russell Barkley, ADHD can reduce life expectancy by as much as 13 years, but its risk is reversible with treatment and education.

One night soon after his diagnosis, he passed a billboard that sparked an idea as he drove several hours home from a speaking engagement. When he returned home, he journaled about his ADHD and the squirrel billboard that reminded him of the Doug the Dog distraction meme from the movie, “Up.”

Successes with ADHD

He knew that he wasn’t just a distracted dog but a wise man from having navigated his life with undiagnosed ADHD. He marveled at his successes like a twenty-five-year loving relationship with his wife and best friend, raising two smart, kind, and creative young adults, his adventures abroad, his successes in his career and owning his own business, and even writing a published book - all without the knowledge of his neurodiverse operating system.

He realized he had to share his story with the world to remove stigmas and inspire and educate people about ADHD. He openly shared his diagnosis, developed a presentation and process to help them called The Root Down, and launched a website and the ADHD Wise Squirrels podcast dedicated to helping other late-diagnosed adults… or who he affectionately calls “Wise Squirrels."

Navigating ADHD: Effective Coping Strategies for Overwhelm and the Journey to Sobriety and Self-Discovery

The man, Dave Delaney, was invited as a guest on the wonderful Beyond The To-Do List podcast to share his story. He talked at length with the lovely show host, Erik Fisher (a fellow Wise Squirrel), about topics like…

- Struggles with ADHD: He opened up about the challenges he faced in acknowledging and accepting his ADHD diagnosis, shedding light on the nuances of its manifestation and potential comorbidities like anxiety and depression.

- Coping strategies to manage overwhelm related to ADHD, from the use of the Eisenhower Matrix for decision-making to the power of journaling and seeking professional help.

- Sobriety and self-discovery: His 1200+ days of sobriety, highlighting the profound impact it has had on his clarity, well-being, and overall life, as he delves into how it intersects with his ADHD journey.

And Erik shared that story with his friends, fans, and followers to help with Dave’s mission. And now the story awaits for you to hear and share on Beyond the To-Do List.