My husband was diagnosed with ADHD age 42 - almost 13 years ago now. We are lucky to live in a country where diagnosis was pretty much immediate and he got medication and has regular checkups with his neurologist.

My brother on the other hand is in the UK and is in the process of waiting for his assessment, and it’s been years already.

Getting the diagnosis didn’t change him per se, but his entire life made sense, his childhood, schooling, everything, as well as his self medicating from alcohol to coffee etc… I have known him BR (before Ritalin) and AR (after Ritalin) and he is much happier knowing. But it hasn’t changed him a huge amount, he’s still the same person and loses things m, doesn’t listen to me, needs to retreat from mental overload and all the cupboard doors are always open. It also gave me a better understanding and patience with him as I know it’s not his fault.

Just to say, knowing doesn’t have to change anything but the knowledge is powerful enough to help with the turmoil of not knowing and not understanding why things are so difficult for some people.