The amount of negative self talk among those with ADHD can be really quite scary and upsetting for those experiencing it.

Low self esteem and lack of regard for self are not exclusive to ADHD but many of us can resonate when you add in the pressures of rejection sensitivity dysphoria to the mix too.

A couple of months after the ADHD diagnosis (at age 51) I finally realised that the race I’m having or battle in my head is mainly against me. I should whistleblow on myself because the nasty digs and tellings off would result in a sacking for gross misconduct and bullying in a workplace.

We look outside ourselves often when feeling down and hope that things can change for us but do we look inside?

That introspection feels self indulgent at times but is so crucially vital to understand what’s going on under the surface and invading our thinking. No wonder we can feel jaded when we have this negative mood hoover on our shoulders every hour of every day.

The hard part of it is that most of us with ADHD are kind and accepting of others and then not of ourselves so it’s like that person that you know is a piece of work but is nice as pie to people’s face.

It’s domestic abuse,, inflicted on ourselves by ourselves and to have any chance of lasting happiness or at least contentment we have to be friends with ourselves, be our own greatest cheerleader.

It’s not easy and it takes practice and you have to interrupt when you know you’re being a d*ck to yourself and change your wording and tone to a supportive one.

We all fight our own battles with ourselves but we have to win ourselves over. We must be friends with that critical voice and train it to be of help not hindrance.

Then we can perhaps go out in the world with positive regard and hope for better days.