Testimony: living and thriving with ADHD, Lucas’s story
Lucas is 22. Diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 8 after years of misunderstood school difficulties, he went through a difficult adolescence before finding his path in game design. He shares his story with remarkable candour for all the young people who are living what he lived.
School: a daily struggle
My memories of primary school are marked by constant reprimands. I couldn’t stay still. I lost my things, I forgot my homework, I disrupted the class without really meaning to. My parents were called in regularly. My teacher thought I was hyperactive and disrespectful. I knew I wasn’t trying to disrupt anything, but I didn’t understand why I couldn’t manage it.
The diagnosis came in Year 4. My GP finally sent my parents to see a paediatric neurologist. The assessment took several weeks. And when the doctor explained ADHD to my parents and to me, I felt something unexpected: an immense sense of relief. It wasn’t my fault. My brain worked differently. And there were things that could be done to help me.
Treatment and strategies: what changed
I started drug treatment in Year 5. It didn’t solve everything, but it made things much more manageable. At the same time I attended CBT with a specialist psychologist, who helped me develop organisational strategies: lists, routines, timers. At school I got a PAP with extra time and a seat at the front of the class. These adjustments allowed me to show what I really could do.
Adolescence: emotional difficulties
Adolescence was the most difficult period. ADHD and hormones do not make a good mix. I had very intense emotions that I struggled to regulate. I lost my temper easily, I made impulsive decisions, and I found it hard to fit into social groups that seemed to follow invisible rules I didn’t understand. I needed more intensive psychological support during those years.
Today: a game designer and proud of it
Today I am a junior game designer at an independent studio. My ADHD has become an asset in this job: creativity, lateral thinking, the ability to make unexpected connections and hyperfocus on projects I’m passionate about are valuable strengths in my field. I still take my medication, I know myself better, and I have learned to use my strengths rather than fight my weaknesses. For resources on ADHD and DYS disorders, lesdys.fr offers guides and a community for families.
