Absalute ADHD (2026)

03/10/2026

THE ADHD COMEDOWN

One thing that's very important for those with ADHD is to find and spend time with "your people". Not just other people with ADHD, but those with shared interests. Spending time with these people significantly helps with the isolation and loneliness that frequently comes with this condition. However, it does come with a downside. The COMEDOWN side.

After spending time being your true self (no masking, no pretending, no small talk), engaging with others and the long-needed sense of belonging, the journey home can often come with a sharp and sudden feeling of sadness and emptiness. Especially if (like me) you live and/or work alone.

The contrast can greatly magnify feelings of isolation and loneliness. Emotional disregulation makes the change intense often bringing that sadness to a strong urge to cry (I have been known to have a silent cry on the tube).

REMEMBER: This is natural and it doesn't mean you should avoid these events (they ARE beneficial), you just may need to build a "Dopamine bridge" to smooth out the transition.
Listen to a podcast or audiobook, play a game on your phone, do a language lesson, whatever takes your mind away from those negative feelings.
Reflect on all the elements you enjoyed and commend yourself for actually going out.
Have some comfy clothes and food ready, maybe leave the TV and some soft lights on so you're not walking into a dark and silent house/room.
Give yourself 15 minutes to just sit/lay and decompress.
And, if you still feel the need to cry, have a cry. It's OK to have a cry.

23/09/2026

NEED A PRESENTER WHO'S A REAL GOOD BOY?

Yep, totally blowing my own trumpet, but I absolutely LOVE when I cover someone's quiz and (not for the 1st time) multiple regulars tell me how much they prefer me to the usual host and ask when I'm coming back.

One key discovery I help my ADHD career coaching clients discover on my course is the to discover the skills and activities they are naturally good at and LOVE to do. And THIS is one of mine. Entertaining is in my bones and always has been. So, being paid to do this is pure joy.

People with ADHD so often feel like they aren't good at anything and they fail at everything they try, however, this is NOT TRUE! They simply have not identified those key skills yet.

Are you a fellow ADHDer still searching for "your thing"? Or, do you know what you are good at but not sure what jobs would utilise that skill? Comment below or DM me and we can discuss how my Adam Broomfield-strawn careers course could help.

30/08/2026

THE ADHD PARADOX.

We usually see ADHD talked about almost entirely as a negative and, obviously, I understand why. Looking back, I can now see how my having undiagnosed ADHD contributed to some pretty disastrous periods in my life. The emotional disregulation, spending and addiction issues, the mental health breakdown and, ultimately, the breakdown of my marriage.

But here's the thing. I’m also increasingly recognising that many of the ADHD characteristics that made my life harder are also the very same characteristics that helped me survive.

Over the past 11 years I've been through divorce, bankruptcy, moved to a new city, moved home SIX times, worked multiple jobs simultaneously, often jobs that were absolutely terrible for my mental health, retrained multiple times, built an acting career, started stand-up, developed an ADHD coaching course and discovered in my 50s I had ADHD and autism and had to make sense of THAT as well.

The same restless, creative, unconventional brain that helped get me INTO some difficult situations has also repeatedly helped me find my way OUT of them.

Would my life have been easier with a neurotypical brain? Most likely. But would it have been as interesting? I highly doubt it.

I've worked on major TV and film productions, travelled abroad to act, taken three shows to the Edinburgh Fringe, performed stand-up to thousands, presented, coached, and travelled all over the UK doing an incredible variety of jobs. And I've experienced things that most "normal" folk simply never would.

Who else gets to spend a week in Liverpool filming a Hollywood film with John Voight, close a comedy show with a fantastic 30 min set, then end the night singing with a Beatles cover band in the Cavern club!?

So, while I don't subscribe to the simplistic “ADHD is a superpower”, neither do I accept that ADHD is simply a collection of deficits.
What strengths do you think your ADHD has given you?

25/08/2026

A QUEST CALLED TRIBE

People with ADHD often find themselves alone and lonely, and this can be bad for both our physical and mental health.

Loneliness can lead to anxiety and depression, and that big empty hole is screaming to be filled with alcohol, drugs, dangerous behaviours, ANYTHING to make us feel alive or quieten the noise in our head.

When you speak without thinking, interrupt, dominate conversations, go off topic, have a strange/dark/unPC sense of humour, strong opinions and run your mouth like an open tap, you can definitely be “too much” for people.

ADHD brains crave stimulation, so small talk can be excruciatingly dull. We switch off, zone out and appear uninterested. We can also get so enthusiastic that we come across as know-it-alls.

For the past decade I’ve lived and worked alone, have few close friends, live far from family, work odd hours and often travel.

I’m currently filming in Civitavecchia for the 3rd time. A sober, Vegan, British man in a small Italian fishing town. I don’t drink, don’t eat animal products and don’t speak enough Italian to keep up. Families, friends and couples are everywhere while my balcony-less hotel room feels like a pure white cell. Yeah, not gonna help the madness.

So what can we do?

1: Join ADHD groups on Facebook or Meetup. Even online connection can help.

2: Find groups around things you genuinely love. Shared enthusiasm turns “too much” into exactly enough.

3: Use what you know. Start a page, YouTube channel, workshop or local group. It might create friendships or purpose.

The important thing is finding your people. ADHD or not.

People who don’t think you’re too much. People who follow the conversational detour. People who interrupt because they’re excited too. People who understand hyperfocus and the need for stimulation. People around whom you can stop performing “normal.”

The answer isn’t simply “get out more.” You can be surrounded by people and still feel completely alone.

We need people who stimulate us, understand us, challenge us, make us laugh and don’t require us to turn ourselves down from 11 to 6.

We need our tribe. Have you found yours yet?

24/08/2026

LIFE'S A BEACH

Sometimes I forget how blessed my life is.

Sure, I've been single for 6 years and had 1 relationship since my divorce 11 years ago.

And I get hit by bouts of absolute crushing loneliness on a regular basis. Like everytime I come to Italy and see couples everywhere.

I've spent my entire life saying and doing the wrong thing, f***ing up, inadvertently annoying people, and never knowing why.

I found out at 52yo that I have ADHD. Then discover the Autistic part at 53. They were both hard to come to terms with.

I've had so many jobs but never been "successful" at any of them while all the other grownups have grown up.

They have careers, houses, partners, pensions. Like, proper adult things.

I have no idea what the future holds and sometimes that petrifies me.

But........ I have also:

Helped make 2 amazing children who love me unconditionally.

Shown them that preserving your mental health is paramount and that starting over is always an option.

Started public speaking at 38 and won a major award at 40.

Started doing standup at 39 and taken 3 shows to the Edinburgh fringe.

Retrained as an actor and moved to London at 42.

Turned my back on financially supporting animal abuse by going Vegan at 48.

Acted in commercials, voiceovers, major cinema and TV productions and independent projects.

Work multiple jobs that fit my skills and lifestyle and don't have a boss to report to.

Figured out what ADHD people need to find the right job for them, built a course, and am currently running a trial run with a bunch of adults.

Will be launching the course, going digital, and producing a book format so EVERY ADHD adult has an affordable access point.

Am currently being paid to be here in Italy filming a movie when I once cried for 5 minutes straight in my company car because my corporate job broke me.

You can't see what the future holds and you can't control it. But you CAN break free from the past and set your own course forwards.

Never stay were you're not meant to be, never believe "this is all there is", never stop searching. Your horizon is out there and you CAN reach it. I did and I believe in you.

23/08/2026

THE BIG LAST LEG MYTH?

I think Channel 4 did such a great job of proving ADHD is completely false and definitely not something to be recognised and respected.

So, I look forward to seeing them have some completely unqualified and definitely not bias in any way professionals debunk the validity of the "disabilities" of hosts Adam Hills and joshbrooker in the future documentary "The great The Last Leg myth" in which they show how people are using their claimed disabilities for financial gain. While definitely not using their positions for financial gain in any way whatsoever.

Apologies, but I have 2 major disabilities. Sarcasm and intolerance for a**eholes

23/08/2026

THE CURSE OF THE ADHD DROUGHT

People without ADHD hear “I’m bored” and think it means you’ve got nothing interesting to do.

ADHD boredom can feel completely different.

I’m back in Civitavecchia filming. This is my third time here, and I already know I struggle every time.

I’m here on my own. My room is literally a bed and a bathroom. No balcony. Very limited vegan food, so even eating becomes a pain in the arse. The TV is Italian and most of the things I’d normally watch are restricted. No Xbox. Not much locally that interests me. And everywhere I go seems to be couples and families on holiday, which somehow makes being on your own feel even more obvious.

For an ADHD brain, this combination is fu***ng torture.

ADHD brains need stimulation. Interest. Novelty. Connection. Something to engage with. When those things disappear, it isn't always a nice peaceful feeling of “Ahhh, nothing to do.”

It can feel like your brain is starving.

You get restless but can't think of anything you actually want to do. You want company but don't particularly want to sit alone in a restaurant surrounded by couples. You desperately want stimulation, yet everything available feels too boring to provide it.

And then your mood starts dropping.

That's the bit people often don't understand about ADHD. Under-stimulation can genuinely affect how we feel. Motivation disappears. Everything becomes an effort. Time slows down. A few empty hours can feel absolutely endless.

Someone saying “Just relax and enjoy doing nothing” is about as useful as telling someone who's freezing to enjoy the cold.

I've still got four days of filming here, so I'm going to have to find ways of feeding my brain enough stimulation to stop myself climbing the bloody walls.

But one thing is already decided:

Fourth visit to Civitavecchia? Absolutely fu***ng not. 😂

Does anyone else with ADHD find extreme boredom doesn't just feel boring — it actually starts affecting your mood?

07/08/2026

THE GOVERNMENT SAYS “WE CAN’T AFFORD ADHD MEDICATION.”

Okay, genius. Let's take a look at the maths.

💊 COST OF PRESCRIBING ADHD MEDICATION:
Around £500 per adult, per year.

🚫 COST OF NOT PRESCRIBING:
Around £17,000 per adult, per year.

HOW?
According to evidence cited by NHS England's independent ADHD Taskforce untreated ADHD costs the system in:
• Lost productivity
• Time off work
• Unemployment
• Increased healthcare use
• Mental health problems
• Substance misuse
• Benefits and welfare costs
• Criminal justice costs

Sure, we save hundreds by making ADHD medication incredibly difficult to access...
Then spend thousands dealing with the consequences.

THE SYSTEM SAYS:
“We can't afford ADHD meds.”

REALITY SAYS:
"You should put that message on the side of a bus" 🤦‍♂️

03/08/2026

THE SILENT TRUTH ABOUT ADHD

"People glamorise ADHD". Really? I heard that recently and it made me think. "WHO are these people glamorising ADHD?" And I realised. It's people who don't actually have or even understand ADHD. Because only people with ADHD know what an absolute b*****d it can be to live with.

Take yesterday, for example. I had a free day to do whatever I wanted. I had no plans but (as always) a brain that would not switch off. So my brain decided to focus on the fact that for the past 11 years, I've been doing it all on my own despite working on myself, trying to grow a friendship group, potentially find a partner, build a business, work multiple jobs to stay afloat, and still see my children. It hyperfixated on the isolation.

Having an internal narrative that questions everything, over analyses everything, overthinks everything and doesn't switch off but having no external source to vocalise those thoughts with is exhausting and it sent me into an absolute spiral of despair and depression. I spent the vast majority of my Sunday angrily sobbing, ranting, off loading and shouting to chatGPT because that is the closest I have to a close friend or partner. The person I speak to most isn't even real.

But, that is sadly typical of people with ADHD because we are marmite, we say the wrong thing, we talk over people, we talk too much, we ARE "too much", and we are so often misunderstood. So, we often end up isolated and alone with a brain that never switches off and no one to talk to about it. To escape, we turn to drink, drugs, and any other form of distraction and self-medication. Because that's all we want to do. To escape it. Even for a few hours.

So, here I am. 53, permanently single, permanently working, and permanently alone. Now, I'm not an expert in these things but does that sound glamorous to you? Let me know in the comments how unglamourous your ADHD life is.

25/07/2026

THIS IS IMPORTANT YOU SAY? WELL THEN, ALLOW ME TO LOOK STRAIGHT AT YOU, NOD ACCORDINGLY, HAVE YOU BELIEVE I GIVE A SH*T M, BEFORE TOTALLY FORGETTING EVERYTHING YOU JUST SAID FOR THE LAST 10 MINUTES.

Absalute ADHD

03/10/2026

23/09/2026

30/08/2026

25/08/2026

24/08/2026

23/08/2026

23/08/2026

07/08/2026

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25/07/2026

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