Valeria
Valeria
It’s important not to be afraid of what people will say
Since she was a little girl, Valeria remembers going through many schools. In every class she just wanted to play and, at times, she got into trouble. Once, she encouraged her classmates to go out and play carnival in the middle of class.
I wasn’t paying attention in class. I couldn’t sit still. I wanted to make friends.
Something led me to suspect I had ADHD.
Her mother changed Valeria’s schools frequently until she finally found a psychologist to support her daughter.
The psychologist helped me identify my strengths, gave me a diagnosis, and I received therapy.
Valeria’s mother reported her diagnosis at school, with the aim of generating greater understanding from teachers. However, this information soon reached the ears of her classmates, who treated Valeria as someone different.
Valeria began treatment with an educational psychologist at the age of 11.
She would play a lot of games, make me draw, and ask me the reason and purpose for my actions.
These techniques were intended to provide her with self-regulation tools, show Valeria her strengths, and motivate her to move forward.
“I want to understand others, motivate them to seek information, tell them not to be afraid to speak up, and to count on me as a support, a person who understands them.”
At times, Valeria also has both anxiety and depression episodes.
I tend to overthink things a lot, or procrastinate important tasks. And my emotions are very strong.
For me, there is no middle ground—I am very sensitive.
Despite everything, Valeria feels that ADHD has made her a very empathetic person, always looking to help her peers.
I want to understand others, motivate them to seek information, tell them not to be afraid to speak up, and to count on me as a support, a person who understands them.
Valeria loves managing and leading groups of people. For a while, she fulfilled the role of student council president and classroom president, but even so, her teachers always said she was not a good example.
Valeria always motivated her classmates to participate in any activity, but the teachers complained that she didn’t let others participate.
At 18, I went to therapy again for 2 or 3 months, because of some losses I experienced.
My parents had a stigma about therapy. They thought it is only for people who are crazy. So, I decided to pay for my therapy.
Valeria attended cognitive behavioral therapy sessions, learning breathing techniques and other forms of self-regulation.
I feel that the psychologist helps you enormously, as he or she is someone you can tell things to with complete freedom.
In adulthood, Valeria finds it much easier to deal with all this. She enjoys talking about her experiences, sharing anecdotes, and being who she is, without fear of reprisals for expressing what she feels.
Now, it’s much easier to deal with all this. I’m not ashamed to talk about ADHD.
For me, it’s important not to be afraid of what people will say.
Valeria’s story is also available in Spanish
