Julie Legg sits down with psychiatric nurse practitioner and mental health advocate Carolyn Mallon, whose journey from high school dropout to doctorate-level clinician is both inspiring and deeply relatable for late-diagnosed ADHDers. Carolyn shares how understanding her neurodivergence in adulthood radically shifted her ability to study, self-advocate, and succeed both academically and emotionally.

The conversation explores the messy, non-linear paths many ADHDers walk, the grief that can accompany diagnosis, and how resilience often looks like simply showing up, trying again, and choosing compassion over shame. This episode is a great reminder that healing and success take many forms, and that it's never too late to start again... with better tools.

Key Points in this Episode:

• Carolyn’s diagnosis at 28 and how it changed her entire trajectory
• Why ADHD can mask as laziness or failure in school settings
• The emotional impact of late recognition and academic shame
• Making peace with your “past self” through compassion, not criticism
• How resilience is built in the middle of the mess, not just in hindsight
• The importance of redefining success beyond degrees and careers
• Why mental health providers with lived experience are uniquely powerful
• The joy of offering others the kind of care she once needed

Links:

• LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/in/cmallonrn/
• WEBSITE: https://www.balancementalhealth.com/
• FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/balancementalhealthnh
• YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@balancementalhealthnh
• INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/balancementalhealthnh
• RECOMMENDED READING: Learning Outside the Lines

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📖 BOOK: The Missing Piece: A Woman's Guide to Understanding, Diagnosing and Living with ADHD

ℹ️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or ADHDifference. Read More