I finally decided to try therapy. Not because I’m in crisis, but because I want to figure out how to work with my ADHD instead of constantly feeling like it’s working against me. I’m also carrying a few different kinds of grief—the kind that sneaks in quietly, and the kind that hits like a wave.

I don’t want either of them—ADHD or grief—to keep me from living my life. I don’t want to avoid my friends, not because my brain feels scattered, but because I don’t want to cry when someone asks how I’m doing. I don’t want to wake up years from now with the regret of not showing up for myself.

In my first session, I told my therapist exactly that. I said I wanted tools to manage my focus, to process what I’ve lost, and to stop letting those things dictate how connected I feel to people or the world around me.

It wasn’t a movie moment—no dramatic revelations or instant clarity. But it was a start. A quiet, steady beginning where I felt seen and understood. I left feeling just a little lighter, like I’d set down something heavy I’d been carrying for too long.

I know this won’t be a quick fix. But maybe therapy is less about “fixing” and more about creating space to grow without the weight of what’s been holding you back. That’s where I’m starting.

She also recommended I read Grief Day By Day by Jan Warner—a guide with daily reflections and gentle practices for living with loss.