I suspect I might have ADHD and that would explain many of my shortcomings in school, university, now school again, as well as in my private life. Wouldn't a diagnosis help with choosing the right direction to tackle these problems from?

Like, if I know it's ADHD, I know that it's a brain-chemistry problem and if it's not, it's maybe just a generell attitude or overall motivation problem? I see your point about the focus not needing to be on the diagnosis but on treating the symptoms themselves, regardless of diagnosis, but wouldn't treatment look different then?

[–] The_Picard_Maneuver@piefed.world 2 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago)

The treatment would look different if it's determined to be something else, for example: ADHD symptoms look very similar to what happens if you chronically get bad sleep, or if you're too sedentary and your endurance is low, or if you are depressed/anxious and that is causing you to feel unmotivated or inattentive from the mental load, etc. But otherwise, if you are having "ADHD-like" symptoms, the same coping skills will likely help independently of the label.

I always encourage people to not put too much weight on a diagnosis to explain themselves, but rather as a more functional, strategic tool. As in, this isn't a conclusive label that forever describes me, but rather the current strategy/approach that's being used (sometimes for insurance or access purposes).