Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
A tangled ball of spaghetti. That’s how aspiring therapist Rebecca Gonzalez-Ojeda describes her ADHD brain. Diagnosed with ADHD in fifth grade, Rebecca grew up hearing messages to “just try harder” while struggling with school and self-esteem. It felt like giving 110% still wasn’t enough.
Rebecca reflects on painful IEP meetings, discouraging comments from teachers, and the emotional drain of being misunderstood for years. She also shares what it was like “raw-dogging” life after losing access to treatment, then getting re-diagnosed with ADHD after college — and how ADHD medication changed her life.
For more on this topic
Listen: The “devastating” findings of a decades-long ADHD study understood.org/en/podcasts/hyperfocus/the-devastating-findings-of-a-decades-long-adhd-study
Read: ADHD and self-esteem: What to say to kids understood.org/en/articles/adhd-and-self-esteem-what-to-say-to-your-child
Watch: Psychologist explains the biggest challenges of adult ADHD youtube.com/watch?v=L7YJGecsf-s&list=PL0Kjy0JtEbaRZFoXAKOiUgz_se7Aaa9O4&index=10
For a transcript and more resources, visit ADHD Aha! on Understood.org. understood.org/en/podcasts/adhd-aha/college-with-adhd
You can also email us at adhdaha@understood.org.
Questions about learning and thinking differences? Get answers and expert-vetted resources by asking the AI-powered Understood Assistant:
understood.org/en/assistant?utm_medium=organic&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=assistant-agn-prod&utm_content=video
Understood is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/en/donate?sc=AHA0725YTO&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=fundraising-agn-vid-adhdaha&utm_content=video
For more resources, support, and excellent memes, subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on:
Instagram: instagram.com/understoodorg
Facebook: facebook.com/Understood
TikTok: tiktok.com/@understood.org
Pinterest: pinterest.com/understoodorg
A tangled ball of spaghetti. That’s how aspiring therapist Rebecca Gonzalez-Ojeda describes her ADHD brain. Diagnosed with ADHD in fifth grade, Rebecca grew up hearing messages to “just try harder” while struggling with school and self-esteem. It felt like giving 110% still wasn’t enough.
Rebecca reflects on painful IEP meetings, discouraging comments from teachers, and the emotional drain of being misunderstood for years. She also shares what it was like “raw-dogging” life after losing access to treatment, then getting re-diagnosed with ADHD after college — and how ADHD medication changed her life.
For more on this topic
Listen: The “devastating” findings of a decades-long ADHD study understood.org/en/podcasts/hyperfocus/the-devastating-findings-of-a-decades-long-adhd-study
Read: ADHD and self-esteem: What to say to kids understood.org/en/articles/adhd-and-self-esteem-what-to-say-to-your-child
Watch: Psychologist explains the biggest challenges of adult ADHD youtube.com/watch?v=L7YJGecsf-s&list=PL0Kjy0JtEbaRZFoXAKOiUgz_se7Aaa9O4&index=10
For a transcript and more resources, visit ADHD Aha! on Understood.org. understood.org/en/podcasts/adhd-aha/college-with-adhd
You can also email us at adhdaha@understood.org.
Questions about learning and thinking differences? Get answers and expert-vetted resources by asking the AI-powered Understood Assistant:
understood.org/en/assistant?utm_medium=organic&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=assistant-agn-prod&utm_content=video
Understood is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/en/donate?sc=AHA0725YTO&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=fundraising-agn-vid-adhdaha&utm_content=video
For more resources, support, and excellent memes, subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on:
Instagram: instagram.com/understoodorg
Facebook: facebook.com/Understood
TikTok: tiktok.com/@understood.org
Pinterest: pinterest.com/understoodorg
