Lisa Barclay

My name is Lisa Barclay, and I grew up on the northwest coast of Ireland in a deeply Catholic family and small town. This month, I turn 48. For most of my life—up until I was 47—I lived under a cloud of misunderstanding and labels. Family and friends often saw me as "nuts," "disobedient," "deceitful," "hyperactive," "oversensitive," and even "lazy." Healthcare professionals, including psychiatrists, diagnosed me with conditions like anxiety, depression, alcoholism, bipolar disorder, and dissociative identity disorder. I was prescribed nearly every psychiatric medication available.

However, everything changed a year ago when I was finally diagnosed with Combined ADHD. My journey has been filled with sadness, tragedy, madness and luck , but it has also been sprinkled with true Irish humor. Now, I’ve started a new chapter in my life with my business in Dubai, a corporate health and life consulting company called Health Sense Consulting. In just one year since my diagnosis, my life has transformed. I’ve gone from self-destructive behaviors and despair to understanding, learning, and accepting my condition. There’s so much hope and life out there, and I’m determined to share my story with others—especially undiagnosed adults with ADHD—who may still be struggling unnecessarily.