Did you know that women with ADHD are more beautiful than women who don’t have ADHD?

Actually, that’s not true. I made that up. Sorry. 🙂

What is true is that low self esteem and depression can often accompany ADHD, and that can often be as obvious as the nose on your face, at least to others.

The first time I was diagnosed with depression, I was talking to the psychiatrist about Caitlin’s ADHD diagnosis. At one point in the conversation, she stopped and said “This may be unprofessional of me, but you’ve got a big neon sign over your head that says depressed.”

I burst into tears because I realized that she was right. I’ve always been grateful to her for saying that.

Have you ever stopped to consider the way you look and how you present yourself?

I was watching a television show last night – sort of a Sex and the City thing – and I noticed how nice all the women looked. They were dressed well, had on makeup and jewelry, had their nails done. It was obvious that these were women who valued themselves enough to take care of their appearance.

How do you look on a daily basis? Are you wearing yoga pants and a t-shirt with your hair in a pony tail? Makeup? Do you go to the grocery store looking that way?

Now I’m not suggesting you start dressing like the cast of Desperate Housewives in order to drive car pool, but could you maybe step up your game a little?

Right now, I am 54 years old and overweight. Sure, I would love to look the way I did 20 years and 30 lbs ago, but that’s not going to happen. At least not right away. (By the way, the spring issue of ADDitude magazine has a picture of me in all my…. well, it has a picture of me along with an article I wrote in case you want to see.)

Up until a few weeks ago, I spent most of my days in mom jeans and a sweatshirt. Sometimes I put on makeup and most of the time I did do my hair. And you know what? I felt like I looked – shlumpy and lumpy and sad.

So I did a little makeover on myself. It’s a work in progress.

I bought some jeans that fit and make me feel good. I wear makeup every day cause that makes me feel good too. I found a new blouse that looks good on me and makes me feel fierce, and the most gorgeous necklace ever.

I walk a little taller now, look people in the eye more, and feel more confident.

When you have ADHD, it’s easy to lose your self confidence. When you project yourself and your low self esteem, people don’t take you as seriously. If you look like you don’t care about yourself, they dismiss you.

Ever have an ADD moment in public? Embarrassing, huh?

Picture this: two women having the exact same ADD moment. One is wearing sweats, old shoes, and has messy hair. The other has on attractive clothes, makeup, and maybe even cute shoes.

Now picture the reaction of the people who witness that ADD moment. The first women will be dismissed as a complete flake, while the other one will get a much more favorable reaction.

Which woman do you want to be?