Since my adult ADHD diagnosis in 2011, I've learned some powerful, life-changing lessons about living with adult ADHD. When you combine the desire for change with different healing approaches such as therapy, research and, for some, medication, you're truly unstoppable when it comes to living a successful life with this condition. I say that because I'm doing it — I'm the proof in the pudding, so to speak.

Let's get straight to the lessons that have made a big difference in my life since the adult ADHD diagnosis:

1. Things Get Better

We all go through tough times in life. That's a given. What separates the truly happy and successful from the rest can be summed up in one word: perspective. When you approach any situation with gratitude and the hope that things can get better, opportunities present themselves in your life. Even though I attempted suicide in 2011, a tiny, faded spark prevented me from actually making sure I succeeded. From there, I "waved the white flag" and drove to the local ER. As sad and viciously empty as I felt to the bottom of my soul, I just lived on the possibility that maybe health care professionals could help me be happy again. I had no idea how — I just got to the hospital, and thank God it worked.

2. I Am Not Broken

I'm still wrapping my head around the fact that I'm not damaged. Over the years my self-esteem has taken one heck of a beating, all thanks to repeated poor behavior that was destructive in every area of my life: unstable employment, trouble with the law, credit problems and, worst of all, relationship woes. I even dropped out of university at 33 after completely burning out. That was when my identity crisis, depression, and suicide attempt happened in a short period of time, as if I was determined to crash like a 747 that lost both its engines. Even though I had to commit myself to the psych ward a year ago after an aftershock of depression, I now know that it just had to "click" in my head. I had to finally internalize just how destructive my behaviors were — and that I was not a lesser being or damaged goods, I just had to readjust my way of approaching my life.

3. A Diagnosis Can Change Your Life

Hearing my ADHD diagnosis: well, talk about a life-altering moment! Though it was hard to accept at first, it was also a huge relief to hear that there was a name for what I had been battling for so many years. I quickly realized that I now had an easy formula for a better life: I could do research, laser-in on the symptoms of ADHD that had been hurting me all these years, and then uncover ways to minimize them while focusing on my personal strengths. Sadly many never receive this blessing. There are thousands, if not millions, of adults who are still confused and destructive, all because they remain undiagnosed.

4. ADHD Can Be a Gift

While many tend to focus on the aspects of ADHD that can easily destroy lives, there is another side to this condition. A common trait for adults with ADHD is hyper-focus, or being able to focus intensely on something for a long period of time. This occurs when we're passionate about something, and it can be put to great use in your career, school, or in other areas where you want to be successful. Hyper-focus can also be a bad thing without awareness, so we have to be careful not to stay in that mindset for too long in day-to-day life, or other areas of life can suffer. Adults with ADHD also tend to be creative, passionate thinkers and feelers. Those can also be positive traits when they are balanced and used in healthy ways. These are a couple examples of good things related to ADHD.

5. The World Is Just Starting to Learn About Adult ADHD

Only as a result of my literal life-and-death struggle with ADHD have I come to learn that modern society is still in the "dark ages" for the most part when it comes to this mental health condition. From those who claim it doesn't actually exist to those who have the overnight cure, there are all sorts of conflicting beliefs out there, and more research is definitely needed. I cringe when I hear people say that ADHD doesn't exist — call it whatever you want, but these symptoms and behaviors have taken a terrible toll on my life, and I know exactly how real they are. So do millions and millions of other adults out there. That's why I'm on a mission to be a freight train for good in raising awareness and eager to continue to learn about my condition.

What lessons have you learned from having adult ADHD?