Reframing ADHD through Wellness and Compassion
Clara Nah is a non-practising lawyer who transitioned into the wellness space prior to her ADHD diagnosis at 27. Today, she works as a personal trainer and mindful eating coach, helping others build healthier relationships with food, exercise, and themselves. Pursuing further studies in counselling, she champions the intersection of mental and physical wellbeing. Clara shares her story with honesty and vulnerability, encouraging greater self-compassion and understanding around ADHD.
Quotes
“Once I understood how ADHD affects executive function, impulse control, and emotion regulation, everything clicked.”
“Exercise and diet are also non-negotiable. Moving daily and eating well aren’t just about physical health; they directly improve my ability to focus and regulate emotions.”
Early Signs and Diagnosis
I never suspected I had ADHD. Teachers and parents never flagged it, possibly because I did well in school, behaved, and even held leadership positions. I didn’t fit the stereotype of being noisy, hyperactive, or disruptive. On the surface, I looked like a typical high-achieving student.
It was only later, when I met Moonlake from Unlocking ADHD and heard about her work, that I started to think more about ADHD. Later, while running wellness events at a non-profit, my manager suggested I might have ADHD based on my personality and work style. The turning point came when I tried Unlocking ADHD’s self-assessment tool. The results recommended that I see a professional. That was the first time I seriously considered it and eventually decided to consult a clinical psychologist.
Challenges and Turning Points
I had very mixed feelings after my diagnosis. On one hand, it explained so much. For the first time, I could look at my struggles with more compassion. I wasn’t weak or defective; I simply had a brain wired differently. That shift in perspective helped me let go of some of the shame I had carried for years.
I threw myself into learning about ADHD by reading books, listening to podcasts, and following experts online. Understanding that neurodivergent brains work differently allowed me to try ADHD-specific strategies rather than generic advice aimed at neurotypicals.
But the diagnosis also came with challenges. I initially saw ADHD only as a weakness. Whenever I struggled, I blamed it for holding me back. At the same time, people around me often didn’t understand. Because ADHD has become such a buzzword on social media, I felt dismissed and invalidated when others brushed off my diagnosis as something “everyone” seems to have these days.
Finding Strategies That Work
Over time, I’ve discovered ways to work with my brain instead of against it. One of the most helpful ideas from therapy is learning to “go with my vibe.” That means having structure without being overly rigid. I’ve realised that if I try to force myself into a system that doesn’t match my energy, I’ll just end up drained.
Managing my energy is crucial. I take breaks before I burn out instead of pushing until I crash. Exercise and diet are also non-negotiable. Moving daily and eating well aren’t just about physical health; they directly improve my ability to focus and regulate emotions.
Purpose matters too. When I connect my work to my values, I can give it my all. But when I don’t see the point, my effort drops. To overcome inertia with complex tasks, I experiment with my environment, changing my workspace, breaking tasks into smaller pieces, and rewarding myself for progress.
Strengths and Achievements
For years, I struggled with emotional eating and bingeing. Once I understood how ADHD affects executive function, impulse control, and emotion regulation, everything clicked. That insight inspired me to become a mindful eating coach, so I could support others facing similar struggles.
Exercise was another turning point. It gave me not just physical strength but emotional stability. It helped me regulate, focus, and feel grounded. That experience led me to train as a personal trainer, where I now promote exercise as nourishment, a way to enrich life, not just punish the body to burn calories.
When I look back, I can see how ADHD shaped these choices. Without my own struggles, I would not be doing the work I do today. I hope ADHD is taken more seriously and not trivialised as a trend. Behind the labels and stereotypes are real people who deserve compassion, understanding, and validation.
The work I do as a personal trainer and emotional eating coach feels authentic to me. It is a way to turn my own challenges into purpose and to help others realise they are not broken, just wired differently.
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