Steph Claire Smith opens up about her recent ADHD diagnosis

She’s determined to learn – and share – more

How she went about finding the right support, and what the process actually looked like for her. Image: Instagram/@stephclairesmith

• In this article:

• Steph's experience with pursuing an ADHD diagnosis later in life

• What led her to embark on the path of ADHD diagnosis

• Why she's sharing her experience so openly

Health and wellness mogul and co-founder of Kic, Steph Claire Smith, has opened up about her recent ADHD diagnosis, telling Body+Soul  it's helped her to understand herself better. 

There’s no denying Steph Claire Smith is an unstoppable force in the wellness industry, sharing every peak and pit along the way. Now, she’s opening up about her recent ADHD diagnosis, eager to understand more about herself in the process.

Recently included in Forbes Magazine’s prestigious 30 under 30 list, Smith's authenticity and drive have helped her carve out quite the name for herself in the podcasting, fitness and social media world. 

Together with her partner in crime (and business), Laura Henshaw, the pair stand at the helm of the health and fitness empire, Kic, and regularly host the Kicpod podcast to discuss anything and everything going on in their lives. 

Always open and honest with her 1.5 million followers, in an episode released earlier this morning, Smith revealed her recent ADHD diagnosis, speaking in depth about what led her to explore the possibility of diagnosis, how she went about finding the right support, and what the process actually looked like for her.

What led her to explore the diagnosis

Like many women who are diagnosed with ADHD later in life, Smith had never considered her symptoms were connected in any way, not realising the different ways the condition often presents in women and girls.  

It wasn’t until a few people close to Smith who have also been diagnosed pointed out some recognisable behaviours and traits in the mum of one that she started to explore the process of diagnosis. 

“Initially I was dealing with all of my symptoms separately in different ways, not knowing they would one day all be so connected. But the pinpoint in time for me where I truly became curious was when I had Em Rusciano on the KICBUMP pod to chat through her diagnosis,” she recalls. 

“So much of what she shared I found myself relating to and as I was nodding along and agreeing she asked me; ‘Are you one of us!?’.”

Since her diagnosis, Smith has started to understand herself better. Image: Supplied

From there, Smith started to look into things more seriously, acknowledging that her preconceived idea of what ADHD is and how it presents in people was very one-sided. However, knowing embarking on the diagnosis journey would be time-consuming and emotionally draining, she held off on contacting any health professionals. 

“Earlier this year I embarked on quite a lot of self-development, started seeing a psychotherapist and also coach, and really worked through where my strengths and interests lay and questioned if I was living a truly authentic life to the dreams and aspirations I had,” she continues, adding that many people around her also encouraged her to look into diagnosis again. 

“What I've learned is that a lot of people who either work with neurodivergent people or are them themselves can often pick it out in other people,” she says. “I think that just made me think, okay, maybe it's time to look into this and just understand it a little bit more.”

Why sharing her ADHD diagnosis was important

Always one to share the challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship, social media, womanhood, and motherhood, Smith's decision to open up about her diagnosis so early on was rooted in not only wanting to raise awareness about the condition but also to help de-stigmatise what it means to live with ADHD.  

“Like many undiagnosed ADHD’ers, I had this narrative in my mind my whole life that I was this lazy, forgetful, unintelligent person,” Smith shares with Body+Soul. 

“The frustration I would feel in myself for finding some of the simplest tasks overwhelming or challenging and the overwhelming sense of disappointment in myself for not being able to shake certain habits or traits of mine that I disliked really got to me.”

Steph Claire Smith. Image: Supplied

Since learning more about herself through diagnosis, Smith is determined to continue expanding her understanding of ADHD and how her symptoms present so that she can show up as a mother, partner, friend and business partner. 

“I’m also aware that ADHD can be hereditary - and it was important to me to understand it more so that I can look out for signs in Harvey, my son, so that we can support him as early as possible if he does, in fact, have it,” she adds.

 “Right now I'm just in research mode - and understanding it more has certainly allowed me to pick up on things as they happen. But the goal is to find different techniques I can use to better help me stay organised, focused and less overwhelmed. The more I understand it the better I can communicate to those close to me how they can be there to support me too.”

“I really hope that anyone else out there who may have had a later diagnosis or maybe you're looking into it, I just hope that you're not feeling any shame in that,” she says. “Understanding yourself better, Like that's always going to be a good thing, so, just don't be afraid to look into it if you suspect there might be something.”

Originally published as Steph Claire Smith opens up about her recent ADHD diagnosis