"They Suspected It, But Never Told Me": ADHD, Anxiety, and First-Gen Survival

What happens when a mental health professional has to turn the clinical lens on himself? How do you rebuild trust when a diagnosis was hidden from you during childhood to "protect" you from a label?

In this deeply moving and enlightening episode of the Black and Diagnosed Podcast, host Gerron Scott sits down in the Sanctuary with Richard Davis Jr., an MSW crisis management professional working directly with the developmentally disabled population. Richard takes off the mask to share his personal evolution of navigating a dual diagnosis of ADHD and anxiety while building a high-impact career in the mental health field.

Richard opens up about the bittersweet moment he diagnosed himself during a college psychology lecture, only to discover his family had hidden his symptoms during his grade school years. He shares an unmasked look into the trial-and-error reality of psychiatric medication, how the hidden "insurance tier" system works against patients, and the precise daily systems—from strategic timers to clocks in every room—that he uses to beat ADHD time blindness.

From an urgent discussion on how anxiety presents differently across genders to a celebration of how Black men are transforming modern barbershop talk from toxic ego into therapeutic vulnerability, this episode is a blueprint for radical self-awareness. Plus, Gerron steps back into his own vault, reflecting on how surviving childhood amputation at age nine paved his own path toward relentless empathy and mental health advocacy. 🔍 Key Topics Unmasked in This Episode: * 🏛️ The Lecture Hall Awakening: Richard details discovering his own ADHD as a first-generation college student while sitting through a diagnostic psychology class. * 🎭 The Betrayal of Protection: A raw discussion on the complex emotions that surface when parents reject clinical labels for their children, and why hiding a diagnosis can delay essential self-understanding. * ⏱️ Weaponizing Time Blindness: Actionable strategies for managing executive dysfunction, including Richard's personal system of placing clocks in every room and setting two-minute transition timers. * 💊 The Insurance Tier System Unlocked: A critical insider breakdown of how health insurance companies force patients through cheaper, high-side-effect medications before approving more effective treatments. * 🫀 The Pandemic Panic Attack: Richard recounts a terrifying 2020 emergency room visit for a suspected heart attack that a gentle nurse correctly identified as a severe anxiety panic attack. * 🩼 The Amputee Empathy Blueprint: Gerron explains how surviving childhood bullying after losing his right toes permanently shaped his choice to advocate for marginalized spaces. 🌱 Join the Conversation The garden is always growing, and your voice belongs here.

We are actively seeking stories from individuals with lived neurodivergent experiences and mental health practitioners to help us continuously take off the mask. * Follow the Journey: Connect with us on Instagram @blackanddiagnosed and @gdotscott for daily rhythmic reflections. * Get in Touch: For guest inquiries, professional collaborations, or clinician recruitment, email us directly at info@ . Hit that subscribe button on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you stream your pods.

Stay unmasked, grant yourself radical mercy, and keep breathing.