Celebrate ADHD awareness month with us! Join us for an inspiring evening as local voice Mel Sims shares her powerful story of resilience and growth.
When: Wednesday 8 October 2025 19:00 - 20:30
Tickets: £5.50
About Mel:
I am Mel Sims and moved back to Lymington after I was diagnosed in 2020 at 48 with ADHD, through Right to Choose. I had always felt different but I was bright, successful and popular, so how could I moan? I had burnt out 4 times. Turns out it was overwhelm. First one was at 13 when I was bullied for being the new creative girl and then again, I crashed at University in Sheffield and Zaragoza. So young... if only I had known!!
The shame, can make you feel an Imposter, so fast forward to employment and a workaholic is born to try and hide the rough edges you hate about yourself, until you find a Neurodivergent friend in yourself.
I become a Media Buyer at London Ad. Agencies in my 20's, ended up directing the £110 million Agency group with large staff teams in my 30's and went on to set up my own agency. ADHDrs are often self employed as we do not like to feel we are failing other people’s expectations. Our poor Executive Functioning affects Time Management, Organisation, Prioritisation and Attention and Emotional Regulation.
As a single mum of a 2y old daughter in my 40’s, living in Essex, I set up a successful under 5's hospitality play business as an entrepreneur, noticing a niche in the market. We notice patterns everywhere.
After 8y Covid hit, so I had to close with my 8 staff furloughed. I hated not working and having a purpose, so I soothed with wine. Then noticing the increase in booze sales during Covid, I monetised it, by throwing myself into developing a popular, low alcohol Gin, which I sold a year later.
Over Covid and with my new ADHD diagnosis and experience in Coaching staff, I decided I wanted to be professionally qualified as an ICF Coach, to help adults and children with their emotional regulation, as well as those who felt 'different'. I hyperfocussed on learning everything I could about being wired differently, as a Neurodivergent.
Demonstrating the freedom that came from my own unmasking helped my clients realise they too could find the courage to be disliked and therefore stop People Pleasing and telling white lies to avoid saying they had left late, lost something, forgotten the arrangement, didn’t want to come afterall due to overwhelm, felt sensitive to sensory issues. The crossover between both ADHD and Autism was also 50-70%. I saw many traits in myself.
I have over 500 hours of Coaching under my belt and work with individuals, groups, organisations and Access to Work employees. I am a Neurodivergent Coach for the BBC. I am friendly, warm, direct and intuitive.
Find Mel here: www.melsimslifecoach.co.uk @theadhdhummingbird
