Mark Lawson Shares How His ADHD Diagnosis Changed His Life

Back in December 2022, actor Mark Lawson (ex-Dustin, GENERAL HOSPITAL; Brody, ONE LIFE TO LIVE) revealed that he had finally received an official diagnosis of ADHD, and it has changed everything for him. “Crazy to confirm something like this about myself in my 40s,” he said at the time. “But to have an answer has been such a relief already!”

Lawson recently shared a selfie video to Instagram from inside his car where he wanted to share a little revelation that he’d had in the hopes of helping others. “Earlier this morning I actually had to do two runs to the school because one of my daughters left her backpack at home so I had to take it back,” he explained. “And something happened along the drive there and I had a revelation about something that I’ve been kind of grappling with since I started my career. 

“I don’t want to share all the details of that, it’s something that I’m still allowing,” he continued. “But that’s my point. When those moments of revelation happen, just sit with them. Don’t force them into existence. Don’t force them to become something they’re not. Just allow it to soak into you. And be grateful for them. That’s what I’m doing right now.”

Lawson admitted in his Instagram caption that these kinds of insights just weren’t possible before. “I fully believe I’m more able to receive these moments since my ADHD diagnosis,” he related. “Not only have I been able to let go of so much guilt and shame, but I’m also just more present moment to moment and therefore open and listening.”

And perhaps one day he’ll actually share the revelation that he had about his acting career. “My insight is maybe more personal than I’m ready to share yet,” Lawson confessed, “but it centers on my pursuit of perfection throughout my life. As much as I wanted to, I’ve always been afraid to allow the beautiful mess that I really am to speak through first-impression images of me.

“Each of these moments of insight and acceptance leads to a deeper authenticity,” he concluded. “That’s all I want.”