Today FM's Ray Foley has opened up about his struggle with undiagnosed ADHD as he shared his main fear was getting sacked - which actually did happen.
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The 43-year-old received his diagnosis last year in November, after spending his life being known as the guy who is always late.
Ray said that finally knowing the reason to his lack of organisation "has been a huge change".
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Ray first discovered his love of radio when studying in college - and despite his inability to keep his focus - he tried his best to forge a career for himself.
"It became my focus. I threw myself into it, listening to everything on radio, working out how it was done, the mechanics," he said.
In Dublin, he picked up weekend shifts on 98FM reading the news. And it took him six years to complete his degree. He added:"I loved everything about college - except the work, which I just didn't do. All I ever wanted to do was be a presenter.
"I did all the worst news-reading shifts. I was told to do everything. To be as accommodating as possible."
Ray's first presenting job was with Spin 1038. Since then he has worked for Today FM, 98FM and RedFM before returning to Today FM in 2022.
In 2015, Ray was let go from 98FM. “The thing is, the worst thing that could happen to me happened. I got sacked. But I came through it, and it did work out all right.
“In fact, being made redundant helped his anxiety in ways.
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"The worst did happen. I'm over it and I came through it and we've been fine.
"We were let go, because it wasn't working and in the end it was kind of a relief. It was devastating, but it was also kind of a relief."
He was diagnosed with ADHD - attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - last November, after a similar diagnosis was given to his youngest son Andrew.
"Throughout the entire process I was quite cynical about it, rolling my eyes, and eventually the doctor and my wife were both like: Well, you do realise you have ADHD yourself?"
Throughout his career, Ray had become known as the person that "can't get his shit together", but people accepted him as he came.
He describes the struggle of coping with his undiagnosed ADHD, noting that he would often be exhausted and forced to take naps mid-day. It also affected his work.
Speaking to The Independent, Ray said: "I'm an independent contractor, I need to send in an invoice on time or my receipts to my accountant. My accountant is just sick of this. 'Would you ever just send me the period of time so I can get it in?' All of those things would just add a layer of stress and anxiety to my life."
After his ADHD diagnosis, Ray began taking medication, despite having been somewhat concerned that it might change his personality - but it didn't.
He said: "I can just get stuff done. I no longer nap," he says, adding "Look, I'm still not a joy to be around, as my wife and kids will attest. But it's like, 'no problem, Saturday I'll drive them to that, or I'll clean the house while they're doing something and then will we all go for a walk together.
"Regaining my focus has been huge. I've lost a load of weight, become much more contented, much more involved. The guilt about not being able to get out of bed at the weekends, absolutely exhausted all the time, that's gone.”
Ray said that he used to feel a heaviness lingering over him - but now that he has a diagnosis, he is managing much better.
"It used to be sort of like a cloud hanging over me. You know the feeling from school, of not having your homework done and knowing you're going to get in trouble? Whereas now, I'm not worried about getting in trouble or getting caught. Because everything I can do I have done. "
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