Why Am I (Still) Like This? - The Nerd Party at Edinburgh Fringe 2024

Why Am I (Still) Like This? 
Aug 5-10, 12-24 - The Space @ Surgeons Hall 

Nicole Nadler returns for her sophomore year at the Edinburgh Fringe following “Why Am I Like This?” with her sequel to last year's acclaimed show “Why Am I (Still) Like This?”.

Following the success of her one-woman show, one we rated five stars last year, by sharing her story, Nicole connected with others who might feel similarly misunderstood or overwhelmed by their minds, especially as more and more women, in particular, are recognising the traits or receiving a diagnosis of ADHD after society overlooked them.

The validation and love she received from her audience is a testament to the importance of representation and openness. Yet, the lingering difficulty in believing her worth despite the external validation speaks to a deeper issue that she shares with another packed audience. 

Nicole shares her struggle with self-acceptance and the persistent feelings of inadequacy even after receiving praise stemming from a lifetime of internalised negative self-perception, and we see powerful examples of where she has been exposed to negative reactions from family members, friends, and colleagues, People with ADHD often hear thousands more negative comments than others. It’s common for people with ADHD to develop low self-esteem due to years of being misunderstood, criticised, or feeling like they don’t quite fit into societal norms. 

As Nicole ponders, Why Am I (Still) Like This? even after her breakthrough, critically and personally, the initial relief and reflection that come with a late ADHD diagnosis she explored in her first play have now given way to deeper introspection on past experiences, as she begins to reevaluate her entire life through a new lens. The journey of understanding and self-acceptance is ongoing, making Why Am I (Still) Like This? a fitting and poignant question.

Nicole's experience reveals that personal growth isn't always straightforward, and self-acceptance is a continuous process, but finding ways to be kind to yourself and savouring the small moments of joy can make the journey more manageable.

4/5 

Lee Hutchison