Learning Kanji as a neurodivegent person

I've been studying Japanese for over 10 years now, but I've always had a very hard time with kanji. I’ve tried several different methods: flashcards, writing full pages, using them in sentences, WaniKani, and I'm currently using Duolingo (not the best, but okay).

Throughout this time, I thought I was doing something wrong. It didn't seem possible that others could memorize kanji relatively quickly while I struggled so much. Of course, I’ve memorized some, but for someone studying for 10+ years, I expected to know way more than I actually do. Even when I do memorize them, if you ask me to write a kanji from memory, my mind goes blank.

I never had problems with classes or passing tests (except for kanji). Progress was smooth, and if I did just the bare minimum of homework, I would internalize the subject.

Then, after three attempts and a trip to Japan, something "clicked" and I passed the N3. I studied intensely, and during the last two weeks, I took mock exams every single day, acing all of them. Still, kanji remains a nightmare for me.

Finally, this year, after a lot of investigation, I found out that I'm neurodivergent (ADHD-PI/Type 2 and Gifted). This explains why certain tasks, like rote kanji memorization, are exceptionally difficult for me.

I really want to improve my kanji skills because I want to start reading books in Japanese. I know many kanji are well above the N3 level, but I know that if I find the right study method, I'll finally take off.

Now that I finally have this clarity about how my brain works, I’m looking to overhaul my study routine. Standard rote memorization and endless repetition clearly haven't worked for me in the last decade.

I would love to hear from fellow neurodivergent learners or anyone who struggled with "standard" methods: What worked for you? Are there specific resources or systems that cater more to logical structures or mnemonic storytelling rather than pure repetition? I’m determined to bridge this gap and finally dive into Japanese literature.

Thanks in advance for any tips or insights!