Hi Im late diagnosed (at age 52, im now 54) and the label and diagnosis Ive found hugely helpful. What Ive realised is how many coping strategies Ive developed over the years to navigate life and to protect my well being. Also really taking on board what the nice lady at uni where I’m doing my masters said “basically you’ve had to work so very much harder than everyone else to get to where you want to be” which I now see is so true. I think Pick n Mix is a great strategy and I feel with all the challenges and barriers its only right that we can do exactly that: ‘Pick n Mix. ‘ I’m hyperlexic too and love language and words. I think thats an enabling phrase for the neurodiverse in managing whats best for them and empowering in the sense thats its a clear message about having the right to do so. 🙏🏻
I'm always amazed at the ways we find to manage and navigate our spikey profiles even before we know that's what we're doing, but you're right it's the cost that we don't realise we're paying to do it that can takes it's toll. It's why it's so important to understand our own individual needs, so we can attended to them in a way that works for us, rather than trying to find a 'one size fits all' solution, because it just doesn't exist!
I agree and further I would say that actually in recognising my own needs its been really useful having conversations with and also reading and watching about other neurodiverse peoples experiences for the insights gained. It can be ver y isolating so even though we’re all different there are cool overlaps too. I also think this helps in crafting our own neurodiverse lifestyle too.
Absolutely this! When I was first exploring being autistic I got the most benefit from listening to the experience of others and recognising bits of myself and my experiences in many of their stories. It's why I talk and write about my experiences now, because I know how valuable it was for me to be able to find familiarity in the community. It helped me to overcome some of the shame I felt (due to internalised ableism) and to give myself permission to be who I really am.
Oct 11, 2023·edited Oct 11, 2023Liked by Louise Lucas
I’ve been feeling the same way about ADHD traits. I’ve always perceived myself as so organized and focused it’s been hard to see in myself, but they are definitely there. It really is a neurodivergent pick and mix - even amongst autistics we all have such different experiences. 🍭🍫🍬
Exactly, despite all the work I've done (personally and professionally) I'm still unpicking and unlearning decades of bad data to make way for the good stuff. there's also something about the way our own spikey profiles can change at different times depending on what's going on which can be confusing. I know for a lot of people peri-menopause shows up more ND stuff, and when I got long covid I was impacted by sensory stuff much more than before. It's never straightforward!
Hi Im late diagnosed (at age 52, im now 54) and the label and diagnosis Ive found hugely helpful. What Ive realised is how many coping strategies Ive developed over the years to navigate life and to protect my well being. Also really taking on board what the nice lady at uni where I’m doing my masters said “basically you’ve had to work so very much harder than everyone else to get to where you want to be” which I now see is so true. I think Pick n Mix is a great strategy and I feel with all the challenges and barriers its only right that we can do exactly that: ‘Pick n Mix. ‘ I’m hyperlexic too and love language and words. I think thats an enabling phrase for the neurodiverse in managing whats best for them and empowering in the sense thats its a clear message about having the right to do so. 🙏🏻
I'm always amazed at the ways we find to manage and navigate our spikey profiles even before we know that's what we're doing, but you're right it's the cost that we don't realise we're paying to do it that can takes it's toll. It's why it's so important to understand our own individual needs, so we can attended to them in a way that works for us, rather than trying to find a 'one size fits all' solution, because it just doesn't exist!
I agree and further I would say that actually in recognising my own needs its been really useful having conversations with and also reading and watching about other neurodiverse peoples experiences for the insights gained. It can be ver y isolating so even though we’re all different there are cool overlaps too. I also think this helps in crafting our own neurodiverse lifestyle too.
Absolutely this! When I was first exploring being autistic I got the most benefit from listening to the experience of others and recognising bits of myself and my experiences in many of their stories. It's why I talk and write about my experiences now, because I know how valuable it was for me to be able to find familiarity in the community. It helped me to overcome some of the shame I felt (due to internalised ableism) and to give myself permission to be who I really am.
I’ve been feeling the same way about ADHD traits. I’ve always perceived myself as so organized and focused it’s been hard to see in myself, but they are definitely there. It really is a neurodivergent pick and mix - even amongst autistics we all have such different experiences. 🍭🍫🍬
Exactly, despite all the work I've done (personally and professionally) I'm still unpicking and unlearning decades of bad data to make way for the good stuff. there's also something about the way our own spikey profiles can change at different times depending on what's going on which can be confusing. I know for a lot of people peri-menopause shows up more ND stuff, and when I got long covid I was impacted by sensory stuff much more than before. It's never straightforward!