This was quite hard initially, but since understanding these differences are a core part of me and taking steps to manage my life that takes these into account has meant I am content, something I never imagined I could be.
I'm slowly figuring out my mosaic of things. I do have anxiety. I have ADHD but it's a low grade version - I think they call it a D version - like it's very low grade but there. I have trauma. So it's been a slow process of integrating things.
Oof that’s a mood! Except for me it was actually the other way around - I knew I was Autistic way before I discovered I also have ADHD.
Same result though - now I’ve picked them apart and I can tell which traits come from where (usually; sometimes; they often overlap) I’ve been so much happier! 😁
I *suspected* I had ADHD in my late 20s but it didn’t really fit, so I dismissed it. Then spent a few more years drowning in guilt and shame, blaming myself for it all.
Then discovered Autism, which seemed to mostly fit. Years of analysis later and it was really clear, but I hit a point of diminishing returns and couldn’t seem to break through.
Part of the problem was that I just couldn’t assimilate the info I needed, and I wasn't consistent enough to build on it.
Then my sister and one of my kids were diagnosed with ADHD, and I picked up on it again, and realised (after picking apart some parts of Autism) that it actually did fit after all.
Then I got a diagnosis and medication, and suddenly I had the brain space to actually make changes and grow from it.
And I was doing OK for a while, but I came to realise that I was SO deeply masked, and I was already exhausted but knowing about it seemed to make it even harder to bear.
Then ~3+ years ago I started having semi regular breakdowns, until I was made redundant 3 months ago and had a big one.
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Same result though - now I’ve picked them apart and I can tell which traits come from where (usually; sometimes; they often overlap) I’ve been so much happier! 😁
I *suspected* I had ADHD in my late 20s but it didn’t really fit, so I dismissed it. Then spent a few more years drowning in guilt and shame, blaming myself for it all.
Part of the problem was that I just couldn’t assimilate the info I needed, and I wasn't consistent enough to build on it.
Then I got a diagnosis and medication, and suddenly I had the brain space to actually make changes and grow from it.
Then ~3+ years ago I started having semi regular breakdowns, until I was made redundant 3 months ago and had a big one.