Hello to my family & friends!
I’ve never had any true inclination to write a blog. To me writing has always felt more meaningful or worthwhile when writing something with a story line. But I am compelled to write this! So we’ll see how this goes…
I created this blog as a tool for both myself and my loved ones to better understand my experience with Autism + ADHD. This blog serves not only as a way for me to deeply process the new things I am learning about myself, but also as a way for you all to know how to better support me.
I see this blog as a sort of “guide book” for understanding me on a more personal level. I want those I care about to see me for me, and not who I may pretend to be (or “mask” as) in their presence. I do not wish to explain a hundred of times over how I experience Autism + ADHD. Rather, I hope this blog can serve as a destination I can send people to let them develop their own understanding.
At age 31, I have discovered myself to be a neurodivergent in a world designed for neurotypicals. So my experience with the world is and has not been easy. As my therapist put it, “when you have Autism or ADHD, it’s like the game of life is set on ‘hard mode'”. Truly, I have felt an inkling throughout my life, that something wasn’t quite right… I always knew I was different. No matter how many times well-intentioned friends or family would tell me I would simply “grow out” of my awkwardness, I always suspected that this would never be a reality for me.
But rather than finding this unveiled truth upsetting or derailing, I find myself finally achieving a sense of peace I didn’t realize I’d been searching for my whole life. Socializing, making new friends, school, and advancing in my career have all been things I have felt I unnecessarily struggled with (and still do). So to finally have evidence and confirmation that “yes, I have struggled”, and “yes, there is a cause”, has been extremely liberating. Not to sound melodramatic, but I no longer feel like a failure in these respects. In fact, my therapist noted that I’m actually a superstar, expert “masker” when it comes to Autism. For I have (without even realizing it) learned how to blend in, and appear “normal” to those around me.
On this blog I plan to write about each of my Autistic & ADHD traits in detail, and list the tools I have discovered make my life easier. Hopefully, this will help me and you be on the same page, moving forward.