ADHD in girls

There have been so many circumstances in my life where I didn’t take action, but I wish I had. For me, I’ve been a pushover for most of my life. I let people take advantage of my kindness, my generosity, and my care. I don’t know what it is about me that made me this way, but it’s always affected me and my self-esteem

I’ve been the supportive one, the shoulder for people to cry on, and the one who offers good advice but never takes it myself. I’ve been there for others through thick and thin, regardless of whether or not I’ve been taken advantage of.

I remember one time when a friend of mine had me drive all over town to pick up some items. I initially didn’t feel like going and doing that, but I never want to let a friend down, so I did it. It turns out I ended up driving a very long distance just to satisfy his needs.

When we got to one destination, we were there for hours. I was led to believe it would only take a few minutes. So there I was, stuck. I couldn’t just leave him.

And the thing that shocked me was that I didn’t get one thank you for it.

In that moment, I wish that I would’ve stuck up for myself. I wish I would’ve expressed my feelings of being used for their own gain. But no, I stayed quiet, sucked it up, and never said a word about it.

Today, I wouldn’t let that fly. After so many years of playing second fiddle to everything, I now stand my ground and use my voice. I’m no longer fearful of doing that. It’s a change within myself that I never thought would come to fruition. I think I finally reached a breaking point and just refused to be stepped all over. It’s not who I am anymore, and I’m proud of that.

So, I would’ve handled that situation differently. I would’ve told my friend that I didn’t appreciate being misled on that little venture. What I thought was going to be quick ended up taking forever—the whole day, in fact. I would’ve told him that I wanted to leave the moment I found out it would take longer, because I sat there miserably, just waiting and waiting.

And most of all, I would’ve demanded a thank you. A thank you for driving all over town, for waiting for him to finish whatever errand he had me on, and for being used because I was the only one at the time with a car.

I’ve learned so much about myself recently, and I’ve noticed how much bolder I am. How much stronger I am than I ever thought possible. I couldn’t be prouder of myself for using my voice when I feel taken advantage of.

Sure, I’ve lost friendships in the process of standing up for myself, but I’ve realized it’s okay to let those friendships go because they never cared about me to begin with.

I used to care deeply about losing any of my friends. But a recent experience opened my eyes and made me see, perhaps for the first time, what a real friendship actually is. It’s a two-way street, and I grew tired of one-sided relationships. I’m done.

My healing journey has led me down a path of self-acceptance and a newfound confidence. I’m forever grateful that I no longer fear confrontation. I tell someone how I feel, and if they don’t accept it… goodbye.

Sometimes the hardest part isn’t what happened—it’s what we didn’t say. But growth is realizing we don’t have to stay that version of ourselves.

Where in your life are you ready to take action instead of staying silent?

“Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.” — Brené Brown

#MentalHealth #Neurodiversity #ADHD #ADHDInGirls #Autism #Autism #Anxiety #MightyTogether

A quiet reflection on what it feels like to be physically present, but mentally somewhere else—and the slow process of finding your way back.

There I am, sitting in a meeting, trying to pay close attention to what is being said—but my mind slowly drifts. It happens so automatically that I barely notice it at first. Like I’ve slipped into autopilot without realizing it.

Thoughts start to take over. Completely off topic. I think about what I want for dinner. How I want to spend my weekend. Uninvited memories that slip into every corner of my mind.

And in that moment—along with many others, if I’m being honest—I realize I’m there in the room, but my brain is elsewhere.

This happens quite frequently. No matter how hard I try to stay in the present, my mind decides it’s bored and would rather move on to something more stimulating. It usually ends up being a daydream of sorts, where I imagine my life as something different than what it is.

I’ve noticed just how difficult it can be to stay in the moment. To listen and respond without losing my train of thought. My mind can’t help but meander to places that feel scattered and in-between. Sometimes I reflect on happy moments, and other times I drift into places that feel heavier—emotional, sensitive, and hard to sit with. I try to avoid going there, but I never really know where my mind is going to take me.

Just the other day, I was in the middle of a conversation that was light-hearted and intriguing, but still, my mind wouldn’t stay with it. I was trying so intently to listen to every word and fully absorb it, but the moment I went in for my response, it fell apart the second it left my tongue.

I’d completely lost my train of thought.

I had to stop, apologize, and admit that I didn’t know where I was going with it.

In moments like that, it feels like I’ve stepped out of the conversation without meaning to—like I’ve left the room while my body stayed behind.

I’ve spent a lot of time wondering why this happens. Why it’s so hard for me to stay present. Why my mind always drifts somewhere else, even when I want to be fully there.

I want people to understand that there are moments where I am fully involved—listening, present, able to respond. But a lot of the time, I’m off in my own world.

Living on autopilot has made me realize that even though I’m physically there, mentally I’m not as involved as I’d like to be. Sometimes I can barely feel my body being present either. It’s like I’m sitting in the room, but I’m not fully inside myself.

There’s a kind of haziness to it. A feeling that’s hard to describe—like a rush of overwhelm mixed with anxiety. My heart starts pounding, my mind goes foggy, and everything feels uncertain. It’s like I’ve been stunned for a moment, trying to stay clear-headed while everything inside me feels scattered.

I think part of it comes from how anxious I can be. When I feel put on the spot or expected to stay fully focused, something in me starts to shut down instead. I falter. I drift.

It becomes this cycle of trying to stay present and then slipping out of the moment anyway.

I don’t think I chose this on purpose. I think at some point, it just became easier to drift than to fully feel everything. I’ve always had a hard time sitting with certain thoughts or emotions, especially the ones that feel overwhelming. So instead, my mind moves away from them.

And over time, that drifting just became automatic.

Instead of trying to solve it, I’m learning to notice it.

To catch the moment before I disappear too far into my own head. Not to judge myself for it or force myself to stay, but just to recognize it for what it is.

I’m not always able to pull myself back right away. Sometimes I still feel distant, still half-present. But even noticing it feels like something.

Even though I’ve struggled with this for most of my life, I’m starting to realize that awareness might be where it begins.

I may still have the brain fog, the scattered thoughts, the moments where I lose track—but that doesn’t mean I’m not capable. People still show up for me, and I show up for them.

So I have to believe I’m doing something right. I’m trying not to be ashamed of it anymore. Not to judge myself every time I drift.

I just remind myself—I might have left for a minute, but I can come back.

And that’s enough right now.

When do you notice yourself slipping into autopilot the most—and what does it feel like in your body when you do?

“Wherever you are, be there totally.” — Eckhart Tolle

#MentalHealth #ADHD #ADHDInGirls #Neurodiversity #MightyTogether #AutismSpectrum #Anxiety

It's that time of the week again, Mighties!
Thankful Thursday is here 😃
Tell us 3 things in the comments below that you're thankful for. 👇
#Addiction #AnorexiaNervosa #Agoraphobia #Anxiety #AutismSpectrumDisorder #ADHDInGirls #ADHD #Anxiety #BipolarDisorder #CeliacDisease #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #Cancers #Depression #Epilepsy #Dysautonomia #KidneyDisease #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #Lupus #FamilialHemiplegicMigraine #POTS #PTSD #Hemophilia #SjogrensSyndrome #Endometriosis #InterstitialCystitis #EatingDisorder #HearingLoss #Deafness #Selfcare #SuicidalThoughts #IrritableBowelSyndromeIBS #jointhypermobility

What’s a secret skill or ability you have or wish you had?

There’s a part of me that most people don’t see right away. It’s quiet, observant, and always noticing what’s happening around me. If I had to name a secret skill I have, it would probably be reading people really well.

I’ve always been super observant. I notice body language, facial expressions, glances, behaviors—all of it. Most of the time, I can tell how someone is feeling just by looking at them. I pick up on things easily. For example, I can tell when a friend is forcing a smile, even if they say they’re fine. I can sense tension in a room before anyone speaks, or know when someone is holding back something they really want to say. Honestly, I think that’s a gift.

It helps me see people for who they really are. I’m usually able to tell when someone is genuine and when they’re not. In a lot of ways, that ability has always protected me. It’s helped me keep my distance when I need to and guard my heart. But it’s also made me really sensitive to other people.

I can usually tell when someone is upset, overwhelmed, or hurting, even if they’re trying hard not to show it. Maybe that’s because I know what it feels like to hide what’s going on inside. So, when I notice that in someone else, I want to comfort them and make them feel seen. Sometimes it’s as small as listening quietly while they talk, or noticing when someone needs space before they ask for it.

If there’s one skill I wish I had, though, it would be better communication.

For someone who notices so much, I’m terrible at getting my own thoughts out. I stumble over my words constantly. Sometimes I have something I want to say, and it just disappears before I can get it out. Other times, I mutter a response no one can hear because I’m too afraid to say it aloud or worry it’ll be judged. Most of the time, I have an important point I want to make in a group conversation, but by the time I try to speak, the moment has passed. As a result, there are countless opportunities I miss to share my voice at all.

I’m a nervous person, and meeting new people has always been hard for me. I can do small talk, even though I hate it, but after that, I never know what to say. My mind just goes blank. I overthink everything. Even when I do have something thoughtful to say, I usually keep it to myself because I’m scared it’ll come out wrong or sound stupid. So, I stay quiet.

My ability to read people and my struggles with communication have shaped my relationships. I’ve been able to support friends when they needed it most, but I’ve also missed chances to speak up for myself. It’s a constant balancing act, learning to notice and understand others while also finding my own voice.

There’s so much in my head—so many thoughts and feelings—but I don’t always know how to let them out. I may not be the most talkative person in the room, but I notice everything. I feel everything. And maybe that says more about me than words ever could

Even if I don’t always say the right thing, I hope my presence, my attention, and my care can speak for me.

What’s a strength you have that people may not always notice right away—and what’s one skill you wish came more naturally to you?

“I may be quiet, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing there. Sometimes the deepest people are the ones still searching for the words.”

#MentalHealth #Neurodiversity #ADHD #ADHDInGirls #Autism #AutismSpectrumDisorder #Anxiety #Loneliness

From personal experience, I know that hope isn’t always easy to hold onto—especially during seasons when life feels heavy, uncertain, or overwhelming. We often pressure ourselves to “stay positive,” but real hope isn’t about pretending everything is okay. It’s about grounding yourself, finding direction, and taking gentle, meaningful steps forward even when the path ahead feels blurry.

That’s why I created this worksheet: to offer a compassionate way to check in with yourself. It’s meant to help you reconnect with hope in a way that feels realistic rather than forced. You can use it whenever you need to catch your breath, reset, or simply remind yourself that progress—even slow, quiet progress—is still progress.

Why This Matters
Fostering hope doesn’t mean ignoring your challenges. It means creating space for possibility. It means staying connected to what’s real while also allowing yourself to imagine something better. When you approach hope with compassion instead of pressure, you build a healthier, more sustainable mindset for the long term.
If you’re needing a moment of grounding today, I hope this resource supports you.

#ADHD #ADHDInGirls #Neurodiversity #Anxiety #Depression #Addiction #SubstanceRelatedDisorders #MentalHealth