neurodiversity

Silence has always been a constant companion of mine. For some people, they might find it to be uncomfortable, even unsettling, but for me, it usually feels like home. In silence, I don’t have to be anybody else but me. I don’t have to impress anyone or put on a facade. I can just simply be me, and that’s one of the most comforting feelings I know.

My life often feels hectic. I’m always stressed out from current situations, heck even past situations. I’m constantly overthinking, worrying, and sometimes overreacting. Inside there’s this mental noise that just never seems to stop. But in silence, I feel more comfortable. It gives me space to breathe and untangle spiraling thoughts. There’s something about the stillness of silence that feels like healing for the soul.

But silence isn’t always soothing. Sometimes it can be louder than anything else. Lately, that’s been the case for me. Loneliness has crept in, and it’s been hard to shake. Most of the time, I’m at my best in solitude, but there are moments where I crave company. I want someone to laugh with, talk with, and share the little details of life with. It’s difficult because many of my closest friends live out of state, and there’s little opportunity here to socialize. I don’t like venturing into new situations alone, so it feels challenging to step outside my comfort zone.

Truthfully, silence has a way of amplifying what’s missing. For me, it often highlights my longing for deep connection. I’ve never been in love before. There was a time when I thought I was, but it was a short-lived teen romance. But for a long time, my love life has affected me. It’s made me feel like I’m an unlovable person, and that sticks with me. It’s why I hate vulnerability because I fear rejection.

Sometimes, I enjoy being single. There’s comfort in knowing I won’t be hurt by someone else, but that comfort is both a blessing and a downfall. On one hand, it shields me from potential pain. On the other hand, it keeps me from forming the very connections I secretly long for. Too many hurtful moments are ingrained into my memory and letting them go has never been easy for me. Still, I know I need to get out of my head and into the game with far less fear and hesitation. The real challenge now is learning to trust that love is worth the risk, even if it means lowering my guard.

And so, silence remains. Some days it soothes me. Other days it presses heavily against me. But no matter how it appears, it always teaches me something. It reminds me of who I truly am and reveals what I need, what I long for, and what I value most.

What’s your experience with silence? How does it affect you? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

“The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear.”-Rumi

#Loneliness #MentalHealth #Neurodiversity

Saw this on Pinterest and thought it would be good to share here. #neurodivergent #neurodivergent #neurodiverse #Neurodiversity #NeurodevelopmentalDisorders #IntellectualDisability #IntellectualDisabilities #LearningDisability #LearningDisabilities #Disability #ADHD #audhd #Autism #AutismSpectrumDisorder #AspergersSyndrome #Aspergers #SensoryProcessingDisorder #Anxiety #Depression #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #MentalHealth #Spoonie #MightyTogether #CheckInWithMe #DistractMe #Dyslexia #Dyscalculia #Dysgraphia #Dyspraxia #TouretteSyndrome #Hyperlexia #RejectionSensitiveDysphoria #RSD

✨ Recovery isn’t about choosing between lived experience or clinical expertise—it’s about weaving them together.

Lived wisdom grounds us in empathy and shared humanity. Clinical knowledge helps us understand patterns, symptoms, and strategies for moving forward. When both come together, recovery becomes more than surviving—it becomes building a life with tools, language, and compassion that last.

💬 💬 How has lived experience or professional insight shaped your own journey, and how do you—or how can you—bring both together in the way you heal, grow, and support others?

My experience has taught me that one balances the other, and that it’s okay not to know everything. It’s okay to say, “I don’t know,” and to admit when I’m scared of being vulnerable—because that honesty is where real connection and recovery begins. And that we have many conversations on seeking help but not enough conversations on what is best for us and what is the power to help us get that support

And here's a few things that I learned that help me to do play an active role in my journey.

✅ Ways to proactively advocate with your support team:

Be clear about your goals and needs. Share what you’re working toward—whether it’s stability, reducing symptoms, or building coping tools—so your team knows what success looks like for you.

Ask questions and request explanations. Don’t hesitate to ask why a treatment, strategy, or approach is being suggested. Understanding the reasoning helps you stay engaged and confident in your care.

Set boundaries and give feedback. Advocate for what feels helpful and speak up if something isn’t working. A good team will respect your voice, adjust, and work with you—not just on you.

⸻

🔍 How to recognize good support vs. unhelpful support:

Good support looks like:
• Listening without judgment.
• Valuing your lived experience alongside professional expertise.
• Encouraging collaboration and respecting boundaries.
• Empowering you to make informed choices.

Unhelpful support looks like:
• Dismissing your concerns or minimizing your experiences.
• Making decisions for you without your input.
• Using shame, guilt, or pressure as motivators.
• Creating dependency instead of building your confidence and skills.

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

Creativity has always been somewhat bittersweet for me. It’s both a gift and a challenge. As someone who’s neurodivergent, the ways ideas flow through me rarely looks like the tidy, straight-forward process the world expects. And honestly? That’s part of the beauty and the struggle.

For me, creativity always comes in bursts. I’ll get a sudden wave of energy and dive headfirst into a new project or task. First things first, I love when things are neat, tidy, and organized. It gives me a sense of control and makes life feel easier. Buying new items to help me stay organized excites me, and the thought of labeling, filing, and making everything accessible feels motivating and satisfying.

But eventually, the little system I set up begins to unravel. The neatly filed papers lose their order, new ones pile up on my desk, and before long, frustration sets in. Sometimes I abandon the whole thing altogether, tossing it aside when the spark that fueled my organization fizzles out. That’s the rhythm of my creativity. I’m great when it comes to starting, but not always consistent with follow-through.

The same thing happens with my writing. I’ll begin a creative story, and when I’m in that flow, it feels near euphoric. Words are just pouring out me faster than I can type. But then comes the wall—writer’s block, mental fatigue, or just a sudden drop in motivation. And just like that, the story sits unfinished, gathering dust.

This is the rhythm of my ADHD. I start a lot, finish a little, and I live with endless half-finished projects. It used to feel like total failure, but over time I realized this is just simply the way my brain works. Ideas are always constantly there, but not every one of them hit the paper. Some are just meant to exist in motion.

And the truth is, neurodivergent people are wired for creativity and self-expression. Our minds see connections others might miss. We notice details, emotions, and patterns in ways that bring depth to whatever medium we use. Whether it’s painting, music, design, or for me, writing. Writing is the one creative outlet that has always felt most natural to me. It gives me space to process, to imagine, and to express what otherwise might stay bottled up.

Yes, unfinished projects will always be a part of my reality. But that doesn’t make my creativity any less valid. In fact, it makes it uniquely mine. Creativity doesn’t always need to be polished, published, or completed to have value. Sometimes, the act of creating in itself is enough.

“Creativity is intelligence having fun.”--Albert Einstein

#ADHD #ADHDInGirls #Neurodiversity #MentalHealth

Saw this on Pinterest and thought it would be good to share here. #neurodivergent #neurodiverse #Neurodiversity #NeurodevelopmentalDisorders #IntellectualDisability #IntellectualDisabilities #LearningDisability #LearningDisabilities #Disability #ADHD #audhd #Autism #AutismSpectrumDisorder #AspergersSyndrome #Aspergers #SensoryProcessingDisorder #Anxiety #Depression #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #MentalHealth #Spoonie #MightyTogether #CheckInWithMe #DistractMe #Dyslexia #Dyscalculia #Dysgraphia #Dyspraxia #TouretteSyndrome #Hyperlexia #RejectionSensitiveDysphoria #RSD

Describe the part of you that shows up when you’re alone and safe. What does this part of you believe about yourself the world? How does it act when it’s not being watched or judged?

I resonate with separate selves vs a part of a whole. The self I am or the persona exposed in those moments are of someone who is unstoppable, confident, good at anything she puts her mind to, beautifully captivating and entrancing, talking freely and passionately about interests, charming, brave enough to be silly, singing as loud as she can in the car, pouring out kindness, empathy, and compassion in every interaction, as if I could put others under a spell.

But it’s a constant battle between the selves.

Shame, guilt, and regret toxically wither the confidence, good, and radiance.

The shame tells me that I am only conditionally loved, that less of me for others to interact with is best for everyone, or that I am only as good or useful as the effort I put in to something.

The guilt tells me I overreacted, that I’m scaring or worrying the people around me by being too much of myself; when I’m too much of myself, it’s almost off putting because others aren’t used to my unmasking habits, that I talk to much, or say the weird thing.

The regret tells me to shut up, go away, don’t be seen or heard until I’m back to normal, or that I’ve ruined this beyond repair.

I am never not watched or observed. I have the ability to be and observe myself. My thoughts aren’t linear but a spiral and ever charging forward.

I also have a terrible habit of thinking people inherently act with malicious intent. I feel as if I am always judged, always being looked at sideways, always misunderstood.

The battle is endless, but I finally feel like maybe I’ve found a sword. I just need to learn how to use it before charging back into this battle unarmed.

Who are you when..?

#Neurodiversity #ADHD #AutismSpectrumDisorder #MentalHealth #Anxiety #Depression