“Did I really just tell everyone on LinkedIn I have ADHD?”
After a mini-shame spiral, I started thinking about the messages and comments from parents of Neurodiverse kids, thanking me for my openness. FYI parents – you’re doing all the hard work - I’m just writing some stuff!
But I’m going to write some more stuff, starting with the top three things I’ve learned about my career so far.
1. Embracing Neurodiversity:
I’ve been passionate about Diversity and Inclusion for a long time. I’ve been an advocate for LGBT+ rights, but as I am (thankfully) fully able-bodied I’ve not really identified with the support offered to those with disabilities who need it.
However, as I’ve learned more about ADHD, I’ve grained vocabulary to describe the world from my perspective more accurately.
"I’m not frustrated or angry, I’ve overstimulated, so I’m going to grab some quiet time”
You’ll see I’m describing everything from my own perspective. One of the things I’ve found exacerbating is the attempt to describe Neurodivergence as a homogenous group. ADHD is on a spectrum, as is ASD, BPD, etc. My experience is mine, it may not be shared by someone else, even with the same diagnosis as me.
2. Adaptive Skills:
It’s been well covered that boys are much more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD in childhood. I am not an expert but my guess is the social conditioning we all go through forces some girls to adapt and not “act out”. My guess would also be some gay kids (like me) fall into the category too. As an adult I now have the choice to voice my opinion.
“This is what I need to be successful...”
I’ve become much more comfortable have conversations like this. Or framing feedback with:
"I’m going to be direct, is that ok with you?”
Being hyper organised (most of the time). I have a Kanban bored for all the project I and my team are working on. 3 for the house, garden and surrogacy journey me and my husband are on. I’ve also told my team and colleagues that they should feel free to follow up with me and never feel bad about it.
3. Out of the Box Thinking
Understanding my brain's unique wiring has helped me recognise my strengths and weaknesses. Embracing my ADHD has empowered me to leverage my creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.
I'm grateful for the support of my friends, family, and colleagues. Let's continue to learn from one another and celebrate our unique experiences. Here's to embracing change and turning challenges into opportunities! 🚀🧠 #ADHD #PersonalGrowth #Neurodiversity #LearningJourney