report feeling relieved when they received their diagnosis (e.g. Autism, ADHD).I didn’t. I was angry.
I thought about how different life could’ve been if I was helped instead of blamed or punished for my challenges.
I also felt extremely vulnerable.
I saw myself as typical, only to have the rug pulled out.
I felt like a fraud, like I’d have to get to know myself over again.
As I learned about the autism spectrum and ADHD, I learned about masking behavior.
Who I thought was the “typical” person I believed myself to be, was in fact my best attempt at an acceptable persona to please others.
When I realized how hard I’d been working to compensate and what I needed to care for my sensory and other needs, I began dismantling the persona.
There’s so much power and wisdom in your imperfect self. The more of the facade you’re able to drop, the freer and more at ease you can feel.
In my Inner Circle this unlearning is a core aspect of the work we do.
