Reflections, identity shifts, and practical tips for adults who discovered their neurodivergence later in life.
I’ve been watching the Asperger’s versus autism debate for a while now and I can’t help feeling that people are arguing about the wrong thing. Officially, Asperger’s was folded into Autism Spectrum Disorder over a decade ago. The science has largely moved on. The diagnostic manuals have moved on. Yet some people are still passionately…
Over the years, I have noticed something that keeps appearing in neurodivergent circles, and if I am honest, it has left me scratching my head more than once. Every now and then I come across somebody who seems permanently angry. Not somebody having a bad day. Not somebody going through a difficult period. I mean…
One of my favourite conversations is when somebody confidently announces that autism didn’t exist when they were young. Five minutes later they’re explaining how they’ve eaten the same breakfast since 1978, refuse to answer unexpected phone calls, know every railway route in Britain, and become visibly distressed if somebody moves their favourite chair. At which…
You spend years feeling different. Not quirky-different in a “collects novelty mugs” sort of way. Proper different. The kind where social situations feel faintly rehearsed, loud environments feel like psychological warfare, and other people seem to have received an invisible instruction manual you somehow missed. Then one day, everything clicks. You discover autism content online….
I was having a really fascinating conversation recently with someone who also had autism. At one point, they admitted something that felt almost socially illegal to say out loud. They confessed that sometimes they struggle more with certain neurodivergent people than neurotypical ones. Not because they lacked compassion.Not because they thought they were “better”.But because…
If you’ve been following my recent explorations into life with ADHD, you’ll know I’m endlessly fascinated by the strange crossroads where hormones and neurochemistry collide. Perimenopause, however, doesn’t politely arrive with a leaflet and a herbal tea. It storms in like an exhausted woman carrying six shopping bags, forgetting where she parked the car, while…
The Moment It Clicks At some point, the internet decided we are no longer simply tired. We are now “rotting”, preferably in bed, and ideally with a phone in hand. Charming, isn’t it. The first time I heard the phrase, I pictured something vaguely medical. Perhaps a Victorian illness requiring smelling salts and dramatic fainting….
There was a time I dated someone who ticked every red flag box. He owned a snake, which already felt like the universe issuing a polite warning. He believed hay fever was a government scam and quoted controversial “thinkers” like sacred scripture. Looking back, it all seems painfully obvious now. At the time though, I…
Ever met someone and thought, “Oh, they’re definitely autistic”, only for their professional assessment to come back with a polite-but-firm “Nope”? It happens far more often than you’d think, and the reasons are fascinating, frustrating, and occasionally absurd. Let’s talk masking, ADHD imposters, and the curious world of the “almost-autistic”. The Diagnostic Plot Twist Autism…
If you’re an ND man, and by ND I mean neurodivergent, and you’ve been living with constant, bone-deep anxiety for years, there’s a good chance it isn’t “just anxiety.” There’s a very real possibility it’s ADHD in disguise. Not the hyperactive schoolboy version you’ve seen on TV. Not the “can’t sit still” stereotype. This is…
