A love letter to your late-diagnosed neurodivergent mind

If were are late-diagnosed / discovered, this is for you.

Hey you,

What a journey it has been. You're resilient, adaptable and outright brilliant for getting this far in a world that was not built for you brain.

I know it hasn't been easy. But you did it.

Just a few reminders to hold onto:

It's okay to grieve the past, wishing you knew earlier what you know now. Give yourself the space for what-ifs, before you move onto what-now's.

With a new world ready for you to explore, sometimes the knee jerk reaction is to put in all the tools, learn all the systems & prove all the non-believers wrong. But the most profound change comes from tiny, intentional shifts we commit to everyday. You don't have to learn everything at once - be kind to yourself.

You have a new understanding of what you need to thrive. This comes with adjustments and boundaries. Not everyone will understand. They are not your people.

You will be challenged about the validity of your experiences and sometimes even your diagnosis. That's because people are not always educated or compassionate. Please don't question yourself. You know what you've lived through and how life-changing it's been to discover that you were never broken, you just didn't have the tools to tap into your strengths. That is enough.

You may wonder who you really are - are you the same person as before, or does this change everything? You have always been there - there were just some parts of you that were dysregulated and not able to shine through. That's the beauty of discovering how your brain works. The unmanageable starts to calm and who you are inside begins to emerge.

You may have thought your sensitivity was a weakness - BUT it's actually your biggest strengths. It allows you to connect with people on the same wavelength, it helps you avoid situations that don't quite sit right. It allows you to show up for the people you love and cherish most.

Life won't always be easy. You may be disappointed when you realise that even with this new found discovery, challenges STILL creep in. That's normal. The important thing is acknowledging that you now have better tools to navigate these situations.

The limiting beliefs you have collected throughout your life will still show up. Don't believe them.

Your energy and nervous system are precious and are OFTEN in overdrive - please look after yourself.

You might struggle to find where you fit now. It will take sometime to work out where you can unmask and just be you. That's okay, give it time.

You can let everyone know what you have discovered about your brain - or tell no one.

You can decide medication is for you. Or not.

You can call it your super power. Or despise the phrase.

You can decide that the diagnosis does not define you, or that it makes you exactly who you are.

You can advocate for others, or work on building your own strength.

You have the freedom to make this journey whatever you want it to be. You've spent your whole life fitting into a world that wasn't made for you- it's time for you to choose now.

Love you always,

Your beautiful brain.