Adult ADHD
Have you ever thought about what you're asking a child with ADHD to do when you tell them they can only have privileges if they behave well? You're asking them to fight a biological reaction in their brain that's so overwhelming it causes people to put their life in danger on a daily basis. Kiddo [...]
ADHD affects many areas of the brain, but in this house there is one particular occurrence that we see time and time again. As part of mine and kiddo's ADHD, we have to control impulsive behaviour. Engaging in our impulses to run, shop, eat or in kiddo's case do anything he knows he shouldn't, gives [...]
I was driving to Kiddo's school this morning when a little voice from the back seat said, "McDonald's?" in a not so innocent but hopeful voice. "Not today darling" I said. I thought to myself how much stricter my parents were with that sort of thing than I am. I have no doubt that if [...]
The other day I sat feeling like the world's biggest fraud. We get carers allowance, DLA and respite and here was my child sat coloring in his Disney Pixar colouring book like an angel. He had slept the night before and I felt refreshed and calm. You would think I would savour this moment, breath [...]
I've been having this discussion with people a lot recently, why are we all struggling so much at the moment? Then last week I had a huge realisation. As neurodiverse people with autism and/or adhd, we are far more sensitive to changes in energy, weather, activities and routine. We adapt a sensory diet to fit [...]
It's a common trait for autistic children to build expectations and rules on where certain people belong and certain activities take place. For example, a teacher belongs at school and maths belongs at school too. Many neurodiverse people have these feelings when adults as well, I certainly do. If I see someone like a doctor [...]
If I find parenthood far more exhausting than my friends do, does that make me a bad mum? This question has gone round and round in my head for years. I see my friends with neurotypical children and think, "yep, they're exhausted". Yet they can still manage to stay up until 10pm, hold down a [...]
Earlier in the week I listened to one of my favourite podcasts, Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast. They had a 30 minute interview with a psychiatrist and were talking about how girls get missed and left undiagnosed when it comes to inattentive ADHD. This i just had to listen to, I'm waiting for my assessment [...]
Despite various struggles that I face daily, I've never felt like a disabled person. Certainly not in everyday life anyway.Sure there are events, specific jobs (like the online food shop which I find so hard and the only reason i do that is because I can't cope with being in the actual shop to do [...]
When you're on the verge of physical burnout, people tell you to rest your body. To listen to it, to help it relax. Autistic burnout is different in that I find I must listen to my brain as much as my body, maybe even more so. Autistic burnout is when your brain becomes so exhausted, [...]
The Autism & ADHD Diaries 