AuDHD Life: Anyone else?

Oh and that meme; I agree. Let's not forget that we are disabled because the world wasn't built for us. We aren't wrong for being who we are. The world and the system has generally not been built with us in mind. But we can and have made progress @Captain24 ♥️

I think my brother has the same as me @0ddsidian. Bipolar included. Mum has decided that he has ADHD.

Im sure dad has ASD and mum definitely has depression of some kind.

All my grandparents have gone now so I can’t really find out anything. Mum and dad don’t really say much. They aren’t very open.

Ok here is weird stuff

1. I like to make random noises to the dogs but also when I’m in the truck in my own.
2. I talk to my dogs in weird voices and childishly.

The support group is in person with some zooming in. It’s based on AA so has twelve steps and phrases that they all say together. It’s not really about talking about your issues it’s more focusing on what is in the content, different readings and then they are discussed. There is no ‘I’ statements it’s generalised.

I think I’ve come to the self-acceptance stage. Self-love will never happen!

This space has made me realise that I’m not alone. It has given me more confidence in accepting what I have been ‘labeled’. It shows me that it is a

Ok to struggle and that there is support available.

Glad it’s a good day! What also helps is know that even though you work on here that you all have struggles to. So knowing that you can relate to it all is so helpful. My psych has a trauma background and adhd so we connect in a different level. She totally gets me. I can read her and she can read me really well. Sometimes too well!

I think if we could look back through our family trees for many generations we'd probably see a pattern emerge haha @Captain24

When I've had pets I've done both of those things. Frequently actually. I've also gone the other way and had full, very human conversations with pets.

They sound vaguely similar to the groups that SANE runs. They're not full-on support groups, but they've got a bit of content and then just general conversation on whatever the topic is. Are they the time of groups where you can sick back if you're having a more "non-verbal" day?

Self-acceptance takes constant work to maintain, in my opinion. Like, it's not a one-and-done thing.

I love that you're feeling less alone and have a bit more confidence. I swear that SO many people in here in the Forums (and other SANE programs) have similar challenges to us. I hear them ALL THE TIME. And I feel like it's statistically incredibly unlikely that all of us are broken or "wrong".

Literally everyone on my team has their own lived experience. Approx 85% of SANE staff also do, which also inspires me every day because they keep going, keep rocking up and keep doing incredible work 😊

I have conversations with them too @0ddsidian. If I want to give them a treat or bone I just drop the word in the conversation and Pix reacts every time!

I’m not feeling overly verbal right now. But I did say to the facilitator that I have severe social anxiety and will struggle to participate for a while. I’m hoping she listens. I just don’t want to appear mute.

It is inspiring. Even in my darkest days I usually still go to work. I have taken a couple of MH days but mostly I show up. I need to push myself to function in the outside world and work it is. I do feel like I don’t belong and have imposter syndrome but now I know why so it makes me feels like I can acknowledge it.

My parents' dog knows "walk", "dinner" and "chips", @Captain24.

Good on you for letting the facilitator know what your needs are. That can be hard. Being aware of what our support needs and preferences are can be so important and empowering, and then communicating them! I created this image a while ago to help people understand and reflect on some of our support needs.

It's not just people who are Autistic or ADHD that have support needs and preferences, but it is a topic that comes up a lot for people who have those particular diagnoses.

I do agree that we do need to push ourselves a bit. That's where we grow. I've been trying to remember that just because something feels uncomfortable for me doesn't mean it's unsafe. So many people experience imposter syndrome in SO many ways, like they're not [insert thing here] enough. Not disabled enough. Not queer enough. Not [whatever] enough. But who decides what "enough" is? So proud that you're able to acknowledge things more!

I said the words ‘do you want one’ to Pix and she knew she was getting a treat! @0ddsidian

I like that. It’s really good that you came up with that. It would be helpful for all.

We do need to push ourselves and I’m trying to. I went to the donuts and coffee yesterday and I’m going to coffee with the support group. So I’m giving it a red hot crack. Hopefully it doesn’t blow up in my face.

I don’t know what enough is.

My self awareness is coming along. I’m trying to work out things as they happen. I realised today while sitting at the hairdressers that I clench my teeth a lot and tried to stop and relax my face!

I also love a treat, so I relate strongly to Pix @Captain24

It definitely sounds like you're pushing yourself little by little! I'm SO proud of you for agreeing to spend some time with the people from your support group. Even just saying yes to it is huge ♥️

Not to be too cheeky, but if we can't define what "enough" is then how do we know that we AREN'T enough? 😉 It's almost as though "enough" isn't a thing.

Awareness of your body and brain can be super helpful. I also clench my jaw. I bite the inside of my cheek a lot, which is a stimmy thing. Do you like the hairdresser? I have mixed feelings.

I actually bought myself some treats yesterday while shopping. I never do. @0ddsidian

I have to try. We organised coffee around my work and appointments so I’d better go! 😂 I’m one of those that usually does what I say I’ll do. I have never missed an appointment.

I really don’t know but it’s just a feeling that I’m not enough. It’s really hard though isn’t it. There really isn’t an enough. I just feel like I should be more than I am.

I was just biting my cheek as I was reading this! I do it a lot too. I never knew it was something. I have so much to learn.

I hate the hairdresser. 2 hours is so long and I have trouble sitting still for that long. When they talk to me with the hairdryer going I just can’t understand what they say. There is too much noise.

I think I have burn out.

What did you buy? What are your go-to treats? I LOVE anything with a good crunch, @Captain24

That's such a good quality to have. I'm generally similar, but I also honour myself when I'm just not up for it.

You're so right that it is a feeling. Feelings are so valid, but (and I'm sure you've heard this before) they aren't facts. Apparently I'm quite cliche today haha I wouldn't say that it's factually accurate to say that you aren't enough, considering there isn't a defined measure for it ♥️

There's lots of different things that could be considered stimming. It could be picking under your nails. It could be shaking your leg. It could be making little noises over and over. Honestly the list in infinite.

I agree with what you've said about the hairdresser. I do love a head massage when they wash my hair ♥️

Why do you think you have burn out?

I buy chips and chocolates frequently but I got some dozen caramel tarts and some blue berry danish’s ti throw in the oven for actual dessert @0ddsidian

Very cliche!! I might have heard ‘feelings aren’t facts’ once or twice before! I think it’s my psychs favourite line.

I have no energy, no motivation, no care for anything, so tired, so exhausted, just nothing to give.