Neurodivergent and Over-medicalised?

Hey @Morbis

I can definitely relate to how you’re feeling. I am autistic and have ADHD and I have been in mental health treatment for 8 years and while some of it has been helpful, I still struggle immensely. Ultimately, I feel like the world wasn’t made for me and there’s nothing therapy and medication can do to fix that really. I find treatment much more effective for my mental health disorders than my neurodivergence.

I found that allowing myself to live authentically as myself and to go at my own pace has made a huge difference. Also not being ashamed of my differences. I understand that not everyone is able to do that though and that I am incredibly lucky to have the support that I have. Finding other people that are also neurodivergent has made social interactions a lot easier. I think as you mentioned, having a community of those who understand your struggles is really important.

@Lapis_Anteater

Thanks for your response. I have posted this question a few other places as well and it is somewhat comforting to know I’m not the only one who feels this way.

I could certainly be gentler on myself in regard to what I expect myself to be capable of, and doing things at my own pace.

But yes, a lot of the responses I’ve had elsewhere have been about community too - i do think it’s possibly the missing piece for me.

Hi there @Morbis yes I feel that and see it across society. I have avoided all diagnoses and medications myself, as I have wanted to learn how to live with myself and how to have a life where I see myself as a "normal person" not a diagnosis/statistic.

I wonder if you have made up a list of all the good things about yourself, and your actual skills/capabilities/opportunities in life?

Some of the best people I have ever worked with are autistic/adhd and we excel at technical jobs, and i love the unique viewpoint and sense of humour that comes with ND people.

Yet many are plagued or let down by families/medical specialists seeing the problems, not the person.

So I wonder if you can find space in your life to turn problems into powerful skills and turn things around so you can count all the things you are proud of. Take care mate and believe in yourself...!!

@Morbis

hearing you about medicalising mental health issues. Community can be so healing sometimes it can bea specific purpose gathering like finding others who identify as neurodivergent. I identify as aspie. It’s even better in a general group when you discover someone brave enough to express it publicly . Yesterday a man mentioned they were a bit “ autie ”. to someone else, and I could enter the convo briefly with enthusiasm. Later, I could tell by his expression that it mattered. Nothing romantic. So, gently, little bit by little bit building relationships. It was a music workshop.

The other odd thing about socialising in this workshop, is that I have had to deal with a badly behaved psychiatrist. Hmmm that is an ongoing work in progress. Hmmm. Just remember, for any years in university, they are very human. We do need to stop putting so called experts on pedestals.

LONG LIVE LIVED EXPERIENCE EXPERTISE.

@Lapis_Anteater @Sugarshack

Thanks @Sugarshack, I am definitely headed in this direction. I am still glad I got diagnosed for my own understanding, but yeah, the systems of support have only made my life harder for the most part. Technical jobs probably aren’t for me as I’m more of an artsy type, but it is helpful to hear that others feel the same.

@Appleblossom I hear you. Are there any well behaved psychiatrists? Everybody has unconscious biases - specialist or not. I definitely agree with the premise of lived experience > medicalisation, although it does have its place.

@Morbis shake off all the medicalisation and find your truest and best self on this planet full of shaved monkeys. There are many avenues to 'success' whatever that means, and when you're thinking about what that is for you, you're on the road there. But when you're thinking about the 'bad stuff' all the time, it soaks right in. Psychologists etc they try but at the end of the day they are humans and only you can see into your own heart and know which direction to take it 🙂