Late diagnosis, societal expectations, and the uncomfortable question at the centre of the neurodiversity conversation We talk a lot about neurodivergence now: ADHD, autism, masking, burnout, sensory overload, executive dysfunction. And rightly so because awareness matters as does language and understanding ourselves. But lately, I’ve found myself circling a different question entirely: What even is […]
What does “neurotypical” actually mean? Read More »
Reflections on late-discovered ADHD and autism, motherhood, intergenerational trauma and healing within families. There’s something very strange about writing a book about your life. Not because of the writing itself, although that can be emotional enough, but because at some point the people who know you best begin reading parts of you that perhaps they’ve
There’s a sentence I hear often from women in midlife: “My ADHD diagnosis explained so much… but there are still pieces that don’t quite fit.” For many women, receiving an ADHD diagnosis can feel life-changing. Suddenly there is language for the overwhelm, procrastination, emotional intensity, burnout and exhaustion that may have been present for decades.
My ADHD diagnosis explained a lot… but not everything Read More »
I’m a post-menopause AuDHD woman and I am so bloody angry. My tolerance has dropped through the floor. Things that I used to be able to brush off now feel unbearable. I’m snapping more easily, holding onto frustration for longer, and feeling this constant simmering rage that I can’t seem to shift. I’m angry at my parents, my children and my husband. I’m angry at Donald Trump and about the state
Post-menopause, AuDHD and rage – what the hell is going on? Read More »
If getting to sleep – or waking up – feels like a battle, I want to start by saying this gently: it might not be a “you problem”. I see this so often with the women I work with, especially those who are neurodivergent. You try the routines, read the advice and you know what
Neurodivergent sleep and menopause: Why sleep feels so hard (and what actually helps) Read More »
I recently read an article about the growing mental health crisis affecting Gen X women, and it really stayed with me. Not because it was shocking, but because it felt familiar. It captured something many women are experiencing quietly. That sense of feeling unlike yourself, things feeling harder than they used to, wondering where your
Learning to advocate for yourself is something many of us are encouraged to do more of. We’re told it’s healthy to speak up about our needs, set boundaries and be honest about what we can realistically manage. In theory it sounds empowering. In reality, it can sometimes feel a little more complicated. Recently I found
Why advocating for yourself can still feel hard with ADHD or autism Read More »
For many women, work has never just been about earning a living. It’s been about identity, safety, belonging, proving you’re capable and holding everything together. Being seen as reliable, intelligent and useful – even when it costs you more than anyone realises. If you’re autistic, ADHD or both (AuDHD), midlife can quietly unsettle all
ADHD, autism and work in midlife: navigating identity and self-worth Read More »
I’ve written before about my own experience of friendships that have fallen away. It was a very personal piece – you can read it HERE if you’re interested. This time, though, I want to explore friendships and relationships more broadly, looking a little deeper at hormones, neurodivergence, and how, for many women in midlife, these
Friendships and relationships in midlife with ADHD or autism – what changes and why Read More »
If you’re autistic and/or ADHD and you’ve spent years collecting diagnoses that don’t seem connected – gut issues, dizziness, chronic pain, fatigue, inflammation – you’re not imagining patterns that aren’t there. For a long time, neurodivergence was framed almost entirely as a “brain thing”. Yet the nervous system isn’t just the brain. It includes
