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 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
No one told me that a caesarean birth could change my body for life. I was told how the surgery would happen. I was told how long recovery might take. I was told when I could drive again, lift a kettle, or return to daily life. What I was not told was that years later,
The hidden lifetime impact of caesarean birth on women’s bodies and nervous systems Read More »
This question often arrives with a mix of relief and doubt. Relief, because something has finally clicked and the struggles with focus, overwhelm, exhaustion or emotional intensity suddenly make sense. And doubt, because you’ve managed for this long, so surely it can’t be ADHD… can it? For many women, especially in midlife, wondering
Should I get assessed for ADHD in midlife? A gentle guide for women Read More »
You’re in a conversation and someone says something that is plainly wrong. Not nuanced or debatable, just wrong. And instead of tilting your head, softening your tone, cushioning the truth so it lands gently, you say it. “That’s not correct.” No smile to soften it, no apology for saying the thing out loud or emotional
Why I don’t give a flying fajita! Read More »
The new autism research helping late-identified women make sense of a lifetime of masking For decades, autism was explained through one dominant idea: that autistic people were “mind-blind”. This theory suggested autistic individuals struggled to understand other people’s thoughts or emotions, shaping research, diagnosis, education and public perception for nearly forty years. Autism became
When understanding yourself changes everything Read More »
Ageing. It’s one of those topics people whisper about, as though saying it too loudly might invite a wrinkle to appear on the spot. We’re surrounded by products, slogans and trends promising to reverse it, pause it or disguise it. But what if ageing wasn’t something to battle? What if it was something to lean
How do you feel about ageing? Read More »
For many women with ADHD, midlife doesn’t feel like a gentle transition. It’s more like something quietly, then suddenly, stops working. Focus becomes harder to hold. Emotional regulation feels more fragile. Overwhelm arrives faster and lingers longer. The coping strategies that once kept life ticking over no longer seem reliable. If you’ve found yourself wondering
Hormones and ADHD: what changes during perimenopause and menopause? Read More »
