Our minds have an amazing ability to take the events and experiences that we have throughout our lives and turn them into a story, or narrative, that we use to make sense of ourselves and the world around us. These stories shape us and how we move through life; because of that, they are powerful and deserve our attention. My passion lies in walking alongside others as they share their stories, gain perspective, and reclaim parts of their narrative that no longer serve them.

I know first-hand the power that the stories we tell ourselves can have and the transformation that can come with a new perspective.

I am a late-diagnosed, highly-masking AuDHD woman (autistic with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). I lived most of my life not knowing this about myself; not having a name or reason for my unique strengths and challenges. Like most neurodivergent people, I experience the world intensely; I am highly sensitive to sensory stimuli and to the energy and emotions of those around me. I have a mind that is constantly thinking, analyzing, and searching for connections and patterns to help make sense of the unpredictable world around me. I am also logic-based and literal, which can create a surprising amount of miscommunication and vulnerability when you are not aware of it.

Some of my earliest memories are of noticing these differences between myself and my peers. I knew that I was an outlier and I put great effort into hiding these parts of me, to the point that I nearly hid them from myself (this is what it means to be “highly-masking"). Without the understanding that I have a unique brain that requires unique care, I pushed myself to be like everyone else, disconnecting from the constant distress that it caused my mind and body. This resulted in psychosomatic illness by age seven, a diagnosis of general anxiety disorder by fourteen, and major depressive disorder soon after. I experienced ongoing physical pain, constant anxiety and recurrent depressive episodes throughout my life, all of which did not subside until I was properly diagnosed and began living in a way that honours my sensory and support needs.

Before knowing that I was on the spectrum and have ADHD, I had built a narrative that something within me was broken—how else could I be trying so hard to fit in and keep up and still be falling short? Understanding that I am neurodivergent has set me free and transformed my inner narrative. There is nothing wrong or broken about me; the world just wasn’t built for my AuDHD brain. I no longer force myself to fit in or ignore the stress signals when my system is overloaded. Instead, I have built a lifestyle that respects my limits and allows the time and space for the things that I need to keep me well.

This shift in narrative has been nothing short of life-changing for me; my negative self-talk has disappeared, replaced with compassion, understanding, and acceptance. Don’t get me wrong - I am very much the same hypersensitive and highly-analytical person that I was before. But now, I accept and celebrate the parts of me that I used to try desperately to hide.

If any of what I have shared resonates with you, I would love to walk alongside you on your mental health journey. Whatever your path, I encourage you to reflect on the stories that you tell yourself about yourself and how and why that narrative came to be. Remember the power that these stories hold and the transformation that can come with an alternative point of view.

As the author of your own story, the next chapter is up to you.