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Do the Damn work.
If I were asked by another Counsellor, what they need to learn about Adhd and or Autism, to benefit their clients, to enable them to work with Adhd Autistic clients, I'd say this.
Jill Holly
7 days ago3 min read


Perfectionism and RSD.
I am writing about Perfectionism connected to RSD.
Not just as a Trauma response. Yes that's a thing and true. It's not what I'm writing about.
I am not slating Perfectionism as a bad thing. I do not believe it has to come from a bad place.
Jill Holly
Sep 12 min read


Discombobulated Clown.
I'm working this week but not from home. Last night I thought I'd put up a post saying I forgot to bring my work phone having not packed it. I asked my lovely PA to email everyone to warn them. Then I found the work phone. Then I told my PA it wasn't actually lost and to not email everyone. Then I attempted to delete said post. Except I'd obviously not pressed upload, because it wasn't in fact on my page. No idea what happened there. This is exactly why I have Admin support.
Jill Holly
Aug 242 min read


We are all a little bit Autistic / Adhd.
I had a morning of trying to be organised. Multitasking, thinking I was winning. You know when we are told that all our problems are solved and we suddenly stop being Adhd if we just try harder and try a few tricks? Well. I got some yoghurt prepared, I put in some chia seeds. To soak. In advance. Just before having a shower. Great. No point putting contact lenses in before a shower right? And I don't need to find my glasses just for a quick 10 second bit of breakfast prep. Gu
Jill Holly
Aug 113 min read


We are who we are.
I waffle on about the fact that the harm Adhd and Autistic folk experience, is as a Result of the splitting, masking and denial of who we really are. Many of us Autistics/Adhd/Monotropics, have had to fit a box, squash ourselves, wear a disguise, to survive or cope in a Neuronormative world. And that hurts us. Some of us didn't even know we were doing this, but we DID know that something about us wasn't ok, something was 'off'. And some Autistic Adhd Monotropic folk have Priv
Jill Holly
Aug 73 min read


LazyArse-itus.
So my PA asks me why I'm working on my day off as I fire off lots of work whatsapp messages to her. Me (sat on my sofa): "I'm addicted to my phone. I love my Work. Transitions are my weakness. I want to do EVERYTHING (all good stuff) which means I'm overwhelmed so do NOTHING. Facilitated my Peer Group last night which is a huge adrenalin rush = low spoons next morning. Nothing forced/fixed in my Diary for this morning so no 'fear of being late' = too chilled 🤣. On my own (ya
Jill Holly
Aug 31 min read


Change - the Good and the Bad.
It's been a really tough few weeks and things are still a bit difficult. But a few days away in nature, away from life's normal demands, was just what I needed this last week as I spent 3 nights in Wales with a lovely Autistic bestie. I have Privileges and I had space to be able to do this. I choose to prioritise self care and wellbeing. It still comes at a cost. I close my diary when I need time out. I lose income. No one pays us holiday pay when we are self employed. I choo
Jill Holly
May 192 min read


Are you a Red flag or Green flag Person?
I'm having to Mask. Sometimes I have to and it's not a choice. Why? Because my Autistic brain knows that my interactions, and being me, can't be the priority. I cannot prioritise myself right now. Today. Because I have some big stuff going on. I can Mask because I have the privilege of: The ability to regulate. The cognitive ability to understand that I can't be number 1 today. The deep self love that knows I am worthy even if I Mask. The choice to Mask (today). I have those
Jill Holly
Apr 142 min read


Slowly slowly
I did have a community group set up. Then cancelled it. And I'm going with instinct, in that the time is not right. Not right now. I want this, I really want this, but I can't fully attach and until I can, I'm not doing it. I've shared here before that I have blocks about it and I'm not asking for advice so please do not give any. This isn't about confidence or self esteem. I'm sharing so folk can embrace their own zig zag way of doing things. Because what I have, dear reader
Jill Holly
Apr 142 min read


Missing the point.
I'm going with the flow again. Just because the nuances about what happened with Uta Frith being showcased first, by Naomi Fisher, are still irritating me. And I'm procrastinating today so am on Facebook instead, avoiding some chores, and a bit psychologically stuck, in a transition glitch. So I'm typing this, I'll over analyse it, edit 50 times, before I press 'post' knowing I should put my phone down and do something more useful. Breakfast and cup of tea is now cold beside
Jill Holly
Mar 233 min read


Diversity
It is ok for me to admit that I had always intellectualised my emotions and got flooded by emotions. I have many stories to tell about being flooded. Those were my 2 states. Flooding and also intellectualising. My emotions were huge and I'd be in a huge dysregulated state. Then after I'd intellectualise them. But emotions were never felt and never processed. Emotions never got to be felt. Flooding was not feeling them and not processing them. Flooding was in itself a swamping
Jill Holly
Mar 203 min read


Migraines, Interoception and Privilege
Today I am ill, migraine, day cancelled. Being Autistic and Adhd is for me, a lot of guesswork. I can't always read my body cues and often I feel tired and grumpy without realising I'm ill. I can't tend to whatever is wrong, if I can't identify it. I take medication for Migraines, preventative meds, every day. I have had migraines my whole life but just accepted them. I never knew Migraine meds were a thing. The first day I took them, about 3 years ago, I was shocked at how l
Jill Holly
Mar 162 min read


Not the Stereotype
During my Autism assessment in 2022 I genuinely didn't think I had any special interests. Then I realised I had spent my entire life fascinated by people: Volunteering with a Special Needs Respite charity aged 16. 10 year Career in Human Resources. 20+ year Career in varying people support roles: A&E, Homelessness, Careers Advice, School/Student Welfare, Family Work. Attempting to study Counselling/Psychology age 28, 32, 42 and 45 (at last). 9 year Career as a Counsellor and
Jill Holly
Feb 162 min read


Radio Rodeo
Does this ever really happen to those who are not Adhd? Wednesday I received an email asking if I'd have a conversation on Radio about Adhd. I said yes. Oxfordshire Greatest Hits. They wanted me to talk that afternoon but I offered a small gap I had Thursday. Thursday the interviewer asked me 1 question. "Why do you think that women over 25 are increasingly being diagnosed Adhd". I hadn't known what the interviewer would ask/want but in true Adhd adrenalin fuelled style I waf
Jill Holly
Feb 32 min read


Acceptance
Originally published 20th January 2026 on my NeuroDiversity University Blog Facebook Page. About to jump onto and co facilitate this month's Creative Counsellors Membership Hub Adhd Autistic Therapist group. Our subject is Transitions. And all the tricks and strategies in the world, take 2nd stage to a supportive partner who knows my quirks, and gently ushers me along, lilipadding, with my dinner cooked, a flask of hot tea ready, a bottle of squash prepared, and a smile, nu
Jill Holly
Jan 221 min read


Destruction
Originally published 20th December 2025 on my NeuroDiversity University Blog Facebook Page. I just had a mini meltdown purely because something I really wanted, happened, but unexpectedly. It took me by surprise. This good thing. The day didn't look like it was meant to. It changed things for that moment. I don't know how else to explain it but I know others like me 'get it'. Trying to vocalise my distress, whilst knowing I look unhinged, whilst knowing it could be interprete
Jill Holly
Jan 222 min read


Being socially awkward.
Originally published 19th December 2025 on my NeuroDiversity University Blog Facebook Page. On my main page I've shared some exciting ventures coming up in 2026. And if I were attending these as a newbie, I would be petrified. Delivering these is scary but let me tell you a secret. Running them is easier for me than attending them. Running them means I get to plan details. I get to figure data, timing, content. And the best bit of all is I get to have a role. Facilitating it
Jill Holly
Jan 224 min read


I'm not made for the corporate World.
Originally posted 17th May 2023 on my NeuroDiversity University Blog FaceBook page I'm not. I'm made for big hearts and big morals and big feels. The corporate world costs me dearly. It HAS cost me dearly. It took away my authenticity, it created Imposter Syndrome. I WAS an Imposter. Drop the syndrome bit. I literally was an Imposter trying to do things the rigid, stifled, 'not-always-right', 'meant-to be-right'' way. Rules and safeguarding stuff often prevents disclosure. It
Jill Holly
Dec 15, 20252 min read


Purpose and why we ask 'why' a lot
Originally posted 11th June 2023 on my NeuroDiversity University Blog FaceBook page I think a key feature of Autistic/Adhd drive is natural motivation. I ask lots of questions because knowing 'why' is the key to me being motivated and alert (thank you Dopamine receptors aka Brain science stuff). Knowing why means I understand. If I understand and if something aligns with me, I can do it. I can do things when I understand and when the thing has purpose. Linked to this is the r
Jill Holly
Dec 15, 20252 min read


Privileges
Originally posted 11th June 2023 on my NeuroDiversity University Blog FaceBook page What Privileges (and I mean headstarts/ advantages) do you have? Do you know? Some of mine are below. I do not take them for granted. Life would be harder if I didn't have them. A garden. My own private home. Walking with ease. Working pattern that suits me (also a necessity but also privilege). Not actively having to care for someone all the time. I'm white. Ability to self care. Accessible E
Jill Holly
Dec 15, 20251 min read
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