Not knowing I was ADHD happened because of 2 things.
Firstly, early on, I seemed to sense I didn't fit in. My nervous system knew. I was too young to know cognitively, but my nervous system ie my Body, helped me stay part of the pack and got me to copy others' behaviours. I appeared to fit in. Cool. Human existence is such that we are wired to fit in. We are social creatures.
Secondly, the professionals would not have known there was this hidden ADHD/NeuroDivergent child. That's the point of Camouflage 😉. So all the literature described ADHD as bouncy outy types. So all of us that were unknowingly, subconsciously ADHD, never recognised ourselves as the stuff in the literature.
Things are changing. Us that were camouflaging/masking are waking up. New literature is being written. More people will recognise themselves. And we shall take over the World 🤣🤪🤩😌. I half jest.
Where does that leave us? Those that wake up and rediscover themselves? What is the impact? We had/have habits from masking. Our Body would try to communicate to us that we were different. Niggles, nudges, self-doubt, big conflicting emotions trying to escape and wake us up.
We had unknowingly masked, switching off a whole part of our Body. Communication between us and our bodies is blocked.
But we need our Bodies.
Pain alerts us to an injury. Poor health tells us to rest. Body changes tell us to investigate a problem. Our Body is magnificent.
Most ADHD folk I know who work tirelessly, too much, are perfectionists, who then burn out. People pleasers who generally are not taking hints about self-care. Working when ill. Over proving themselves because their body is stuck, trapped, in an old habit of needing to fit in, be accepted and belong. Not hearing their body.
Changing this habit is hard. My Body has been through the mill, spending a year coming to terms with being ADHD. Coming out 🙃🙂. It has been in shock, confusion, grief (lost years, in hiding) and eventually, pride. And I still don't naturally listen to my body. It's a new habit but I'm getting there.
Why am I waffling? I'm asking you all to support each other to look after each other. People are encouraged to plough on, to go in to work. Frowned upon for being off. Penalised, literally, for resting.
Self-care is seen as a soft luxury. Fluffy happy stuff. But self-care is essential. Some can not stop either financially or because of caring commitments. Some cannot adjust life to accommodate their health needs.
Our health is everything. Our body, our Instinct, our emotions, need to be prioritised and respected and supported. In whatever way you can. Listen to your body. Self-care because you need it. Start seriously listening. Look after your body. Encourage each other to do this. Look out for each other. Do your best.
❤❤❤ *3 hearts*
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