“Trendy” diagnoses

Lets call "trendy" diagnoses and all the other derogative phrases and comments out for what they are; Discrimination and Ableism.

In my opinion, self-diagnoses is just as valid as a diagnosis, why?, because a solid 70-80% of diagnoses is self-diagnoses, and it is rare (with an actual professional who understands Autism, ADHD, etc and how it can present across different genders) that a self-diagnosed individual will not be correct about their theory.

I find it shocking how many mental health professionals don't actually have a clue about neurodivergence, which goes some way to explain (but not excuse) how our presentation is reduced to 'behavioural symptoms' as a diagnosis (rather than symptoms of a much bigger picture).

I grew up under the assumption that I had PTSD, Anxiety disorder and panic attacks, when in reality (after doing my own research and referring for a diagnoses), I have Autism, ADHD, OCD, C-PTSD, Dyspraxia, and NEAD (and that's just in the neurodivergence category of diagnoses, without referring to sub-categories).

I will never understand the mindset of "why would you want to know as as adult if you're neurodivergent?". It is hugely important to know your neurotype, otherwise how on earth are you supposed to know 'yourself'?

I genuinely believe that the reason I have Fibromyalgia is due to the suppression of trauma from decades of undiagnosed Autism, combined with other childhood trauma (so basically trauma). 

I didn't 'know' I was masking, and I didn't 'know' I was experiencing sensory overwhelm on a daily basis (resulting in NEAD) because I didn't have the knowledge or tools I needed to keep myself safe and protected. Knowledge is power, and without it, we are denied a sense of agency, one that is vital for both wellbeing and identity.

I don't care if ignorant people deem neurodivergence as "trendy", people will always have silly outdated opinions. I am a loud and proud Autistic female, but I am also a cautionary tale of the females who allegedly 'slipped through the cracks'.

Your words really are powerful! Thank you! Only recently I started connecting dots that me wearing earplugs minimises panic attacks and tics (diagnosed as Tourette, later proven to be misdiagnosed), so these tics are just a response to stress and sensory overload, also related to wearing jewelry. I’d there is nothing brushing my skin on my neck, shoulders and forehead (bangs) then I’m also calm not ticking. Once my husband gave me a beautiful tiny chain. This tiny chain caused me all day of excessive head shaking I thought my head will fall off and had a head spinning and felt awful. Only in the evening when I took it off I suddenly felt relax and stopped ticking with my head. He was upset that I do t wanna wear the jewellery,  tried to explain but I don’t know how to explain sensory issues and reactions to a neurotypical person. I think I might have dyspraxia too, my fine motor skills are ok, but gross- people laugh at me when seeing me not being able to keep balance , bumping into things, getting bruises and wounds which I notice much later and can’t figure out how I got them (insensitivity to pain). 

Your words really are powerful! Thank you! Only recently I started connecting dots that me wearing earplugs minimises panic attacks and tics (diagnosed as Tourette, later proven to be misdiagnosed), so these tics are just a response to stress and sensory overload, also related to wearing jewelry. I’d there is nothing brushing my skin on my neck, shoulders and forehead (bangs) then I’m also calm not ticking. Once my husband gave me a beautiful tiny chain. This tiny chain caused me all day of excessive head shaking I thought my head will fall off and had a head spinning and felt awful. Only in the evening when I took it off I suddenly felt relax and stopped ticking with my head. He was upset that I do t wanna wear the jewellery,  tried to explain but I don’t know how to explain sensory issues and reactions to a neurotypical person. I think I might have dyspraxia too, my fine motor skills are ok, but gross- people laugh at me when seeing me not being able to keep balance , bumping into things, getting bruises and wounds which I notice much later and can’t figure out how I got them (insensitivity to pain). 

I totally feel your jewellery pain. What's worse, I'm a (retired at the ripe old age of 35) professional goldsmith; I used to make jewellery for a living, and now I cannot wear any of it!
I also have to wear sunglasses and noise cancelling headphones in public, it's calmer, but still not great.
Clothes and food are both disasters too; clothing has to be soft, loose and stretchy, food needs to be 'real' food (processed foods make me go into meltdown), and absolutely no conflicting textures (aka, husks in porridge!!!).

Yep that sounds like dyspraxia. I'm forever bumping into things; it's got to a point where I don't really notice (unless it really hurts), the only thing that really annoys me is dropping cutlery and crockery...

Explaining sensory issues to a neurotypical; this is where tiktok, youtube, etc come into their own; there are plenty of people sharing their stories explaining what it's like. Perhaps your husband needs to do some virtual neurodiverse research :)