For a long time, my neurodivergence wasn’t something I was open to sharing. It felt easier to hide the grief of wanting so badly to function “normally” while feeling trapped by my own neurology. Having Autism, ADHD, and OCD is like trying to run a computer with three completely different operating systems.
There is a very specific kind of heartbreak that happens when these three systems collide. My OCD demands perfection and dictates exactly what I must do to prevent disaster. My ADHD makes executing that feel physically impossible, and my Autistic brain quickly becomes overwhelmed by the dissonance. It is endlessly frustrating to know exactly who I am internally and hear my own voice clearly, only to have the words come out wrong. The anxiety perpetuates the disconnect, followed by days of rumination over a single interaction. It traps you in a deeply isolating cycle of shame and guilt.
I have realized that if I want to see a world built on true acceptance, I have to start by accepting myself. Because when these three operating systems actually get along, the most beautiful things happen. In the right context, it creates the perfect storm: a collision of perfectionism, boundless creativity, and deep, innovative problem-solving.
We desperately need to shift our view from a deficit-based lens to a support-based perspective. True acceptance means allowing people to be exactly who they are. It means honoring their preferences, providing the specific support they need to thrive, and completely letting go of any aim to “fix” or change them to fit an expected mold.
We are who we are. In all our dissonance, struggles, and perfect storms, we should be loved and celebrated for exactly that.
Wow so well-said!Aa accept others for who they are. Be who we are with no judgment. She is brilliant! 💯👏👏👏👏👏🩷