In the earlier installments of this mini-series, I shared:
- why I got a neuropsychological evaluation
- what they assess and described my experience having one
- the findings, which included two confirmed diagnoses (ADHD and Unspecified Trauma- and Stressor-related Disorder) and two additional potential diagnoses (Autism Spectrum Disorder [ASD] and/or Bipolar Disorder)
- some of my initial processing and mixed feelings about the results
In this post, I discuss what helped me stay focused on the bright side of the situation as I prepared to mobilize myself to learn more about these diagnoses and how to navigate them.
I already suspected three out of these four disorders at the time I got my evaluation, and I was already actively working on developing strategies to cope with ADHD. Still, I knew there was a long road ahead. Yet, life could not be entirely put on hold until I learned how to heal my trauma, better manage stress, and develop strategies that work with my neurodivergent brain. For this reason, I felt a bit overwhelmed.
It was immensely appreciated that the neuropsychologist I worked with offered me some reminders and positive reinforcement during my evaluation appointment and again afterward in the final report, which helped me keep the following in mind:
- While there were areas I struggled in, this did not negate the many skills and talents that I possess. In many areas of the testing, my overall intellectual functioning was estimated to be within the high average range. I was, am, and (barring any unexpected tragic turn of events) always will be a smart cookie.
- Regardless of what disorders I do or don’t have, I remain a self-sufficient person with low support needs. I’ve made it this far in life navigating a neurotypical world that was not built for the way my brain works. While it has not been easy, and I’ve experienced many bumps in the road, there’s no reason to think I can’t continue to find ways to function and hopefully, with the development of new skills and strategies, even thrive.
- Many of the effective treatments for all of these disorders are things I was already experienced with or exploring, such as:
- Mindfulness practices
- Relaxation and refocusing strategies (e.g., breathwork, grounding, progressive muscle relaxation)
- Regular exercise
- Therapy
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy skills training
- Developing more/different/better communication skills
- Tracking my mood
- Organizational systems (e.g., calendars, to-do lists)
“Ms. Hackett is reminded that she demonstrated relatively intact cognitive functioning and that she has the ability to perform well in many areas of her life as well as in treatment. It is likely that she will notice improvements in her cognitive abilities as her emotional and behavioral health continue to improve.”
I also felt hopeful thanks to the research I’d already done on ADHD and Autism. While both disorders certainly create challenges that must be navigated, there is an increasing awareness of the ways neurodivergence can also be an asset or blessing. Some folks out there have even gone so far as to refer to it as a superpower, though many neurodivergents and mental health experts have mixed feelings about this verbiage. Semantics aside, there are many cool aspects of having a brain that is wired differently than most folks. I can’t wait to write more about my experience with and recognition of that.
Another essential thing that helped me take this news in stride was the love and acceptance from my support network. A growing number of my family members have received their own ADHD diagnoses. It’s perhaps no coincidence that many of my friends are also neurodiverse or questioning if they might be, given the speculation that neurodivergents tend to gravitate toward one another because our communication styles gel together more easily than with neurotypicals. My neurotypical connections were equally supportive, asking many thoughtful questions and offering loads of encouragement.
It was very grounding to recognize that a neurodivergent diagnosis isn’t all bad news, recall that I was not starting from scratch in learning how to create a more neurodivergent-friendly life in a neurotypical world, and to know that I was well-supported by a network of caring and empathetic folks. Yet I still received this evaluation’s findings as a call to action—the need for life changes was quite evident given the symptoms I was experiencing and how they were impacting my life.
In the future, I will describe the efforts I’ve undertaken since the eval to try and rebuild my life around this new information, how I attempted to suss out which (if either) of the two potential diagnoses were relevant, resources I’ve found helpful to learn about and manage my disorders, and ways I have leaned on support systems to buoy me throughout.
hezhub.com 