What shifted for people who’ve felt this way
For years, I ran on the hamster wheel, working long days, chasing impossible standards, and perfecting the art of people-pleasing. Cycle after cycle of burnout. Absenteeism. Presenteeism. Worsening mental health. Increasing chaos. Decreasing resilience.
By 39, with premature perimenopause thrown in, I’d hit saturation point. I wanted out of the relentless pinball machine of life. For years, I’d quietly self-diagnosed. I could see the patterns. The intensity. The exhaustion from masking.
But when my formal AuDHD diagnosis finally came, it wasn’t a magic pill or instant transformation. It was a missing puzzle piece. Relief, yes. Validation, absolutely. But also a long road of understanding ahead. I took the scenic route to that understanding. I only wish I’d known sooner what I know now.
Today, I live more authentically, not perfectly, not effortlessly, but with far more self-trust. I work fewer hours. I set boundaries. I prioritize my needs and my family. I unmask with intention rather than collapse from exhaustion.
That lived experience, combined with evidence-informed coaching for autism and professional training, shapes how I work. I care deeply about helping others step off the wheel through mental health support, not by burning everything down, but by building a life that actually fits.
For me, it’s not about becoming someone new. It’s about rediscovering who you’ve always been, embracing self-advocacy along the way.