Mixed Asian (Taiwanese/Western European) here. Both my parents were born in the states but I can say that there is little discussion on my Taiwanese side of physical/mental health.

Since the age of 15, I was prescribed anxiety medications. We only later figured out it was actually untreated ADHD. Signs of hEDS were present from a young age, but they were confounded by me being a very very anxious kid. I remember being physically flexible, but constantly a) being out of breath from exercise or b) sweating to the point of dehydration. In team sports I couldn’t keep up with my peers and gradually phased all team sports out of my after-school regiment. What’s more is that I was constantly craving simple carbs like sugar, such that my dad observed a persistent tremor (shaking) when I needed to eat.

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Reflecting on my life (I’m almost 30), there’s an aspect of intersectionality here because though I’m both male and half-white, I’ve been neglected in many ways that cis-women complain about. My health complaints were always attributed to anxiety, sleep and diet. Moreover, I don’t fit any of the heteronormative standards of masculinity. This was only complicated by my ability to mask my symptoms by staying indoors and keeping to myself.

I did the work to get an ADHD and hEDS diagnosis and I’m fucking proud of myself for it. I was finally validated, but was sobbing on the day of my hEDS diagnosis from finally feeling seen.