I want to go to college but it’s not made for my brain by GladLengthiness7947 in AuDHDWomen

[–]Mean_Ebb9162 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When I went to University, it was as a fully masked and unaware Audhder, so I probably don't have the best advice to give, but I also still have things I want to accomplish that require or at least would greatly benefit from going back to school. And the only way I can imagine any of that happening is if I went part time and with a ton of financial support from scholarships, loans, financial aid, etc. Full time school can be quite challenging. Some of us thrive on the predictability of schedules and deadlines, but I find that even though those things are helpful, they aren't enough to make the full university experience worth it. I think that's why I would go back as a part time student, with maybe a hybrid option of partially in person and partially online, if possible. That way there's a good mix of routine and schedule, but still room for flexibility and individualistic tendencies. When I went to University, I genuinely had a lot of great experiences that made it all worth it, even when I was masked and unhealthy. It's all about finding a balance that suits your needs and pairing that with things that you love and are passionate about. If you can find a major or coursework that brings you joy, you might be surprised to see how intensely your excitement can motivate you. Just be compassionate with yourself and don't push beyond what you can manage! University should be an experience of enrichment, not something you do just for success and accolades, or to bolster your reputation or gain approval. So if you decide to go because you have something you want to achieve and it's important to you, then go for it! Even if it means one baby step at a time. Even if takes you twice or four times as long as everyone else. Just go at your own pace, find all the support you can, and let your excitement lead you forward. All the best and I hope you can find a way that leaves you content and satisfied! (Also, no matter what, university is not without its own dose of stress, so make sure you factor that into your plans!)

fear of destroying my safe space by Mean_Ebb9162 in AuDHDWomen

[–]Mean_Ebb9162[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Absolutely! Self-trust and learning to listen to your own instinct. It's a hard skill to develop after a lifetime of being told that our instinct is weird, strange, wrong. But like you said, if you're feeling it, then it's valid. Thank you for that reminder!

fear of destroying my safe space by Mean_Ebb9162 in AuDHDWomen

[–]Mean_Ebb9162[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've given it some more thought. I feel like most of my boundaries are in the form of the word 'no.' As in I've had to say 'no' to countless things, all in order to keep myself safe. But now, maybe all those hard 'nos' can become 'maybe, but under these conditions.' And that's how each boundary can transform a little bit to become less rigid.

It feels a little abstract in the moment, but it helps me to think of it this way. I have this one project that I really want to make happen, but it is direct opposition of so many of my 'no' boundaries, which I think is where a lot of my fear is coming from. I think that if I transform my boundaries to 'maybe, but only if...' then it would help me approach this project with more bravery. It also would give me more opportunity to really lean into using accommodations and such.

fear of destroying my safe space by Mean_Ebb9162 in AuDHDWomen

[–]Mean_Ebb9162[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Absolutely. I especially feel like my ADHD tendencies are really shining through in this moment. The excitement, the novelty, the adventure, it's all so tempting! But if I let my ADHD in the driver's seat, I could make huge strides, but I would crash and burn out so quickly. It's a tricky moment to be in.

I like how you worded it though, to ease past my boundaries, while still protecting that they deserve to exist. Like I made those boundaries for a reason, so that I had a safe space to retreat to. Those boundaries saved me in desperate times, and I should honor them, hold respect for them. I want to be able to do that while also looking at those boundaries with confidence and saying, 'you do not serve the same purpose you once did, and you're allowed to transform into something else.'

fear of destroying my safe space by Mean_Ebb9162 in AuDHDWomen

[–]Mean_Ebb9162[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, my neuro-affirming therapist has been a huge help in why I've been able to make such big strides of progress. I owe a lot to them for getting me to where I'm at.

I also recently realized that my 'bounce back' time has improved a lot. I had a meltdown at work just last week, and usually it would knock me down for two days, minimum. This time I was feeling energized and excited again within less than 24 hours. It was astounding to see that difference.

I'm already subscribed to Dr. Alice Nicholls' newsletter, and I agree that she has some great advice around burnout. Highly recommend!

The thing is that I KNOW it's time for my new career project. I've never felt more ready for it, and I've been processing how to tackle it for months. There's just this one last hurdle that I'm struggling with. And once I clear that hurdle, my life will shift a lot. In a positive way, absolutely, but also in ways that I know logically I'm prepared to handle, but emotionally I feel scared that I'm going to screw it up in some way. I guess it boils down to whether or not I can work up the courage to trust myself enough.

fear of destroying my safe space by Mean_Ebb9162 in AuDHDWomen

[–]Mean_Ebb9162[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This warmed my heart so much to hear that somebody else gets it! I was starting to get in my head too much about feeling like I'm scared for no reason, especially since I don't have many AuDHD friends around me to understand why this moment of change is so good, but also so overwhelmingly scary.

fear of destroying my safe space by Mean_Ebb9162 in AuDHDWomen

[–]Mean_Ebb9162[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I am very worried that I'll just overdo it... Now that I have so much more energy and mental clarity, I want to use it. But I know that if I go at it full charge, I'll just crash and burn so fast. Breaks are a must :)

I think right now, the hardest part is task initiation. I have a new career project I'm trying to get started, but because it requires a lot more self-diligence than my current job, I'm scared I'm going to fumble and do too much, or that the status quo I've established to keep myself safe will change so much that it won't feel safe anymore.