Elicia’s Story:

Let me tell you a story, I can waffle sometimes, but I’ll try to keep it short! It’s a personal story of my diagnosis of ADHD and Autism (or Autism Spectrum Disorder - ASD) at 22 years old. I guess the ‘purpose’ of this piece is to provide support and awareness of these issues and spread awareness that they’re completely normal and anyone experiencing them - whether inside Mindera or outside - is not alone!

My whole life, I’d felt something was ‘off’, especially when comparing myself to my peers at school, university, or even more recently, on my marketing apprenticeship. However, I couldn’t really place what exactly it was that was off; I felt like simple tasks were a struggle, or I’d take rejection a lot more personally than others, or I’d have to try three times as hard academically to sit at the same level as my friends, or I’d get sensory issues to sights, sounds, and smells that I could never really explain… The list goes on.

I properly began looking into the causes in my final year of university; the ‘symptoms’ as it were, of both of these conditions had gone undiagnosed for 20 years at this point and were reaching boiling point due to the pressures of university, my dissertation, and the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns. I felt pretty lost and overwhelmed, and it was even worse without a reason for this. I spent hours researching what I was experiencing, watched many YouTube videos and TikToks, and read many articles. Finally, I concluded it was very likely I had ADHD, Autism or even both!

I think a big part of the problem is how both ADHD and Autism and their symptoms weren’t really discussed and were only diagnosed if you were a disruption to everyone else; it didn’t matter if you suffered in silence, only a disruption internally to yourself. Another thing is that the symptoms are associated with children, not adults; they also appear differently in boys and girls. Because of this, it makes categorising the conditions quite hard, and there are a lot of grey areas and overlaps with other things. From my own experience, I think imposter syndrome is a big feature of both conditions. What are ADHD and Autism? I’m not qualified to go into the ins and outs of both conditions and all the variations and characterisations of both. Still, I can give a little overview into each in case it could help anyone seeking answers!

ADHD:

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder:

• More commonly observed in children but mainly if they are hyperactive and disruptive in classes, harder to diagnose in adults, especially women, as symptoms manifest differently;

• It tends to run in the family and be hereditary;

• A problem with dopamine creation and regulation in the brain which can lead to a lack of focus, hyperfocus, impulsivity and very low moods/sudden mood swings;

• It can cause a lot of fidgeting and zoning out or derealisation; daydreaming is also quite common, and a lot of time can be lost to this without control;

• Impulsivity and inattentiveness in those with ADHD can show up as bluntness and butting into conversations without meaning to;

• This article is super useful for understanding ADHD in adults!

Autism:

Autism Spectrum Disorder:

• May experience issues with understanding social communication and reading people and social norms/ques - may also show signs of speech impairment (for example, when I’m super stressed or overwhelmed, I have a stutter);

• Repetitive behaviour (for example, ‘stimming’, which can include fidgeting with hands, toys, or leg shaking etc.) and a favour for a strong sense of routine;

• Sensitivity to light, sound, taste, or touch (e.g. can’t stand certain foods or smells, and they may cause stress.);

• Intense focus on specific topics or hobbies and may appear more passionate about things;

• Extreme anxiety as a result of environmental triggers;

• Meltdowns due to overwhelming situations like crowds or loud noises etc.

Working at Mindera:

I hope my little summary of the conditions is helpful in understanding them! These are just a few of the things that I researched when I suspected I had both of these conditions. Since being diagnosed in October 2022, I have a much better understanding of myself and my triggers, and I feel like I can manage these better.

Working at Mindera is excellent for me for many reasons, especially because everyone, no matter their background or conditions, is treated with equal respect and value. We talk about diversity and inclusion in our company handbook, and I can for sure say my experience reflects this!

I’ve felt in previous roles at other places that I wasn’t really taken seriously as someone with ADHD and Autism, but that is totally different here, I can openly talk to anyone about what I’m experiencing, and the flexibility works around times I’m overwhelmed or feeling motivated and hyperfocused to get loads done.

The mental health support culture is absolutely fantastic, and everyone is so understanding! Things I struggle with that are related to my Autism, like being overwhelmed in large crowds or getting anxious about routine, are totally accounted for. For example, I get an earlier train home when I visit the office so I can avoid rush hour as I find it super stressful - no one minds, and people support that this is better for me!

Elicia’s personal tips for working with ADHD/Autism:

I recognise that everybody is affected by neurodivergence differently, and not all tips and suggestions are applicable. Still, in the hopes that it can help someone out reading this, I thought I’d share my own tips on time management, mental health, and working!

1. Declutter your comfy rest spaces as well as your workspaces - I understand how decluttering and tidying can be super hard when you’re burnt out, trust me! But I’ve found in decluttered spaces, I generally feel more comfortable, productive, and relaxed as I’m not distracted by items that are out of place!
2. Make your working space as cosy and aesthetic as possible! For me, I have my favourite decor, any items I collect, and above all, cosy, warm lighting. It helps me feel relaxed, which helps me get in the zone when I sit down to write. It also extremely helps me with any sensory issues I experience to be in control of my environment.
3. Planners, planners, planners! Having multiple notes, either physically or digitally, that tell me my personal and work-related plans for the week is super helpful, as ADHD makes me quite forgetful sometimes, especially in periods of stress. It also means I can colour-code them and make them look fancy! For time management, I think it is quite useful to block out focus time on your calendar too.
4. Setting reminders to have lunch and drink! It can be so easy to get hyperfocused on work or tasks, I think it is important to set reminders to take your lunch and step away from the desk to reset your mind and come back with a clear head! I’m always forgetting to drink water, so the reminders really help!
5. Make sure to take regular 5 minute breaks from your desk - if you’re working remotely just take a walk around your space, go watch some TikTok or YouTube or even have a little dance or get some fresh air! If you’re in the office, go say hey to your colleagues. Again, I think this helps detach from work and reset your mind for when you’re ready to do the work again.
6. Smart technology such as an Alexa or Google Nest can be useful for setting reminders on the go! I use my Alexa to give me the news, turn on my smart lights, and also remind me of important work tasks and meetings. I find it minimises the time I have to be making notes and struggling to remember important commitments!
7. Finally, there are nutrition supplements that are highly recommended for easing the symptoms of ADHD. For example, a mushroom called Lion’s Mane is proving quite promising in promoting focus, you can get this in a powder form to drink (don’t worry it doesn’t taste like mushroom!) and in a vitamin tablet form too! Protein shakes in the morning are also recommended for those with ADHD to promote focus.

If this is too much text then here’s a handy infographic summary of the tips!