Finding joy in unmasking one's authentic self

"Getting to know myself as an ADHDer has meant I can love myself better too, and unmask and be my authentic self at home and at work. 

"I realised I was neurodivergent when I was 24, and have been waiting for an ADHD assessment for well over 2 years. I've spent that time researching and learning how to cope better with my "bad traits"; which I now know are my ADHD symptoms and I now know are not "bad traits", they are symptoms that need different strategies to manage them. This process has given me better insight to who I am, how I best work and what I need to support my own mental and physical well-being, and has empowered me to look after and advocate for myself. Getting to know myself as an ADHDer has meant I can love myself better too, and unmask and be my authentic self at home and at work.

"I started working for GAIN in May 2023, when I was interviewing I didn't really speak too much about my ADHD because I didn't have a formal diagnosis. The GAIN team embraced me and welcomed me exactly how I was, and our small neuroinclusive workspace has allowed me to learn even more about myself and enabled me to thrive. I can channel passionate energy into projects I deeply care about. I've discovered a love of public speaking and facilitating educational events for our members. I've learned that I can task-switch and I can easily help when something unexpected and urgent comes up. I know I work better when I have a deadline, so my manager sets interim deadlines to check on progress (even if it's a project that doesn't have a deadline). I can flexibly work meaning I can factor in long days to hyperfocus and get uber productive when I have a deadline coming up, or I can take longer breaks on other days when I need to focus on my wellbeing, meaning I don't get burnt out and can bounce back easily. As a team, our strengths and achievements are celebrated regularly, we can all rely on each other for help with our work and we all share the load when things feel a bit too heavy.

"A few years after I realised I could be neurodivergent, I see the first steps of doing my own research on ADHD and having the first conversations with my GP about wanting an assessment as a major step in a journey towards radical self-love. The road has been long, and the journey's far from over, but I'm so glad I started, and I'm glad I'm still going." 

Bea Richardson, Operations Manager, GAIN

Thank you Bea, for sharing this insightful piece that we know will encourage others on their journey.