Identity - winging it

This episode is real, raw, and deeply personal. Today, I sit down with Olivia (@mynewnnormal_), who is currently navigating the Right to Choose (RTC) pathway as she seeks an ADHD diagnosis.

She isn’t officially diagnosed yet—she’s on the waitlist—but in this conversation, Olivia opens up about exactly what that experience feels like. The doubts, the emotional highs and lows, and the relief of finally feeling like things are making sense.

What makes her journey even more layered? She’s also a mum to an autistic child, balancing her own struggles while advocating for him at the same time.

This isn’t a clinical, polished discussion. It’s real life. It’s messy, unfiltered, and deeply relatable. If you’re on your own path to an ADHD diagnosis—or raising a neurodivergent child while figuring out your own neurodivergence—you’ll feel right at home in this conversation.

What We Cover in This Episode:

✔ Olivia’s journey to self-discovery – When did she first start suspecting she had ADHD?

✔ The emotional rollercoaster of waiting for an assessment – The self-doubt, the validation, and everything in between.

✔ The Right to Choose (RTC) pathway – How she accessed it and what the process has been like so far.

✔ Parenting an autistic child while seeking your own diagnosis – The balancing act, the guilt, and the moments of clarity.

✔ How she’s finding life right now – The struggles, the wins, and what’s helping her get through it all.

✔ Advice for others in the same boat – What she wishes she knew before starting this process.

Key Takeaways:

✨ Getting diagnosed as an adult is a process—emotionally and practically.

✨ The waiting can feel like limbo, but knowing yourself better is powerful.

✨ Parenting a neurodivergent child while questioning your own neurodivergence is A LOT—but you’re not alone.

✨ There’s no ‘right way’ to navigate this—what matters is that you’re taking steps that feel right for you.

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going!

📢 Follow Olivia on Instagram: @mynewnnormal_

📢 Follow me on Instagram: @whenlifebeginsat40

💬 Are you navigating an ADHD diagnosis while parenting? DM me—I’d love to hear your story!

🔥 If this episode resonated with you, share it with a friend who needs to hear it!

🎙 Hit subscribe so you don’t miss more real, raw conversations about ADHD, autism, and late diagnosis.

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Let’s get real—neurodivergence isn’t always a superpower. Sure, there are moments of hyperfocus and creativity, but most of the time? It’s bloody hard work. And while ADHD is becoming easier to talk about these days, autism is still met with stigma and silence. Why is that?

In this episode, I’m breaking down the pressure to see neurodivergence as a gift, the exhausting stigma around being autistic, and why it’s okay to admit you’re struggling—no matter how old you are or how ‘together’ people think you should be.

Whether you’re navigating ADHD, autism, or both, this is your reminder that you don’t owe anyone a polished, perfect version of yourself. You’re enough, exactly as you are.

What We Cover:

• The reality of living with ADHD and autism—beyond the ‘superpower’ narrative.

• Why autism is still seen as taboo compared to ADHD.

• The emotional toll of stigma and masking.

• Owning your neurodivergent identity without apology.

Join the Conversation:

Have thoughts or a story to share? I’d love to hear from you. Drop me a message or tag me on Instagram at @whenlifebeginsat40.

Listen, Subscribe, and Share:

If this episode resonates with you, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Let’s break the stigma—together.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🚨 Trigger Warning: Discussion of friendship breakups, rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD), and toxic friendships.

Friendship should feel safe. It should be easy. You shouldn’t have to overthink every text, worry that your bad day will make someone leave, or feel like you’re “too much” just for existing.

But what happens when a friendship no longer feels like that? What happens when trust is broken, when you’re dismissed, or when you realise that being in someone’s life is causing you more stress than happiness?

Here’s the thing: I do not go back to ended friendships. Ever. Not because I hold grudges, but because I hold boundaries. If I can’t trust you, if I have to second-guess my place in your life, if you’ve shown me that I can’t rely on you—then that door is closed for good.

💬 In This Episode:

✔ Why I do not revisit ended friendships (and why that’s self-protection, not bitterness)

✔ How rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD) makes trust nearly impossible to rebuild

✔ The emotional toll of friendships where you feel like you’re too much

✔ That friendship group who speculated about my postpartum depression but never checked in on me

✔ Why friendship should be drama-free, easy, and accepting of both good and bad days

✔ Why toxic positivity isn’t real support

💡 Key Takeaways:

• If your friend can’t take you on your worst day, they are not worth your time on your best day.

• You are not “too much.” They are simply not enough for you.

• Walking away from a friendship that no longer serves you is not cruel—it’s self-respect.

🎙 Let’s connect!

✨ Follow me on Instagram: @whenlifebeginsat40

✨ Have you ever had to walk away from a friendship for your own mental health? DM me—I want to hear your story!

✨ Don’t forget to subscribe & leave a review—it helps more neurodivergent people find this podcast!

You are not broken. You are not too much. And you deserve friendships that feel safe, real, and accepting of all of you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

this week we talk about executive functioning, what it is, how it can impact daily living and what steps can you take to help

I hope you manage to find something that resonates with you

You can find me over on my socials

www.instagram.com/whenlifebeginsat40 -

inside my Autistic ADHD head

www.instagram.com/dream1ncolour-family and children's diagnoses and journey

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

today i talk about how ADHD has affected me financially whilst i was chasing dopamine highs

I hope you manage to find something that resonates with you

You can find me over on my socials

www.instagram.com/whenlifebeginsat40 -

inside my Autistic ADHD head

www.instagram.com/dream1ncolour-family and children's diagnoses and journey

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