WE ROAR Magazine issue 04 - Magazine - Page 28
intersectional beings, the sum of our
physiology and our experiences. One
identity label is just one piece within
the whole elaborate picture of who
we are, and why we experience life
in the way we do.
Autism did not fully explain the
differences in how my mind works,
and I was later diagnosed with
Complex PTSD and then ADHD. I
now describe myself as an
8AuDHDer9 as I prefer identity-first
language. And I also identify as
8neurodivergent9 which I see as a
positive and affirming neutral
adjective.
imitigate their impact on me, take the sting out of them. If
I label myself 8anxious,9 to me it is not a harmless
adjective; it is self-limiting. And it is not part of me, it is
something I experience.
Like, if I was a doughnut, Autism and ADHD are among
the main ingredients, part of the dough. Anxiety is the
sprinkles, and I would scrape them off if I could; it is not
who I am. Perhaps Complex PTSD is the messy jam
filling, added afterwards, spilling out at inconvenient
times.
As much as I support selfidentification, I still recommend
getting a professional diagnosis if
you believe you may have a
neurodevelopmental
difference,
especially if it is ADHD because the
medication can be so helpful to many
people. However, you may be
understandably concerned about a
diagnosis being career-limiting or
negatively impacting you in some
other way, for example being used
against you in the family courts,
which unfortunately still happens.
Self-Limiting Labels
I believe some labels are positive,
life-affirming even, while others may
be unhelpful and self-limiting, but
this is often highly individual. For
example, 8anxious9 is not helpful to
me. I need to understand my anxiety
triggers, and how I can avoid them or
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