Neurodivergent

I always knew I was different, maybe even weird.

I never thought I was dumb.

I always felt weirdly smart.

I was diagnosed with a non-verbal learning disability at the age of eight, nearly nine years old. I can speak, quite well actually. I have a hard time understanding mathematical concepts, body language, verbal tones and sarcasm.

For several years. I was forced to do below-grade-level math until I outgrew that.

I did well in school.

I was accepted to my dream journalism program, at St. Clair College, in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

To attend college and be accommodated, I had to be retested for a learning disability. I strongly disliked having to do this. No, I hated this testing, but you have to do what you have to do.

So, I did the testing. I was 17, nearly 18 years of age at this point. My results were similar to what they were when I was a child. Except this was more detailed. There were some different pieces of information that were on my original report but were redacted.

These new pieces that I was just learning about were that I am autistic, I have ADHD, anxiety and depression.

Suddenly, everything makes sense and I am not as weird as I thought.

I am now 24, 25 in June, I chose to be unmedicated for anxiety, depression or ADHD. I have moments when I feel very sad or anxious and I have moments where I cannot focus. Online resources have been helpful too. I have a great job that provides a lot of support too.