Why Getting Diagnosed is Self-Care

I was super lucky to be diagnosed when I was in elementary school because as you get older, the process only gets more challenging. And the toll on your mental health of not getting diagnosed only increases, especially for girls and women.

I know a lot of young women who strongly believe they’re neurodivergent and are increasingly struggling with associated challenges but also really struggle to take the time out to get diagnosed.

This post is for you.

It’s never too late. And it is worth it because it is a form of self-care.

I know that having to schedule and get to appointments and take the necessary time out of classes and work seems impossible when you’re already struggling with executive functioning. And you wonder what’s the point of all of that if it’s so hard to get prescription stimulants consistently because of drug laws and shortages.

But if you look over the giant hill of getting diagnosed, you will see that facing that hill now leads to an unexpected, beautiful wild garden that’s easier to navigate. Because with that label comes:

• Validation of your strengths and challenges

• Belonging to an increasingly active community

• Access to different medication and therapeutic intervention options that can make your everyday challenges easier

You have gorgeous flowers to offer the world and an abundance of strengths that can truly make a difference, but you can’t really bloom without the proper support. Just think of how much energy you’ll have to be present for your friends and family, the other people counting on you, and your passion if you aren’t exhausted at the end of every day trying to do things the same way as everybody else. Because guess what? You’re not. And I mean that in the best way because the world would be too boring without people with neurodivergent brains adding the spice. And everyone else deserves to see that, too.

So what are you waiting for?

Seize the day, and check out my guide to getting diagnosed to get started. I know too well that getting started is always the most challenging part.