I'm not sure if I'm NT

[Bestwishes23]

Hi all,

I've been wondering for a while now...

The older I've become, the less tolerant/the more I seem to struggle. I find socialising difficult, I feel strange and out of place around other people. Sounds annoy me, as does being touched too much/certain textures. I get overwhelmed by long winded tasks quickly (but have found ways to manage this) and I've been given antidepressants for PMDD.

Does anyone else relate? If so, what techniques do you have in place?

I can relate but I don't have any practices. I just know that's how I feel and don't really know what I can do.

Hello. Thanks for your reply. Hopefully someone will come along with some tips

For organisation, I use a lot of post-it notes. Pretty sure I keep them in business sometimes. I find it helpful to make 'to do' lists to cross off

@Bestwishes23 What is NT? What is “normal”?

I think of neuro typical/diverse as all being part of the same spectrum. There are people at the ends of the spectrum that have a lot of challenges, for many of us we don’t quite “fit in” but manage to function within societies norms.

We use coping strategies like masking or learned behaviours rather than natural ones and this can be stressful and deplete our energy both mental and physical. Our coping strategies are quite often ways to manage the not quite fitting in.

I have no diagnosis but have felt slightly out of step most of my life. It is only in my later years that I have realised I maybe ND and the effort of appearing NT has taken a toll on me. Yes I like lists, I’m great at planning and organising and thinking ahead. These are seen as NT skills but I realise I have developed them to manage being ND. I have mild sensory issues but don’t let others know. My Task procrastination has increased significantly and this is because I have overworked my brain for a significant part of my life. I have had mild depression for most of my life, sometimes medicated but mostly not. I think this is part of being ND and not realising it.

Where I am now is being open to who I am and what my brain/body is telling me I need (not want). It is a process I am at the start of. I don’t fit in a box of being NT but I don’t fit in a box of being ND but I do tick some elements of both. I think there are far more of us than we realise.

I hope that helps. Even me writing this down has helped me.

Are you in perimenopause, OP? Sounds like ADHD which often gets noticed in peri.

See I just can't do post it notes. Anytime I have then at work they are absolutely everywhere. People have made comments about it! So I just don't use them now! I actually just remember everything in my head which gets very busy.