Growing up with learning disabilities, I had an experience that is all too familiar for the neurodivergent community. Often feeling misunderstood and out of place, I was faced with indifference, ignorance, neglect, gaslighting, shame, and the assumption that I could navigate a world that was not built for me without the support I so badly needed. Lonely, adrift, and struggling to find a sense of belonging, I was cast aside and left to fend for myself.
After a series of negative experiences with mental health resources and support, my personal journey led me to a couples therapist in 2014. There, I embarked on a journey of transformation, and