Warning: This episode contains references to depression and suicide.

Could a neurodiversity diagnosis help you in mid-life? As greater understanding emerges that ADHD and autism present differently in women to men, more women are accessing tests for neurodiversity post-40.

We talk to two cousins about their post-40 assessments - Joanne Limburg was diagnosed with autism and Lisa Gee was diagnosed with ADHD. Throughout their lives they knew they were considered 'odd' or 'different' and that assumptions about their behaviour have affected their education, life and work.

We discuss the negative economic effects of neurodiversity for those who struggle to work full-time or fit into a traditional workplace structure. We also learn some new ways of understanding neurodivergent traits including spikiness and fizziness!

Lisa and Joanne tell us how their diagnosis has enabled them to be more open about their conditions in the workplace and the relief they have felt at now being able to access support and help.

'The sense that... I might be entitled to something, I might be entitled to help, I might not have to struggle in the way that I thought everybody struggled but just managed it better.'

'And I might be able to forgive myself for struggling and allow myself to struggle and allow myself to say, you know what, I'm not going to do this or I'm taking time out because it's harder for me than other people.'

Episode length: 65 minutes

Further reading and other resources

https://www.rightsideof40pod.com/resources

If you enjoyed this episode then listen to Episode 25 on Workplace mindset and wellbeing. Zeenat Noorani talks about creating workplaces that make everyone feel valued and how this particularly benefits the neurodivergent.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.