Are You Discovering Neurodiversity in Later Life?

You may be feeling relief, confusion, anxiety, anger, or all four. So read on to help make sense of all the emotions and information racing through your mind right now.

Why now?

You might be wondering how you’ve gone this long without a diagnosis or the realisation that you’re neurodivergent. For your whole life, you may have felt that you didn’t quite fit in, or the way your mind worked differed greatly from your family or peers. Or, you have discovered a behaviour and trait you hadn’t noticed until a traumatic incident or change in your life.  The answer is quite simple. Research and awareness about neurodivergent conditions have never been higher. When you were growing up, it’s likely your neurodiversity was missed or dismissed over a lack of understanding. But now, we all have the power to deep dive into our behaviours and symptoms on Google where a whole host of research and information can be found, alongside getting proper assessments and diagnosis from well-informed doctors. In short, we’re now living in a world where neurodiversity is no longer swept under the rug. Because of this, it’s not uncommon to discover neurodiversity later in life.

So what conditions are commonly diagnosed later in life?

 

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs)

This is an umbrella term for all conditions which sit on the autism spectrum, including Asperger's Syndrome. Severe autism is most likely to be diagnosed in childhood, however high functioning individuals can go years without a diagnosis.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

With ADHD, you may struggle to concentrate, experience periods of hyperactivity and exhibit impulsive behaviours. If you’re diagnosed later in life, it’s likely you had ADHD all along, but it went unnoticed. Hyperactivity can dull as you go into adulthood, making it hard to identify. ADHD can make working difficult, and interfere with relationships.

Learning difficulties, including dyslexia, dyscalculia and dyspraxia.

 

You may struggle with spelling, reading or processing numbers. You may have struggled at school, but relied on calculators and spell checkers in adulthood. All of this can mask your condition, leading to later discovery in adulthood.

But life changes can highlight hidden neurodiversity, too…

 

A traumatic life event or big change in your life such as going through menopause can uncover neurodiversity you never knew you had.

When you go through menopause, your hormones change dramatically, which can have a huge impact on your brain and memory. Many individuals report that they discovered their neurodiversity whilst going through menopause, as the knock-on effects from hormonal changes can unmask thinking patterns and behaviours that were previously hidden.

For example, dropping oestrogen levels can cause difficulty concentrating and trouble regulating emotions. If you have ADHD or dyslexia, you may find these symptoms are much stronger during menopause - potentially shining a light on a previously undiagnosed condition. Autism traits can also reveal themselves during this time, as a study by the British Journal of Health Psychology reported that those with autism found their condition ‘impossible to mask’ during menopause. This means, that even if you were unconsciously masking your condition for your whole life, menopause may make you realise you’d been struggling with autism all along.

Discovering neurodiversity later in life can be hard, but also freeing…

 

Receiving any new diagnosis is tough to come to terms with. You’re learning something new about yourself, and it takes some adjusting to accept this newly identified part of you. You may feel low, frustrated or angry. If this is the case, it’s a great idea to find some one-to-one support to help you accept and thrive – whether you’re navigating neurodiversity, menopause, or both. I specialise in the connection between the two and tailor my coaching around your unique experiences with neurodiversity and menopause.

On the other hand, receiving a new diagnosis can feel enlightening. Perhaps you’ve spent your entire life feeling like you don’t quite fit in, or that you don’t think the same way as your peers. Discovering underlying neurodiversity suddenly explains your previous feelings and struggles, giving you the answers you needed all along. You can then take the right steps to managing and embracing your neurodiversity for the better.

If you’re navigating a new diagnosis alongside your menopause journey and would like some extra support, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions. I’d love to hear from you.