NEURODIVERSITY FEATURE
exercise and I make sure that I have my safe zone to enter when
I’m feeling exhausted. My safe zone could be a person (and it is
typically) who I feel I can be myself with, and who is accepting of
my ways, or it is simply Netflix, which provides distraction and a
continued structure to see my world.’
Despite the impact on her daily function, Michelle’s condition
enables her to be creative. ‘I become frustrated at the unwanted
inattention to my tasks. Yet, that inattention enables me to think
outside of the box, make wider connections and see the world very
differently.
‘At times this is a blessing, especially with my research, and if
I am in a hyper-focus it is so effective, but also scary, because I
do become lost in time, and at the other end, I really don’t know
what happened in that time zone or space when concentrating on
something that is fascinating and challenging.
Diana Sheridan, a dementia specialist occupational therapist,
was diagnosed as dyspraxic three years ago. Having also had
a bilateral hearing impairment since age four, she experiences
debilitating episodes of anxiety and depression which impact on
attention and concentration.
A recent audiology appointment illustrates this perfectly. ‘Anxiety
makes me doubt all the preparation I’ve done the night before,’ she
says.’ I have the nagging doubt that I am not actually appropriately
prepared.
‘Yet again I go through everything I prepared the night before and
anxiety makes me repeat the checklist: bag, purse, glasses/hearing
aid cases, door and car keys, mobile phone.
‘Despite giving myself plenty of time (which seems to slow
down and speed up with confusing irregularity), parking is an issue,
making me late for my appointment.
‘I get through the appointment with a new audiologist, whose
manner makes it difficult for me to judge if he is a jokey sort
or otherwise. Anxiety makes me doubt my judgement about
others and I don’t trust my ability to
read non-verbal body language.
‘I’m told I need two
hearing aids, not just the one
that I have spent most of
my 50 years of life adjusting
to wearing. I feel deflated,
shocked, fearful of the
ageing process, and I’m
already anticipating more
difficulty communicating at
even a basic level.’
She adds: ‘I want to
retreat to the safety of
home, but try to re-focus on
practical things; tea and
biscuits to collect and calm
my thoughts.’
Diana’s manager
supported her in getting a
dyspraxia diagnosis three years ago, however she admits that she
has been in denial since that initial diagnosis.
‘Living with several conditions has impacted significantly
on my mental health; accepting, later in life, that I have a
disability and justifying the need for help has resulted in feelings of
isolation and imposter syndrome.
‘Practically, it has necessitated significant time off due to
depressive episodes, and menopause has exacerbated the
impact. I wonder if I will ever get back to feeling me again and not
expending so much energy just to focus and get through each day,
which sometimes feels like trying to see a beacon through fog,
whilst wading through treacle.’
Sarah Selvaggi Hernandez, autistic advocate and an
occupational therapist in the US, is autistic and says that she is
‘finally learning to navigate the diverse landscape of my neurology’.
Reflecting on a recent experience, she says: ‘We are a
therapeutic foster home that specifically supports neurodiverse
children. A few days ago, two young, non-speaking autistic sisters
came to stay with us for as long as they and their family needs.
‘I have never washed, conditioned, and combed through a little
Black girl’s curly hair. I have watched YouTube videos, talked to my
Black friends, reached out to my community, and spent the last few
days touching their hair gently to acclimatise my new little friends to
my touch.
‘Their hair needs significant attention and I am committed to
doing so in the most compassionate way possible. With soft words
and warm water, we are successful and we get them dressed for a
visit that, during bath time, had been cancelled.
‘Mindfulness pairs well with my sensory practices; I mentally scan
my body to give gentleness awareness to the signs of my stressed
neurology… to some, it seems as though I am staring into nothing
when I am internally channelling chants of healing pressure with
every deep and steady breath.’
OTnews August 2020 35