emokidforever

joined 2 years ago
[โ€“] emokidforever@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

On the surface, I probably look like the person you're describing, but no one knew I had an ADHD diagnosis that went ignored in childhood. No one knew how much I was masking every day. It's harder now because I have to make my own meals, clean my house, etc. All the things I didn't have to do as a kid. I got to learn, which I loved (my special interest is research) and do various activities I enjoyed, even if it was exhausting. Now, I'm stuck doing all the things I was never taught by my family, with no structure, just trying to survive. Of course it's harder than when I was a kid. Those memes help me feel valid and seen, something my family were never willing to do, but at least now I have friends that get it.

There's so much trauma that happens from neurodivergence being ignored in childhood, and that takes time to process. I spend a lot of my days crying over all the times I wasn't allowed to cry growing up, processing things in therapy, etc. I literally can't force myself to enjoy life without first having the needed tools. It's sad that I can't do what I used to, but I'm slowly getting there. Kindness and patience are what are needed most, when that's not something I was given as a child.

All this to say, you never know what's below the surface.

 

Inspired by this comic:

[โ€“] emokidforever@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I've learned from the Japanese phrase 'itadakimasu,' which is said before eating as a way to thank the person that prepared the food. I think in the west, a lot of us grew up learning to say things like grace before a meal, but that is too religious for me and gives God credit for peoples' hard work instead. I love the idea of ritualistically thanking the people who actually made the food. It was one of the things I appreciated while studying there that has stuck with me.