As someone who can get pretty irritable when sh*t hits the fan, managing my emotions is a constant battle.

With a demanding career, and having to work with people I don’t particularly vibe with.

It’s a heavy load to carry, physically and mentally, especially as a neurodivergent person.

Bills need to be paid, and I’ve got a family to feed.

Stress and the pressures of life hit everyone differently. For me, it shows up like this:

• My body tenses up

• My breathing gets shallow

• I get bloated

• My brain fogs up, and I can’t think clearly

It’s a rubbish place to be, especially when I’m expected to show up 100% in every part of my life.

Being autistic doesn’t help; I’m not great at expressing what I’m going through.

Add to that my stubborn mindset that I can solve all the world’s problems, and it’s a recipe for hitting a brick wall.

Talk about a self-fulfilling prophecy when you’re living on the edge.

Here are my go-to strategies to keep some sanity:

1) Schedule catch-ups with colleagues


Have one-on-one check-ins with a trusted colleague

• Like your line manager/supervisor

• Workplace allies

Use these to share where you’re at mentally.

You don’t have to spill your whole life story; share what feels comfortable.

It helps others understand your challenges. Plus, everyone’s got their own personal stuff going on, so you’re not alone.

This can make it feel safer to open up.

2) Schedule everything you can


Keeping everything in the calendar helps me plan my life effectively.

From:

• Meetings

• Birthday parties

You name it! Seeing it visually helps me:

• Reverse engineer

• Plan my week and

• Prioritize key tasks.

Otherwise, I’ll show up to events physically but be mentally stuck on some unfinished task.

3) Talk to your loved ones


Being intentional about explaining what I’m going through to my

• Wife

• Kids

• Friends

It has been a game-changer.

It takes the pressure off. People get a better sense of what’s going on with me and might overlook any “arsehole” moments I might project.

Not that it’s justified! It lets me be myself

Final Thoughts

I’ve been doing ongoing:

• Therapy and

• Coaching

It’s helped me immensely navigate the pressures of life.

It might be worth checking in with your workplace to see if this is something they may offer as part of their perks/benefits.

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What I’ve found interesting this week:

• One of my favorite UK rappers Giggs has opened up about his Autism

Lastly,

Stay Different,

The AuDHD Exec

Disclaimer: I am not your psychiatrist, coach, doctor. Neurodiverse Diary does not provide medical services or professional counselling and is not a substitute for professional medical care. Everything I publish represents my opinions, experience, not advice.