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A tale of the lion 🦁 and the gazelle!

The gazelle - always on the run to see another day, it’s constantly in “fight-or-flight” mode to survive.

The lion - a badass hunter, stalking with ice-cold focus, knowing it’ll take down the slowest gazelle with one calculated strike.

A lot of us neurodivergents can resonate with the gazelle:

• Anxious

• Fight-flight

Anxiety is a crippling thing. F*cking up our nervous system.

It can make us:

• Rush impulsively, not thinking straight

• Make irrational decisions

So what’s the murder plan for anxiety?

1) Acceptance

For some of us ADHDers and autists, “balance” doesn’t exist in our neurological vocabulary.

I’m quite an extreme person, and most neurodivergent people I know are on the same boat.

So I decided to accept my fate to be on the lion’s side, and be okay with the fact that I won’t be everyone’s favorite. I’m a red personality type anyway:

• Determined

• Competitive as hell
  

Part of what makes us anxious is when we mask and pretend to be someone we’re not!

But I get that we may have to do a bit of “blending in”. I’ve got bills to pay and a family to feed, so I have to be somewhat mindful.

But for the most part, I’m accepting who I am.

2) Slow the F*ck Down

This is something most neurodivergents struggle with. We feel that we have to be on the move 24/7, constantly.

Picture a hamster wheel non-stop… That’s how our Anxiety can run our minds crazy!

• Pause

• Chill out

It forces us to be in the present, something we struggle with. I find that when I do this, I’m a better version of myself.

A lot of my out-of-the-box thinking and problem-solving is when I’m in this relaxed state of mind. Subconsciously.

There are many ways to do this, I like:

• Mindfulness: journaling what’s making me anxious

• Watching a movie: I recently watched The Godfather I and II.

I like to have novelty so I don’t get bored; you may choose to do the same thing if that’s your bag.

3. Supplementation

Check with a doc before starting, especially if you’re on meds.

i) Ashwagandha
What It Is: A calming herb used in traditional medicine.

What It Does for Anxiety: Slashes stress and anxiety by 40% by lowering stress hormones.

Why? Calms without sedating, helping with overstimulation and emotional regulation.

ii) Magnesium
What It Is: A mineral in nuts, greens, or supplements.

What It Does for Anxiety: Eases anxiety by 10–15% by relaxing the brain

Why? Soothes sensory overload and hyperactivity. Many neurodivergent folks are low in magnesium. May improve focus and sleep.

iii) L-Theanine
What It Is: A calming compound in green tea.

What It Does for Anxiety: Cuts anxiety by 20%, promoting calm focus

Why? Enhances focus and reduces overwhelm without drowsiness. Safe, no major side effects. Great for daily use or with caffeine.

Next week

We’ll begin a four-part series on growing up neurodivergent with immigrant parents, navigating school and work. Stay tuned!

If you enjoyed this post, or know people who can benefit from it. Please spread the word. They can subscribe at neurodiversediary.io/subscribe

Cool stuff I found on the net:

• Elon Musk’s Neuralink may restore hearing by stimulating auditory neurons, potentially surpassing cochlear implants, with FDA support and transhumanist vision, pending trials.

  https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1939064963257245920

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.