The Daily Newsletter for Intellectually Curious Readers

Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.

Join for free today!

Today, we’re kicking off a 4-part series on what it’s like growing up as a neurodivergent with immigrant parents.

Here’s our draft run over the next 4 weeks.

• Week 1: Weight of Dreams - feeling that parental push to “make it”

• Week 2: Classroom Static – School chaos with those big expectations?

• Week 3: Mask on Fire – Work stressing you out with impostor vibes

• Week 4: Echoes of Us – Time to find our people and create inclusive spaces!

So, without further ado…

The birth of the AuDHD Exec

Many years ago, my parents arrived in a foreign land.  

• New language

• New beginnings

They’re stressed as fuck, hustling doing menial jobs to make ends meet with a new kid on the way. (I’m first generation)

For more context, I wasn’t planned! More stress for them (self-inflicted!)

They’re educated, but their education means nothing in the new country.

So they have to start from scratch! I can’t imagine doing that. Hats off to them 🫡

The Epigenetic effect on me while I was in the womb would’ve been interesting.

What’s Epigenetics:

Epigenetics is like a switch that turns genes on or off without changing the DNA itself.

When a mom is very stressed during pregnancy, it can flip these switches in the baby’s brain, messing up how it grows and raising the chances of neurological “disorders” like:

• Autism  

• ADHD  

• Anxiety

• Depression

It’s done by affecting genes that control brain functions such as:  

• Attention  

• Mood, or

• Stress response

Anyways, I digress…

With all the hard work, urgency, and tenacity they had to have for survival.

They were totally unaware that they’re stressing the heck outta me growing up in that environment.

My nervous system is being compromised, anxious as fuck.

This for me was the birth of the AuDHD Exec.

What causes neurological differences?

Neurological differences:  

• ADHD  

• Autism

• Dyslexia etc

Are said to have a genetic, hereditary component according to research.

My parents and any remaining forefathers are not gonna bother doing any assessments now!

Then the environment also plays a role in the child’s chances of developing a neurological difference.

Although this plays a smaller role than the genetic component.

I have nothing against my mom and pops. I guess that’s the best they could do at the time, and I can’t knock them.

They traveled for a better life and in doing so that’s the cost we had to pay. Everything has a price.

I remember pops drilling me as a kid on the importance of:  

• Providing  

• Protecting

• Being studious

Values I still live by today

It was hella overwhelming for a boy to understand. But that was his way (culturally) of displaying what he thought was best for me. And to an extent, it forced me to grow up fast.

Everyone responds differently to stress and trauma.

For me, I think it made me grow up fast and learn responsibility, but I probably paid the price socially, growing up.

I struggled to connect with other kids who didn’t share the same experiences, and I trauma bonded with those who did. They were my closest friends.

Growing up, I made a mental note, that when I become a parent, things will be smoother and my kids won’t go through this.

So far, my kids are thriving, here’s hoping it lasts🙏

My kids are not anxious or stressed like I was growing up and they’re progressing very well in school and socially.

Final thoughts

It took me a handful of therapy sessions to process this and start the healing journey.

Ensuring I don’t f*ck up and project onto my kids.

Next week we’ll continue our series and delve into the classroom chaos.

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

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.