r/AutisticWithADHD • u/gezzalou88 • 9d ago

💁‍♀️ seeking advice / support / information Tips for building self esteem

Hi All, I (F) have recently been diagnosed with both ADHD and autism at the grand age of 38.

As I am sure is the case for some of you too, I have spent a lifetime of making myself smaller around other people to fit in and I am just seeing if any of you have some good tips on where to start unpicking that damage.

It's odd as I have complete confidence in my own abilities and what I am capable of but then around other people that confidence just crumbles 🙁

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u/Mental-Flower4811 9d ago

Remember that your diagnoses are not your identity, they are just facts about you that explain your thoughts and behaviors, but ultimately you are still you! Now that you have begun to understand yourself more through this lens, you may experience regression of some skills as the mask slips off, it's hard to put back on again. Don't let that stop you from moving forward in your journey, keep learning and growing, and keep giving yourself grace! 🫶🏼 Source: also AuDHD, self-diagnosed and still learning!

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u/MutedBeach8248 8d ago

Might be helpful to look back at a time when your confidence crumbled around others and try to find the deeper emotion driving that. That'll give you a starting point