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Kate Lightstone's avatar

Wow, this is an interesting take and a helpful reframe. I actually do tend to feel a lot better after my metldowns -- mostly because I've allowed whatever has been bothering me to surface (I really struggle to recognize stressors in the moment).

Will take this perspective into my daily life. Thanks for writing, Katie :)

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Katie Rose Guest Pryal's avatar

Thanks for your words, Kate. :) I think it's common to fail to recognize stressors in the moment, and there's so much shame in letting our emotions show, it creates a perfect storm of trying to keep it all in until it's too much. No more!

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Kate Lightstone's avatar

indeed. the late diagnosis is a long meandering of unlearning :). Grateful there are so many of us surfacing, community is easier to find than ever!

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Katie Rose Guest Pryal's avatar

I'm so glad that you found affirmation and clarity in my essay. Your response means so much to me and motivates me to keep writing. Thank you, Jo.

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Jo Henrickson's avatar

Thank you for sharing this.

Earlier this year I had a fairly epic meltdown at work.

I'd been feeling overwhelmed for a long time in the buildup and one little thing was the final straw that triggered me, and I completely lost ability to emotionally regulate.

The extremity of it, is something I haven't experienced before.

I was embarrassed at the time, and there have been aspects of work that have been awkward ever since. Largely because I'm only just learning what it was and how it happened.

I'm still figuring out my own neurodivergence, while also having to educating those around me about me and what neurodivergence in "normal" adults feels like, looks like and how we think might understand things differently.

This post and your story helped clarify so much about why it is so important to allow the meltdowns from time to time.

And it made me feel so much less alone...

Think you. Truly, truly thank you. <3

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Heather Bussing's avatar

Thank you. I just ran away from a large conference because I am full and it is too much. The good news is that I made it to my room before I started crying. And I feel a little better now.

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Katie Rose Guest Pryal's avatar

<3 I know the feeling. Conferences always wore me out.

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