Some days, my body feels like it’s humming. Not in a peaceful way, but like it’s bracing for something – even if nothing’s wrong. That’s my nervous system speaking. For a long time, I didn’t notice these signals. I just thought I was “too sensitive” or “dramatic.” Sound familiar? Being autistic, ADHD, or otherwise neurodivergent often means living with a more finely tuned nervous system. We sense things more (lights, sounds, moods, expectations) and we react deeply. But noticing that this is a nervous system response, not a personal failure, can change everything.
Signs I’ve learned to recognise: •
I suddenly feel exhausted after a conversation → maybe my social battery is empty.
I keep doom-scrolling but can’t retain anything → could be a freeze response.
I’m snappy or can’t sit still → might be a sign I’m overstimulated.
I’m craving sugar or screens → hello, dysregulated self-soothing.
Instead of judging myself, I’m learning to pause and ask: What’s my nervous system trying to tell me?
Gentle ways to support myself: •
Dim the lights
Move my body (even stretching or rocking helps)
Put on compression wear or a hoodie •
Let my cat Maya lie next to me
Cuddle and play with my dog Milo
Lie down and listen to one song with closed eyes
Ask for a few quiet minutes from the people around me
Mindfulness isn’t about sitting still with perfect posture. It’s about noticing without judgment. Today, I invite you to check in with your body. Not to fix it, but to hear it.
🫶 You deserve safety, slowness, and softness.
Journaling prompts:
What does my body feel like when I’m overstimulated, shut down, or anxious?
What soothes me in those moments, realistically and gently?
What signals have I been missing or ignoring lately?
Until next time – stay messy, mindful and magical. ✨
This week didn’t go perfectly. But I showed up. I Moves forward. And somehow, that has to be enough.
There’s a quiet kind of strength in surviving a week that felt heavier than expected. Not with big milestones or loud celebrations – but with the soft, invisible things. Getting out of bed even though your body said no. Answering a message when yapper brain was spiralling. Taking a deep breath instead of pushing through. Noticing when you need rest, even if you didn’t give it to yourself right away.
I used to think I had to earn rest. That I needed to cross every task off the list, check every box, be my most “productive” self. But now im learning that surviving is enough sometimes. That honoring my limits is a kind of success, too.
This week, I:
Took a short walk even though I was overstimulated
Gave myself permission to pause
Laughed with my partner about something small but sweet
Cried once (okay, maybe more), but let the tears come
Let Maya curl up next to me and just sat there for a while
These are not dramatic events. But they’re mine. And they matter.
Snapshot Saturday is about these moments. The ones that don’t usually make it to the highlight reel, but still hold quiet beauty. It’s about reflection without judgment, and choosing softness over performance.
So if you’re reading this and feeling a little worn out or unsure of what you’ve done “right” this week: You’re here. You’re doing your best. You’re growing through the cracks, and that’s more than enough.
Let’s keep showing up, messily, gently, honestly. One soft step at a time.
Until next time – stay messy, mindful and magical. ✨
Trying to show just enough without being “too weird”. And when I couldn’t make anymore, I often disappeared – because rejection after unmasking hurts in a different way.
But something changed when I started understanding myself.
As I found a language for my neurodivergence, I also found people who got it.
People who don’t need explanations for my quiet days. Who don’t question why I repeat certain phrases or why change makes me anxious. People who hold space instead of trying t fix me.
Sometimes it’s one old friend.
Sometimes it’s a group chat that feels like home. Sometimes it’s s stranger online who shares the same “weird little thing”.
These connections – big or small – matter deeply.
Because when you find people who see your soul and not just your surface, friendship becomes a place where you can finally exhale.
So here’s to the friends who feel like soft blankes and belly laughs. Who meet us where we are, and love us in the ways we didn’t know we deserved.
You’re not too much.
You were just waiting for the right people.
Until next time – stay messy, mindful and magical. ✨
Welcome to Embrace the X! If you’ve found your way here, you might be wondering what this blog is about, and why I decided to start it. So let’s dive right in: my story, my thoughts, and the motivation behind this project.
Who I Am
I’m 26 years old, hold a master’s degree in healthcare management and economics, and will soon start a new job in insurance and contribution law. My life has never been a straight path—not just because of my choices, but also because of factors beyond my control. I’m autistic, I have ADHD, and I was born with Monosomy X, also known as Turner Syndrome or Ullrich-Turner-Syndrome.
If you’ve never heard of it, I’m not surprised! It’s a rare genetic condition that primarily affects women, with a wide range of possible impacts. For a long time, I struggled to understand why I felt so different. Why things that seemed easy for others could completely overwhelm me. Why I could hyperfocus and excel in some areas but crash over simple everyday tasks. Over time, I realised: It wasn’t because I was too sensitive or lazy, I was simply neurodivergent.
Why a Blog?
The name Embrace The X represents exactly that: embracing diversity, both my own and that of others. X can stand for many things: the unknown, genetics (like the X chromosome in Turner Syndrome), or the variable that makes us unique.
I decided to share my experiences because I know how lonely it can feel when you don’t fit neatly into categories. When diagnoses only tell part of the story. When you exist in between, neither neurotypical nor “disabled enough” to always receive support.
This blog will be a space for:
Honest insights into life with AuDHD (autism + ADHD), Monosomy X, and the challenges that come with them.
Strategies and tips that help me manage my energy and navigate daily life.
Reflections on society, work, and inclusion because misconceptions about neurodivergence are everywhere.
Funny and beautiful moments because while being neurodivergent can be exhausting, it can also be wonderfully absurd.
Change as a Constant
Right now, I’m in the middle of a major transition: I’m moving from Bremen into a smaller town near Hamburg and starting a new job. Change is always a double-edged sword for me. On one hand, I’m excited for new opportunities. On the other, it brings chaos and uncertainty, something my brain doesn’t handle well.
One of the reasons I’m moving is to find more peace and stability, and to better manage sensory challenges. But I’m not doing it alone, my beloved partner is moving in with me, making this transition even more meaningful. I’m excited for this new chapter together, even though we both know that settling into a new place will take time and patience.
We’ll also be bringing along my two beloved pets:
Maya (Mayo), my 6-year-old cat, who has recently developed a fascination for cardboard boxes, but only if they have bananas printed on them.
Milo (Bibo), my 3-year-old dog, who swings between being the cuddliest creature ever and a total whirlwind of chaos and energy.
This dynamic mirrors my own experience: moments of deep focus and need for structure, constantly interrupted by a brain that loves to jump in every direction at once. Living with both autism and ADHD means balancing these two extremes every single day.
Sometimes, I see Maya as the autistic side of me, calm, focused, and selective about what she engages with.
Milo, on the other hand, embodies the ADHD chaos, the impulsiveness, the excitement, the constant shifts between hyperactivity and exhaustion.
What to Expect Here
I don’t have all the answers. I’m not a coach (maybe not yet?) or a guru claiming to have the perfect solutions. But I am someone who reflects, experiments, and openly shares my experiences. Maybe you’ll recognise parts of yourself in my stories. Maybe you’ll find new perspectives.
But whatever brought you here and I’m glad you found Embrace the X.
Feel free to share your thoughts, experiences, or questions. And of course: Embrace the X – just as you are.
