Hi there, TrauDHD tribe! š¤©
I know it's been a while. I've been planning to restart my Substack but kept procrastinating (yeah, you know how that goes). But I'm back now and plan to send out at least one newsletter per month.
Iāve been busy latelyāmostly with the exhausting task of trying to fit in. Group settings? Not my strong suit. Between the oversharing, interrupting, accidental topic-hijackingā¦ letās just say I donāt always shine in groups. š¬
Relatable? Instead of constantly fighting these quirks, Iāve decided to lean in and embrace them. Hereās how Iāve started to make peace with my own unique brand of social awkwardness:
Find your crowd šÆāāļø: Real belonging isn't about fitting in everywhere - sometimes someone is just not your person. It's about encountering people who appreciate you for exactly who you are. Look for spaces and people who genuinely value authenticity, whether that's in online communities, hobby groups, or a small circle of trusted friends.
Build āanchor pointsā in conversations āļø: Many people with AuDHD find it easier to connect through shared interests (true crime, anyone?) or structured contexts. Whether itās discussing a favorite topic, engaging in a specific hobby, or just starting with a structured environment, these āanchor pointsā can make interactions feel less overwhelming.
Enjoy your own company š: I must admit, I love my own sense of humor and I crack myself up. Over the past year, I've learned to enjoy my own company, and we're having so much fun.
Set micro goals for social interactions šÆ: Instead of expecting to feel 100% comfortable or āfit in,ā set small goals like āfind one genuine connection,ā or āshare one personal story.ā It creates a sense of purpose without pressure, helping you focus on quality over quantity and celebrating small wins after each interaction.
Use parallel interaction settings šŖ: Sometimes face-to-face interaction can feel too intense. Parallel activitiesālike walking side-by-side, working on a project together, or attending a shared eventāallow you to bond without direct eye contact or intense one-on-one conversation. This takes the pressure off and often leads to more genuine connections (and let's face it, this sounds kind of cool).
In the next newsletter, Iāll be diving into the art of balancing routine with new sensory experiencesāa fine line for many of us!
So glad to be back sharing this journey with you.
Neurodivergently yours š§ āļø
Magali