the way back

The official report landed this week. As discussed in my previous post, the ADHD part came as no surprise. However, this paragraph was less expected:  Autism Assessment  The assessment discussion noted that some traits more commonly associated with autism were present, including a strong sense of justice, black-and-white thinking, internalised presentation, sensitivity to criticism and focused interests. Autism was not formally assessed within this ADHD pathway. Should you wish to explore these traits further, please consult your GP to request a specialist autism assessment.   It all makes sense, very much so in fact, it but was quite an eye-opener nonetheless. Anyone who has read this blog will most probably have noticed the obsession with justice and integrity, and the inability to let things go.  It's been a long and winding road for sure. Is there some sort of light awaiting at th end of the tunnel? I will be requesting another assessment.

On Thursday 14th May I was diagnosed with ADHD. It came as no surprise. At all.  I had suspected it for years. Friends and colleagues had too.  Friends and colleagues had too. My lovely friend Ruth (SENDCo at one of the schools I worked at) was convinced of it. Colleagues, who proved to very much not be friends, suspected it, and I believe used it against me to destabilise and ultimately damage my mental health. As another friend who was also diagnosed last year said something that really struck a chord: that the diagnosis meant nothing, and everything. Nothing in that it was more-or-less a given. Everything in that it was complete validation. Also it could now potentially mean that I can find actual solutions for the brain fog, the depression, the anxiety, the RSD, the lack of focus, the restlessness, the guilt, the inability to relax, the obsessing, the absent-mindedness, the blurting stuff out, the intensity, the zoning out, the self-doubt, the frustration, the anger – th...

I was chatting to a friend the other day. I had worked and repped with him at the school I had the breakdown at: the one which initiated this blog. I was horrified to hear that, in a recent newsletter, the awful sociopath head there had published a letter of congratulation from none other than our very own Secretary of State for Education, Bridget Phillipson! The head wrote that they  were proud to receive a special  message from old Bridge  celebrating the school's, wait for it, n ationally recognised success  for disadvantaged pupils .  Ooh, well I never: nationally recognised, eh!  Here is the letter: Dear (head teacher), Congratulations to you and your team on the excellent outcomes the disadvantaged pupils at (your) Primary School achieved at the end of the 2024/25 academic year. Your school's performance places it among the very best nationally, and this is a significant achievement. This success reflects the dedication of your staff and the hard...