THERAPEUTIC COACH
for LATE DISCOVERED NEURODIVERGENT WOMEN
A LIFETIME OF 'TRYING' FINALLY EXPLAINED.
We felt too much or never enough, passionate about everything and nothing. We treasured soulful conversations yet we are prone to self-isolation and a crippling fear of failure. Hyperfocussed or numbed out, we have lived in survival mode, masking, shrinking and burning ourselves out for decades. Misdiagnosed, pathologised, stigmatised, ignored and gaslighted. Tormented by self-blame and the spiralling stories in our head. Our high achieving, perfectionistic and people pleasing nature held it together...often flawlessly whilst inside we grew accustomed to the darkness...the feeling of never quite getting there.
When peri/menopause hit, it felt like our unravelling ...the emotional tsunamis, sleepless nights, bone-deep exhaustion, autoimmune flare ups, anxiety and relationship breakdowns. Enmeshed by duty, attachments and personality...we try to carry on...until we can't...finally the dawn breaks...
WHEN THE DAWN BREAKS...A REALISATION...A DIAGNOSIS...ACCEPTANCE. WE ARE GIFTED WITH A FRESH START...A BLANK CANVAS...WE PUSH OFF FROM HERE
WELCOME, I'M MARIE,
Like many of us neurodivergent women I was (mis)diagnosed with stigmatising, pathologising disorders from childhood and neither the numbing pharmaceuticals or talk therapy touched the sides of what I felt. I turned pain into passion through my work as a Consultant Psychologist working globally with the brightest minds. Age 42 my body revolted and brought me to a halt. Living with three autoimmune conditions and hitting the hormonal rollercoaster of perimenopause, I burnt out. This rock bottom became a solid foundation to push off from...to listen to my biology and create a life that nurtured my body, spirit and mind.
Today life looks very different...city girl gone Western Highlands of Scotland, I live beside a loch, next to the woods. I treasure art, yoga, long walks in nature and swimming in the loch. I love coffee, soulful converations and I cherish the magic of plants.
ACCEPTANCE IS THE FIRST STEP...IT'S HOW WE MOVE FORWARD...TO GRIEVE FOR OUR YEARS OF SILENT STRUGGLE OR THE VERSION OF US WE COULD HAVE BEEN
START CLOSE IN,
DON'T TAKE THE SECOND STEP OR THE THIRD,
START WITH THE FIRST THING CLOSE IN,
THE STEP YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE.
START WITH THE GROUND YOU KNOW,
THE PALE GROUND BENEATH YOUR FEET,
YOUR OWN WAY OF STARTING THE CONVERSATION.
