{"id":42504,"title":"My Journey with Autism, ADHD & Identity","description":"Discover Arron Ashton\u2019s personal journey with Autism, ADHD, and growing up gay in the north of England. Learn how neurodivergence and identity shaped his life and inspired FoolTwentyTwo, a brand for embracing individuality and inclusion.","content":"

Navigating Neurodivergence: <\/strong><\/h2>

Neurodivergence \u2013 Autism & ADHD<\/strong><\/p>

For as long as I can remember, my brain has always felt like it\u2019s been at war. A constant struggle between my creative side and my logical side, both battling for dominance. Growing up, I explained it to myself in simple terms: Why do I always feel like an imposter? Why do I feel like I\u2019m pretending, except when I\u2019m completely alone? Why do I miss things that seem so obvious to others? And why can't I concentrate on what really matters?<\/p>

Only recently, now in my twenties, have I found answers. Being diagnosed with Autism and ADHD brought clarity to a lifetime of confusion. But let me start from the beginning.<\/p>

Early Childhood \u2013 Searching for Answers<\/strong><\/p>

As a child, I didn\u2019t understand much about the world. In fact, I was terrified of it. If it weren\u2019t for my siblings, I\u2019m not sure how I would have managed to navigate my early years. Observing them\u2014trying to grasp their friendships and social cues\u2014became my survival tool. My siblings were all at least four years older than me, and perhaps this is why I always felt more comfortable with older kids. I remember being in Year 1, at the age of 6, spending my breaks and lunchtimes with my neighbour and her friends in Year 6. I knew them, and they made me feel safe.<\/p>

Interacting with kids my own age, however, was a struggle. It was as though neither of us knew how to connect. These barriers made forming friendships difficult and alienating.<\/p>

Looking back, many of my childhood memories are blocked out. I can recall certain key moments, but mostly, I remember flashes of bright colours. At the time, I didn\u2019t understand why I struggled to take things in, but now, with an ADHD diagnosis, it makes sense. I wasn\u2019t paying attention, not because I didn\u2019t want to, but because my mind was always elsewhere\u2014lost in sensory overload or hyper-fixated on seemingly random things. I\u2019d spend more time wondering why bricks were laid a certain way or if a chair would fit into a certain space, rather than paying attention to what was actually happening around me.<\/p>

Understanding Autism \u2013 Piecing Together the Sensory Puzzle<\/strong><\/p>

As I\u2019ve come to understand my Autism, I\u2019ve realized how much of my childhood was spent trying to figure people out and make sense of a world that overwhelmed me. I didn\u2019t know back then that my sensory issues were not something everyone dealt with. I thought bright lights hurting my eyes, loud noises piercing my ears, and intense colours overwhelming me was just part of life\u2014something everyone had to navigate.<\/p>

But I was wrong. Those sensory experiences were unique to me, and they shaped how I viewed the world. It\u2019s no surprise, looking back now, that I don\u2019t remember much from my early years. When your day-to-day life consists of unpleasant sensory overloads, why would you want to remember those moments? My brain chose to block it all out\u2014the pain, the confusion, and the exhaustion of simply trying to exist in a world that wasn\u2019t built for me.<\/p>

Growing Up Gay \u2013 Finding My Identity Through Observation<\/strong><\/p>

Observing people, trying to make sense of how they worked, also helped me come to terms with my own identity. From a young age, I realized I wasn\u2019t like most people. The world knew it, too.<\/p>

Growing up with two sisters, I picked up on their behaviours and mannerisms. I\u2019ve always been \u2018flamboyant,\u2019 and while that\u2019s something I fully embrace today, it wasn\u2019t easy in the early 2000s in the north of England. Back then, being what people called \u2018camp\u2019 made me stand out in ways that weren\u2019t always positive. Boys my age didn\u2019t want to play games with me, and my friendships were mostly with girls.<\/p>

But that\u2019s okay. I learned early on that I didn\u2019t fit into the boxes society had prepared for me, and even though it was isolating at times, it also pushed me to find my true self.<\/p>

Where I Am Today \u2013 Embracing Neurodivergence and Identity<\/strong><\/p>

Coming to terms with both my neurodivergence and my identity has been a long journey, but today I embrace it all. Learning that I am both Autistic and have ADHD has allowed me to understand why I\u2019ve always felt different, and it\u2019s given me the tools to better navigate the world. It\u2019s also made me passionate about helping others who might feel the same way.<\/p>

Through FoolTwentyTwo, my goal is to create a space for people to feel seen, heard, and understood\u2014whether you\u2019re neurodivergent, part of the LGBTQ+ community, or someone who simply feels like they don\u2019t quite fit in. Because in the end, we all deserve to live as our true, authentic selves, without feeling like imposters.<\/p>

Thanks for reading! If any of this resonates with you, let\u2019s connect. Together, we can continue to challenge the norms, embrace our differences, and build a more inclusive world.<\/p>","urlTitle":"my-journey-with-autism-adhd-identity","url":"\/blog\/my-journey-with-autism-adhd-identity\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/my-journey-with-autism-adhd-identity\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/fooltwentytwo.teemill.com\/blog\/my-journey-with-autism-adhd-identity\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1726228077,"updatedAt":1726451732,"publishedAt":1726451732,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":361192,"name":"fooltwentytwo"},"tags":[],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/qcgnhanybdmuktjaxej3u6l0ptkbqnfisteeqmmhmaqjik8v.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/qcgnhanybdmuktjaxej3u6l0ptkbqnfisteeqmmhmaqjik8v.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/qcgnhanybdmuktjaxej3u6l0ptkbqnfisteeqmmhmaqjik8v.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"","metaDescription":"Arron Ashton shares his journey with Autism, ADHD, and growing up, exploring how neurodivergence shaped his life and inspired his inclusive brand, FoolTwentyTwo","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":43386,"title":"Resilience in the Face of Systemic Challenges: My Journey","url":"\/blog\/resilience-in-the-face-of-systemic-challenges-my-journey\/","urlTitle":"resilience-in-the-face-of-systemic-challenges-my-journey","division":361192,"description":"Navigating mental health services can be an uphill battle, and for those of us who are neurodivergent, the challenge can feel even more insurmountable. Over the past two years, I\u2019ve faced numerous setbacks while trying to access the support I need as someone diagnosed with autism and ADHD. Despite these struggles, I\u2019ve learned a great deal about resilience and self-advocacy along the way","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/h8kg4s4a5orvru0xkxutjrevk6yttb2cq6rg2vzwobu2xpb8.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/h8kg4s4a5orvru0xkxutjrevk6yttb2cq6rg2vzwobu2xpb8.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":42484,"title":"Welcome to FoolTwentyTwo: A Journey of Self-Discovery, Creativity, and Neurodivergent Expression","url":"\/blog\/welcome-to-fool-twenty-two\/","urlTitle":"welcome-to-fool-twenty-two","division":361192,"description":"Hi, I'm Arron, a 24-year-old gay man living in the vibrant city of Manchester, England. Over the past two years, I\u2019ve embarked on a deeply personal journey after being diagnosed with both Autism and ADHD. These diagnoses have opened my eyes to a whole new understanding of myself and how I interact with the world","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/8bjwkgtr2e9r7bvtmoknjyravjtqx8zgdhzvttdudl1ls5wc.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855&z=1.2&fx=0.45810382994546&fy=0.44501393631482","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/8bjwkgtr2e9r7bvtmoknjyravjtqx8zgdhzvttdudl1ls5wc.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440&z=1.2&fx=0.45810382994546&fy=0.44501393631482"},"hidden":0},{"id":42269,"title":"Neurodiversity","url":"\/blog\/neurodiversity\/","urlTitle":"neurodiversity","division":361192,"description":"I have learned a lot in the past two years after being diagnosed I am hoping to sell my artwork to create funds to help support neurodiverse people though their experiences","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/0rujxzfxj0qlhtdo9vzplyeduiti95dzw340keitnvxvpza6.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/0rujxzfxj0qlhtdo9vzplyeduiti95dzw340keitnvxvpza6.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}