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Louise Williams (Blogger and blog coach) Combined ADHD

Name: Louise Williams
ND Type/s: Combined ADHD
What do you do: Blogger and blog coach
Where do you live: Cheltenham

How did you start your day today? Do you have a morning routine? What do you have for breakfast, do you think a good diet is important?

I start every morning with a smoothie, my ADHD meds, and a cup of tea. I put lots of oats and protein powder in the smoothie as the medication can suppress my appetite, so I want to make sure that I get a good breakfast. I sit and check my social media accounts while I wait for the meds to kick in and then start getting everything ready for the kids and I for whatever we have on that day.

How do you stay active? And what do you do to relax?

I walk my dog and have two personal training sessions a week. I’m also studying to be a personal trainer myself. I find exercise really helps my mental health, but it has to be fun and varied. I’m not so good at the relaxing part.

Do you have a favourite word or phrase?

I love the word ‘discombobulated’.

Have you read anything good recently?

I used to read to the point where it was a bit of an addiction. But now I can’t anymore and that makes me sad.

Which 5 Albums would you want to have with you on a desert island?

This is so difficult as I tend to listen to playlists. But probably Queen and Dire Straits greatest hits, the soundtracks from Empire Records and The Wedding Singer and then maybe something like Tiesto for when I want an energy boost.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received and who was it from?

To focus on something on a person’s face to help with my chronic blushing. This was from a CBT therapist.

When you were young, what did you want to be when you were a grown-up? And what was your first Job?

I wanted to be a vet until I realised how long the study was and that I’d need maths (I have dyscalculia!). My first job was with a butcher, which is unusual as I am a vegetarian!

What do you do now and how did you get into it?

I’m a blogger and blog coach. I wanted to be a travel writer and journalist and started my blog when I was at home with two small babies as a hobby and turned it into a business. I’m now in the process of opening a disability-friendly, inclusive, accessible gym to make exercise achievable for all.

Creativity and thinking differently are often credited to neurodiversity. Would you say that is true? And if yes, could you give an example?

Absolutely yes. People are always telling me ‘I’d never have thought of that’. I’m a great problem solver just from looking at things around me in my environment, lots of times I’ve fixed things and people have been really impressed.

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, or have lost your focus, what do you do to get back on track? Do you have any hacks, tips or do you use any apps to keep you on track during the day?

I tend to talk to a friend on Zoom. We both have ADHD and we run focus sessions for one another where we just get on with what we need to do, but with someone else there to nudge us if we get distracted. There’s a useful website called focusmate which matches you with someone else who needs to get something done.

How does your Neurodiversity affect new relationships? This can be professionally, socially or romantically.

It’s affected me a lot in the past. It’s so difficult socially. I would be hyper aware of eye contact, what the other person was thinking of me, other distractions. I was a people pleaser and so got taken advantage of a lot.

What makes you happy?

My children, my dog, my cat, my friends and family and being outdoors, especially on a mountain. And chocolate!

What has been your biggest achievement so far?

Aside from raising two amazing little humans despite my undiagnosed ADHD causing me so many issues with anxiety and depression, it would probably be growing my own business.

Do you have a Positive ND message to the world? Imagine you have a £5 million advertising campaign to spend on billboards all over the world, what would you say?

It would say: “I’m not sad that I have ADHD, I’m just sad I didn’t know about it for so long.”
I don’t feel that having ADHD is a bad thing, in fact, now I know about it I celebrate it, It has not been easy but it has made me me!

Final question – where can people find out more about you? Do you have a website and social media pages?

My blog is pinkpearbear.com with lots of posts on mental health and ADHD as well as family travel, and my social media pages ar:

facebook.com/pinkpearbear (where you can also find details of my support groups) https://www.instagram.com/pinkpearbear

TikTok

 

 

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Elizabeth Rose Arifien (Move Beyond Words) ADHD & Dyslexia

Name: Elizabeth Rose Arifien
ND Type/s: ADHD & Dyslexia
What do you do: Social Entrepreneur, choreographer, and singer.
Where do you live: Margate

How did you start your day today? Do you have a morning routine? What do you have for breakfast, do think a good diet is important?

I have a bit of a bad habit of rolling over and responding to emails and messages that have come in when I first wake up. I then do stretches and take myself downstairs for my morning coffee. I usually fast until 12pm/1pm so no breakfast for me. Diet is important to me. I lost my way in lockdown but have reminded myself how well I do with structure. I began to do the 6 week Method with Louise Parker. No sugar, no booze and exercise. Sounds awful doesn’t it but I found it to be life changing and after the 6 weeks I have continued many of her recipes and suggested structures.

How do you stay active? And what do you do to relax?

I stay active by doing strength training twice a week with Clare Yates, I have recently begun reformer pilates again which is fantastic for me. I also play badminton with a group of friends, I’ve never played badminton before and it’s a bit of a laugh to be honest, we don’t know the rules, we just try and hit the thing. I also go to Hotpod yoga Margate which is a joy. When I can, I attend Creative Dance London’s sessions which are improvisation based and a great space to let loose and expand your creative thinking. Creative Dance London is a company I founded in lockdown 2.0. Lastly, I live by the sea so cold water swimming is something I love to do, it helps me to go beyond my fear boundaries and feel the joy on the other side of my mental blockages.

Do you have a favourite word or phrase?

I don’t but I love finding phrases or quotes. I guess one that springs to mind is, “Don’t let anyone dim your light”

Have you read anything good recently? Is there a book that changed your life?

When I was 20 I read ‘The Power Of Now’ which had a dramatic effect on me and my life choices. It inspired me to move to London from my village in Derbyshire and dream big. I recently read ‘The Surrender Experiment’ by Micheal A Singer which was filled with rich lessons and I would love to read it again but I have lent it to someone, and cannot remember who… if you’re reading this can you send it back ;).

Which 5 albums would you want to have with you on a desert island?

Oh, this is tough…
1. Neil Young – Harvest
2. Beyonce – The Gift
3. Jay Z – 444
4. Jeff Buckley – Grace
5. Paulo Nutini – Sunny Side Up

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received and who was it from?

The meaning of life is nothing, only the meaning we add to it. You have a choice.  I was given this advice by Jerry Baden in the Landmark Forum in 2016, a game-changing experience.

When you were young, what did you want to be when you were a grown-up? And what was your first Job?

When I was younger I wanted to be a choreographer. My first job was buttering bread rolls in my mum’s cafe when I was about 7 years old, my first ‘proper’ job was working on a meat and cheese counter in the market in my local town. I was 16 and also worked on a make-up counter on the Sunday for Guerlain, a chalk and cheese experience, excuse the pun.

What do you do now and how did you get into it?

Now, I work for myself managing two social enterprises. I also collaborate with others as a choreographer, dance artist and backing singer. Life’s a bit of a mix of things at the moment but that’s the way I like it.

I don’t remember a time when I didn’t sing and dance, from a really young age my sister would create plays for me and my 11 cousins and I would perform in them. I went on to become a professional performer in musical theatre but came up against challenges that I believe related to my ADHD and Dyslexia. This led me to creating Move Beyond Words (MBW) to look at ways we can rethink the creative structures that do not serve those with neurodivergent tendencies. This is why we (myself and Charlotte Edmonds) co-founded MBW.

Creativity and thinking differently are often credited to neurodiversity. Would you say that is true? And if yes, could you give an example?

Yes, I believe this is true. I do also think we all have access to this muscle, we just have to train it. Naturally people with dyslexia do have those creative thinking skills because our minds so easily wander into other thoughts and worlds. I do not have the science for this but I can only speak from personal experience… I think this question might be best answered by watching this film, UN[BOX]ED that Charlotte and I co-directed and choreographed.

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, or have lost your focus, what do you do to get back on track? Do you have any hacks, tips or do you use any apps to keep you on track during the day?

I make sure I speak to someone honestly about where I am at. I can easily become overwhelmed and it is extremely difficult so I do have things in place such as a coach, for some this might seem inaccessible but there are places such as ‘Coach Me Free’ where you can get the support you need. I am usually 99% of the time hyper focused, my mind is always running on a speedy setting, I do have anxiety when I do stop so I manage this with exercise and meeting up with people and finding a good book to read.

How does your Neurodiversity affect new relationships? This can be professionally, socially or romantically.

Massively! I have an access rider, I am aiming to get more comfortable with sharing this in new collaborations. It’s tough though and feels exposing so I have a conversation with the producer or project manager when working with new people so they can express where I may be challenged and how to navigate this with other members of the team. We all have strengths and weaknesses so aim to get a little better at sharing these. I also have ‘delightfully dyslexic excuse the typos’ on my emails so people are aware up front. It’s important to me that people are aware because we have so many misconceptions. I want to be an example of someone who is doing well whilst dancing with the label.
Another trick I have to support me whilst I am writing is to put on relaxing music and light a candle, I make sure my space is clear of distractions too which really helps me. Dame Darcey Bussell also said this is how she manages her dyslexia on our podcast Move Beyond Words.

What makes you happy?

Creating new works in collaborations and then letting them go on to have a life of their own.
My family and my husband and life in general. I love life… so cheesy but true.

What has been your biggest achievement so far?

I would say founding two social enterprises and putting myself in a position to learn and grow. I would also say a huge achievement was sharing work at the Royal Opera House and V&A. That was all about mine and Charlotte’s personal journeys with dyslexia. It was so special to have others resonate with these dance performances.

Do you have a Positive ND message to the world? Imagine you have a £5 million advertising campaign to spend on billboards all over the world, what would you say?

Hmm, I need more time on this one but the first thing that comes to mind is… Do you.

Final question – where can people find out more about you? Do you have a website and social media pages?

Yes, feel free to connect…

Elizabeth Rose Arifien
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Facebook

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Our series two Move Beyond Words podcast is released on 1st December and can be found on all major streaming platforms. Tune in and let us know what you think.

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Cleo Heard (Miss*C’s Graffiti Academy) Dyspraxia

Name: Cleo Heard
ND Type/s: Dyspraxia
What do you do: Graffiti Academy Owner and Art Psychotherapist
Where do you live: Devon UK

How did you start your day today? Do you have a morning routine? What do you have for breakfast, do think a good diet is important?

I start every day the same way, wishing I could stay in bed for another hour. I am a creature of habit… always eating the same thing for breakfast, and believe good diet is essential. So much so I am alcohol, caffeine, gluten free and have regular nutritional therapy with the fabulous @sarahbayliss

How do you stay active? And what do you do to relax?

Before Covid, my job as a graffiti workshop facilitator kept me super fit, I did yoga classes and had adult swimming lessons (knowing I have dyspraxia was so helpful) and swam 4 times a week.
During lockdown I found Qigong via the brilliant @theqigang and I took up running but that is on hold while I deal with injury. I have always danced at any opportunity and I attend the incredible @lovetolearnto breathwork classes for relaxation.

Do you have a favourite word or phrase?

All the swear words and the word squidgy

Have you read anything good recently? Is there a book that changed your life?

Wintering by Katherine May (currently listening to this for the second time)
Insanely Gifted by Jamie Catto
A Year of Living Simply by Katie Humble
This Book will Change Your Mind about Mental Health by Nathan Filer

Currently reading: Environmental Arts Therapy and the Tree of Life by Ian Siddons Heginworth

The Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton is the book that made me fall in love with reading even though I have always found it difficult.

Which 5 albums would you want to have with you on a desert island?

The Verve – Urban Hymns
Faithless – The Greatest Hits
The Cure – Greatest Hits
Massive Attack – Blue Lines
Sleeper – The It Girl

There are sooooo many more I would choose.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received and who was it from?

I’m not sure I’ve ever received a “best piece of advice” but I am definitely a firm believer in trusting your gut feeling – if it doesn’t feel right, it often isn’t.

When you were young, what did you want to be when you were a grown-up? And what was your first Job?

My first love was dancing, and I always thought I would be a dancer, but I got retired professionally as a ballerina at 14. I did continue to dance, taking a Contemporary dance A-level and one of my first jobs was dancing on podiums in clubs and at raves! I sold mobile phones with bleary eyes in the daylight hours.

What do you do now and how did you get into it?

I have had the Graffiti Academy for the past 12 years and I have recently qualified as an art therapist. I have always observed with wonder the therapeutic benefits of creativity. I had explored becoming an art therapist when I was 19, in fact I interviewed for the art therapy qualification at the same university twice. Only took me 25 years to qualify as one!

Creativity and thinking differently are often credited to neurodiversity. Would you say that is true? And if yes, could you give an example?

I completely agree, I’m often the person that notices stuff other people don’t. I also have an eerie intuition! I can also trip over my own shadow VERY easily.

When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, or have lost your focus, what do you do to get back on track? Do you have any hacks, tips or do you use any apps to keep you on track during the day?

This happens a LOT and I am learning what helps me get back on track. I listen to studying frequencies when I am trying to read, prefer low lighting and being outside. Working in the depths of the night, away from all distractions, always helps. I wrote my dissertation between midnight and 4am – every night – for weeks. I’m a fan of a to-dah list (listing the things as you achieve them), creative journaling and I NEED water! Hot baths, being by or in the sea and swimming all reset me.

Colour-coded schedules rock my world!! My student planner is how my dyspraxia was detected – by an eagle-eyed disability coordinator at my university!

How does your Neurodiversity affect new relationships? This can be professionally, socially or romantically.

I’m not sure how it affects my relationships – I am still working this out after only receiving my diagnosis 3 years ago. I am super sensitive to noise, light and temperature which is often difficult for others to understand. Oh, and I find the unknown, secrets and surprises quite difficult. The lockdowns have taught me that I am an introvert that can mimic being super sociable but not for long. I certainly recharge best in isolation and when in nature.

What makes you happy?

Spending time with my grown-up children, my baby nephew, and friends. Traveling! When that was a thing! Being by the sea, new art supplies, the smell of vanilla, Fry’s Turkish Delight, clothes with the labels cut out, dancing, sleeping, breathing, journaling, colour-coding, good food, warm weather, my she-shed, sunsets and amazing views.

What has been your biggest achievement so far?

Without a doubt getting my children to adulthood.

In second place would be my qualifications – especially now I understand how difficult it is for me to read, study and retain information.

Do you have a Positive ND message to the world? Imagine you have a £5 million advertising campaign to spend on billboards all over the world, what would you say?

I truly believe neurodiversity is a superpower!

My billboard would say something like: Love your neurotypical friends.

They have no idea how interesting life can be.

Final question – where can people find out more about you? Do you have a website and social media pages?

I have social media, website, and LinkedIn as Miss*C’s Graffiti Academy

Website: Miss Graffiti Academy
Instagram: @misscgraffitacademy
Facebook: MissCsGraffitiAcademy

And as Creative Journaling for Wellbeing on Instagram
Instagram: @creativejournalingforwellbeing

I am in the process of building a website for my art therapy practice and can be emailed at:

Email: cleo.art.therapy (at) gmail.com