I’m a neurodivergent mom of two fierce girls, a therapist, and a work in progress. I’m a daughter, a sister, a wife, a friend. I’m an introvert, an ally, an advocate, a feminist. I’m privileged to have these roles, and I often feel overwhelmed by trying to wear all of these hats. Not just because my brain processes the world differently, but because our social structure perpetuates a cycle of burnout. The human experience is not meant to be one-size-fits-all, and we don’t need to live in survival mode for years, decades, or generations.

That change starts small. It takes time. It starts with how we talk to ourselves. How we see ourselves in this world. It’s in learning to take risks, be vulnerable, do the scary thing, say no, say yes. We can’t make much progress with our goals if we’re ruminating, dissociating, self-medicating, or spiraling. Trust me, I’ve tried.