An Open Dalogue on being: Late Diagnosed (53) with Autism & ADHD (AuDHD), Clinical Depression, Social Anxiety, PTSD Trauma, and 30+ Years struggling with poor Mental Health in general

I’ve battled numerous mental health challenges for most of my adult life; I’m now 53. Oh, and I also design things at Smithographic℠ a 30 year veteran of being creative.

The first signs of my mental health decline started in late teens, with weight and body issues, namely Bulimia around 19, and then soon after being put on antidepressants.

Things then started to escalate until my first breakdown at 33, followed by 6 weeks in The Priory (private clinic where I was misdiagnosed with Bipolar, and subsequently, unsuccessfully, medicated for 3 years.)

This misdiagnosis of Bipolar was a huge set back, and created unnecessary additional challenges in the adtermath.

I’ve been fighting numerous mental health related challenges ever since: PTSD Trauma, Acute Social Anxiety, Eating Disorders (Bulimia), Body Dysmorphia, Reoccurring Major Depressive Episodes, Misdiagnosed with Bipolar, Breakdowns & Burnouts, etc thoughout the years.

In recent times I’ve come face-to-face with the most horrifying episode of depression I’ve ever faces, and this has created many obstacles and challenges.Specifically resulting in a Mental Health Crisis episode late 2024, which saw me under the amazing care of the NHS Crisis Team, for 6 weeks.

It was during my initial Crisis Assessment that the Psychiatrist picked-up that I was on the spectrum for Autism and ADHD. Part of the proposed treatment included ECT (Electro Convulsive Therapy) due to having Medication Resistant Depressio, with a referral already to go, but I backed out.

April 2025 saw me being formally diagnosed, via a Private AuDHD Assessment, with Autism & ADHD (AuDHD), which completely shocked me, and I now face an even bigger battle going forwards.

I’m writing this blog to help spread my experiences, and share other peoples experiences, with life with AuDHD, ADHD or Autism.

I’ll be collecting blog posts, social media posts, etc and will post them here, with full credits, attribution and back-links

My hope is that growing a collection of: tips, thoughts, struggles, questions will also inspire, and help, others going through any form of mental health challenges.

Even if you’re not formally diagnosed, and may believe you might have either Austism, ADHD or both AuDHD, I’m hoping the growing collection of varied posts may help you going forward.

We are collectively Neurodivergent, opposed to Not Neurotypical.

I thought naming the blog Not Neurotypical was just a way to not overuse the Neurodivergent label; in my head it makes sense…

I adore my ever faithful canine companions: Miss Poppy, a 7 year old Black and Long Coated German Shepherd; kept me going through the best, and worst of times.

Graham & Miss Poppy