Mighty Well
  • Shop
  • Home
  • Friends in the Fight
    • Friends in the Fight

      Diagnosed With Diabetes… Now What?

      February 17, 2021February 17, 2021

      Friends in the Fight

      Body Positivity Month

      February 10, 2021February 11, 2021

      Friends in the Fight

      World Cancer Day: 5 ways to support someone…

      February 3, 2021February 3, 2021

      Friends in the Fight

      We Are Mighty Well

      January 22, 2021January 22, 2021

      Friends in the Fight

      Making the Invisible Visible

      December 16, 2020December 16, 2020

  • Chronic Illness
    • Chronic Illness

      Get Ready to Get Vaccinated

      April 16, 2021April 16, 2021

      Chronic Illness

      5 Tips for Staying Safe With Chronic Illness…

      March 31, 2021March 31, 2021

      Chronic Illness

      Chronic Illness Guide to Getting Organized for Confidence…

      March 24, 2021March 24, 2021

      Chronic Illness

      Launch of a New Product Line: Secondary Catheter…

      March 19, 2021March 21, 2021

      Chronic Illness

      Vaccine Complications With Chronic Illness

      March 10, 2021March 31, 2021

  • General Wellness
    • General Wellness

      Get Ready to Get Vaccinated

      April 16, 2021April 16, 2021

      General Wellness

      How (and Why) to Effectively Apologize

      April 7, 2021April 7, 2021

      General Wellness

      5 Tips for Staying Safe With Chronic Illness…

      March 31, 2021March 31, 2021

      General Wellness

      Chronic Illness Guide to Getting Organized for Confidence…

      March 24, 2021March 24, 2021

      General Wellness

      Four tips for living it up after vaccination

      March 17, 2021March 17, 2021

  • Shop
  • Home
  • Friends in the Fight
    • Friends in the Fight

      Diagnosed With Diabetes… Now What?

      February 17, 2021February 17, 2021

      Friends in the Fight

      Body Positivity Month

      February 10, 2021February 11, 2021

      Friends in the Fight

      World Cancer Day: 5 ways to support someone…

      February 3, 2021February 3, 2021

      Friends in the Fight

      We Are Mighty Well

      January 22, 2021January 22, 2021

      Friends in the Fight

      Making the Invisible Visible

      December 16, 2020December 16, 2020

  • Chronic Illness
    • Chronic Illness

      Get Ready to Get Vaccinated

      April 16, 2021April 16, 2021

      Chronic Illness

      5 Tips for Staying Safe With Chronic Illness…

      March 31, 2021March 31, 2021

      Chronic Illness

      Chronic Illness Guide to Getting Organized for Confidence…

      March 24, 2021March 24, 2021

      Chronic Illness

      Launch of a New Product Line: Secondary Catheter…

      March 19, 2021March 21, 2021

      Chronic Illness

      Vaccine Complications With Chronic Illness

      March 10, 2021March 31, 2021

  • General Wellness
    • General Wellness

      Get Ready to Get Vaccinated

      April 16, 2021April 16, 2021

      General Wellness

      How (and Why) to Effectively Apologize

      April 7, 2021April 7, 2021

      General Wellness

      5 Tips for Staying Safe With Chronic Illness…

      March 31, 2021March 31, 2021

      General Wellness

      Chronic Illness Guide to Getting Organized for Confidence…

      March 24, 2021March 24, 2021

      General Wellness

      Four tips for living it up after vaccination

      March 17, 2021March 17, 2021

Mighty Well

Chronic IllnessFeaturedFriends in the FightThe Undefeated

Celebrating Our Diverse Brains: Rebecca Wexler

by Ariela Paulsen September 14, 2020September 14, 2020
written by Ariela Paulsen
Celebrating Our Diverse Brains: Rebecca Wexler

This week, we are learning about neurodiversity in our community. We got to chat with Rebecca, a nurse, mother, and Friend in the Fight, about her experience as an adult with ADHD.

Tell us a little about your journey! 

Open-ended questions like this are hard for me…

As a kid I was energetic, loud, interested in everything and loved learning, felt everything deeply, bright and high-achieving in school, socially “weird” (according to others) but had close friendships when I found people I could be myself around.  In eighth grade my friends and I were targeted by a group of bullies, and as a result I made a conscious decision to learn how to fit in with my peers.  Over the years I got so adept at masking that I lost my sense of self, and now in my thirties I’m trying hard to rediscover my true, authentic self.

As an adult I found life surprisingly difficult.  Managing my own time and priorities, keeping a house clean, establishing consistent routines, etc. were extremely challenging for me.  I discovered TV and with it my inability to stop after one (or two or three) episodes.  I didn’t understand why these “basic” life skills eluded me.  I was used to getting good grades and succeeding in general, so this really shook my confidence.  When I was diagnosed with ADHD at 29 and learned about executive dysfunction, I felt very validated — that I wasn’t just lazy, those invisible struggles were real — and was able to show myself more compassion.

What does neurodiversity mean to you?  

I hate the stigma that goes along with neurodivergent “disorders” like ADHD and autism.  Certain aspects of it are very challenging – such as executive dysfunction andsensory sensitivities – but there is so much more to it, and being slapped with a label that has so much stigma attached can lead to self-esteem issues as well as discrimination by employers.  On the other hand, finally getting a diagnosis that explains your life struggles can be powerfully healing.

I’ve always been someone who values diversity in general.  I see our world as a beautiful mosaic of so many different people, cultures, customs, interests — and I LOVE learning about people different from myself.  To me, neurodiversity is just one more facet of diversity.  Just as our world would be empty if everyone looked the same, spoke the same, ate the same food, I believe our world would be so much less colorful if all brains were wired the same.  The people I have known on the neurodivergent spectrum are such interesting, exciting people with so many different niche interests and unorthodox ideas to share with the world.

What does your neurodiversity look like?  

In many ways it’s hard to explain.  I just see the world differently than most people – like I’m looking at everything through a different lens.

My sensory processing is definitely very different from others.  I have a combination of sensory-seeking and sensory-avoidant tendencies.

I am smart and intuitively make connections that other people don’t.

On the other hand, I often have a hard time navigating social situations or following etiquette that doesn’t make sense to me.

I can “space out” and be lost in my own world of thought for hours without even realizing it.

At times I have trouble directing my attention; at other times I notice things no one else does or I can hyperfocus on something and block everything else out.

I care less than others about how things “should” be done, which allows me the freedom to think outside the box.

What challenges have you faced from being in environments that didn’t work with your brain? 

I joined an ADHD coaching and accountability group that gave me many new skills for managing executive dysfunction.

I have worked hard on developing positive coping mechanisms that help me push through sensory overload, such as mindful breathing.

And I am (slowly) learning to accept myself as I am, so that I don’t make those challenges worse by getting overwhelmed with shame.

What strengths have you noticed from your “divergent” brain?  

Resilience and empathy

How did Becca’s story resonate with you? How have labels and stigmas impacted your own journey? Let us know in our Friends in the Fight facebook group!

adhdEDSMCASneurodiversityPOTS
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Ariela Paulsen

Ari struggled with a wide array of health problems for decades before being diagnosed with EDS/POTS/MCAS/etc at age 25. She began writing as a way to heal while spreading information and helping others through their own journeys. She loves being part of the Mighty Well team, sharing the stories and strengths of spoonies everywhere!

previous post
Celebrating Our Diverse Brains: Melody Olander
next post
Celebrating Our Diverse Brains: Claire Lapat

You may also like

We Are Mighty Well

January 22, 2021

5 Ways to Give Support to Someone You...

November 23, 2020

5 Simple Ways to Get Better Sleep this...

September 3, 2019

World Cancer Day: 5 ways to support someone...

February 3, 2021

6 Things I’m Grateful as a CEO and...

November 19, 2018

10 Tips for Time at Home

April 16, 2020

What is Neurodiversity?

September 9, 2020

Chronic Illness Guide to Getting Organized for Confidence...

March 24, 2021

POTS and ME Awareness: A Surprising COVID-19 Outcome

January 6, 2021

Dating With An Ostomy

August 17, 2017

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

About Us

Hi, We're Mighty Well.

The mission of Mighty Well is to help patients and their caregivers turn sickness into strength. We are leading the global charge that changes the perception of patients from victims to fighters. We do this by improving the experience of being a patient. We create the products we wish we’d had: functional and stylish apparel and accessories that you can wear with confidence - and content that can help you get through the good times and the bad. It’s wellness you can wear.

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Instagram

No images found!
Try some other hashtag or username

Recent Posts

  • Get Ready to Get Vaccinated

    April 16, 2021
  • How (and Why) to Effectively Apologize

    April 7, 2021
  • 5 Tips for Staying Safe With Chronic Illness as the World Opens Up

    March 31, 2021
  • Chronic Illness Guide to Getting Organized for Confidence and Safety

    March 24, 2021
  • Launch of a New Product Line: Secondary Catheter Securement Device

    March 19, 2021

Categories

  • Adaptive Wear
  • Chronic Illness
  • Featured
  • Friends in the Fight
  • General Wellness
  • Healthy Work Environments
  • Lyme Disease
  • Medical Devices
  • Mightier Together
  • Mighty Models
  • PICC Line
  • Popular Posts
  • The Undefeated
  • Treatment and Care
  • Uncategorized

Tags Cloud

Active Lifestyle Adulting Best Fit for Your Lifestyle Be Your Own Advocate blm Chronic Illness coronavirus coronoavirus covid-19 Diabetes Disabilities Dysautonomia Family Feeding Tubes Fibromyalgia Gastroparesis holidays invisible illnesses Living Mighty Well Living With a PICC Living with a Port LLMD lyme disease Lyme Into Lemonaid Lyme Literate Doctors MedPlanner mental health Mental Illness mighty mask Mighty Pack mighty well mask Misdiagnosed Mom with Lyme New Years Organization Tips PICC PICC line cover PICC Line Dressing Change PICCPerfect POTS Prevention Self-love Support Systems TPN trans black lives matter

Our Story

Mighty Well - Founder - Emily Levy - Our Story

 

It all started with a cut off sock, a cute hockey player, and an 8 AM finance class. Oh, and a PICC Line. That moment inspired us to launch our first product, the PICCPerfect PICC Line Cover.

 

We know it stinks to feel defined by a diagnosis or feel like just a name on a doctor’s chart. Sounds like you? Read how our founder turned sickness into strength.

Recent Posts

  • Get Ready to Get Vaccinated

    April 16, 2021
  • How (and Why) to Effectively Apologize

    April 7, 2021
  • 5 Tips for Staying Safe With Chronic Illness as the World Opens Up

    March 31, 2021

Join the Fight

Mighty Well's Facebook Page

Find Us on Instagram

No images found!
Try some other hashtag or username
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Mighty Well © 2018 All Rights Reserved


Back To Top