Hi there, I wanted to let you know that your article and your choice of not writing while you were overwhelmed, was an affirmation for me of some of my own choices of late. This level of honesty in a blog is both refreshing and inspiring. Makes me wish I had this kind of smaller and safe space, or at least someone who understands. Alas, the world is cruel, always, which has something to do with the RSD in the first place probably. There are also genuinely compassionate, patient and kind people. With my ADHD (plus ASD tendencies) I know that over sharing in some contexts just gets strange looks, or worse. For me it’s a compulsion, like the fast talking that I can’t control. All that to say that you get to choose the pace and times that you share, who is what you have done here. And I admire you for it. I have found that body centred therapy for CPTSD has helped some for sure. Maybe not in the heat of the moment, but it certainly has given me a different perspective that has led to less spiraling. Anyone who is on this blog will hopefully be people who support you. If they aren’t, it is your blog so I’m sure you can block people who don’t yet have the capability of compassion for themselves or others. I wish you well from Canada 🇨🇦
Oh Valerie! I see you and I hear you! You are not alone. Just know that. You are not alone in feeling those weird looks when we overshare or talk too fast or add way too many details to a story or provide the WHOLE background for context before getting to real event.💛
Just like you said, people around you love you for all of that and all those quirks make you YOU!
thank you for sharing your experience, the wonderful feedback on my writing, and encouraging & inspiring me to write more. THANK YOU, Valerie. It means a lot to me.
Also, I am definitely going to be looking into body centered therapy. You have me intrigued. Again, thank you for sharing!
I relate to this so hard! I got my first pledge on Substack and I felt weirdly ashamed, stopped writing for 3 weeks, and then writing my next couple of posts were like pulling teeth. Your post makes so much sense -- nothing like an actual audience to get the inner critic and imposter syndrome raging.
I really enjoy reading your work and hope you get to share more! It's really a privilege for us to get to read it. :)
Taylor! First of all, Congratulations on your first pledge!!! I hope you took that opportunity to celebrate yourself. Us ADHDers are not good at celebrating ourselves :P
Secondly, thank you for your kind words; they mean a lot to me! Hearing from folks like yourself and reading how my writing resonates with them inspires and motivates me to write more. So yeah, you will definitely hear more from me :)
Way to go, Asmita! I knew you could make this happen, and I'm so pleased to see you letting that inner critic take the backseat for a moment.
When we, as writers (yes, you are a writer!), brave the world and share our voices, the people who want and need to hear us can finally find their way to us. But you have to speak up to make it happen. You're doing the hard work, and you get to enjoy the rewards.
Also consider this - maybe you have a job or a stipend or a thing that funds your grocery bill. We all have that. But you can also write to feed your soul and your heart, and here you are setting the table for friends to share in your bounty. If that's not A Writer then I don't know what is.
Thank you for the support! The group really made this one happen :)
Once again, such beautiful words, Robin! I think it is easier for me to avoid using the word writer to define myself because I know that I will start comparing myself to wonderful folks like you. But that is something I can work on.
Thank you for inspiring and motivating me through your incredibly kind words.
I’m smiling after reading this article and HAD TO leave a like, I think 17 was the last time you’ll see that number (I’m thinking 🤔 there’s going be more than that from now on)
My darling. First, congrats on the success of your post! You deserve to be recommend. And I'm so glad both you and Diana are better. You get to rest and take care of you/your loved ones. Okay, here's the deal: My heart used to absolutely break when I would get an unsub. And unsubs love to come on your release days. Sometimes, I get a few. But now? I welcome them. I've even considered manually unsubbing folks who don't read (you know, the 0 stars people). Why? Because I would rather know who's really engaged with my 'stack than just see how many people clicked Subscribe. I still don't like the feeling of rejection an unsub brings (BTW, you can uncheck that option and never get a notification...I still like to know). But, also, so what? I can't take it personally. Those folks probably clicked "subscribe to all" on the related Substack offerings put up after they subbed to something they were interested in. Who knows? Who cares? That's really none of our business. And if they aren't sharing why they left, then it's really not worth the grief. At least in my opinion. Happy you are back and that you are painting, too!!! xo
Sandra! I always appreciate your wisdom so very much!
I have thought about disabling the notification, but always decided to leave it as is. Like you said, I still like to know🙃. I agree with you on wanting more of the readers who engage with your writing. It is quite rewarding to know that something resonated with someone. Love that feeling! I am definitely working towards the "who know? who cares" of it. Baby steps ☺️
As always, thank you for your kind words! It is good to be back!!
Hi there, I wanted to let you know that your article and your choice of not writing while you were overwhelmed, was an affirmation for me of some of my own choices of late. This level of honesty in a blog is both refreshing and inspiring. Makes me wish I had this kind of smaller and safe space, or at least someone who understands. Alas, the world is cruel, always, which has something to do with the RSD in the first place probably. There are also genuinely compassionate, patient and kind people. With my ADHD (plus ASD tendencies) I know that over sharing in some contexts just gets strange looks, or worse. For me it’s a compulsion, like the fast talking that I can’t control. All that to say that you get to choose the pace and times that you share, who is what you have done here. And I admire you for it. I have found that body centred therapy for CPTSD has helped some for sure. Maybe not in the heat of the moment, but it certainly has given me a different perspective that has led to less spiraling. Anyone who is on this blog will hopefully be people who support you. If they aren’t, it is your blog so I’m sure you can block people who don’t yet have the capability of compassion for themselves or others. I wish you well from Canada 🇨🇦
Oh Valerie! I see you and I hear you! You are not alone. Just know that. You are not alone in feeling those weird looks when we overshare or talk too fast or add way too many details to a story or provide the WHOLE background for context before getting to real event.💛
Just like you said, people around you love you for all of that and all those quirks make you YOU!
thank you for sharing your experience, the wonderful feedback on my writing, and encouraging & inspiring me to write more. THANK YOU, Valerie. It means a lot to me.
Also, I am definitely going to be looking into body centered therapy. You have me intrigued. Again, thank you for sharing!
I relate to this so hard! I got my first pledge on Substack and I felt weirdly ashamed, stopped writing for 3 weeks, and then writing my next couple of posts were like pulling teeth. Your post makes so much sense -- nothing like an actual audience to get the inner critic and imposter syndrome raging.
I really enjoy reading your work and hope you get to share more! It's really a privilege for us to get to read it. :)
Taylor! First of all, Congratulations on your first pledge!!! I hope you took that opportunity to celebrate yourself. Us ADHDers are not good at celebrating ourselves :P
Secondly, thank you for your kind words; they mean a lot to me! Hearing from folks like yourself and reading how my writing resonates with them inspires and motivates me to write more. So yeah, you will definitely hear more from me :)
Way to go, Asmita! I knew you could make this happen, and I'm so pleased to see you letting that inner critic take the backseat for a moment.
When we, as writers (yes, you are a writer!), brave the world and share our voices, the people who want and need to hear us can finally find their way to us. But you have to speak up to make it happen. You're doing the hard work, and you get to enjoy the rewards.
Also consider this - maybe you have a job or a stipend or a thing that funds your grocery bill. We all have that. But you can also write to feed your soul and your heart, and here you are setting the table for friends to share in your bounty. If that's not A Writer then I don't know what is.
Thank you for the support! The group really made this one happen :)
Once again, such beautiful words, Robin! I think it is easier for me to avoid using the word writer to define myself because I know that I will start comparing myself to wonderful folks like you. But that is something I can work on.
Thank you for inspiring and motivating me through your incredibly kind words.
I’m smiling after reading this article and HAD TO leave a like, I think 17 was the last time you’ll see that number (I’m thinking 🤔 there’s going be more than that from now on)
Wendy
Aww how sweet and kind of you! Thank you, Wendy!
My darling. First, congrats on the success of your post! You deserve to be recommend. And I'm so glad both you and Diana are better. You get to rest and take care of you/your loved ones. Okay, here's the deal: My heart used to absolutely break when I would get an unsub. And unsubs love to come on your release days. Sometimes, I get a few. But now? I welcome them. I've even considered manually unsubbing folks who don't read (you know, the 0 stars people). Why? Because I would rather know who's really engaged with my 'stack than just see how many people clicked Subscribe. I still don't like the feeling of rejection an unsub brings (BTW, you can uncheck that option and never get a notification...I still like to know). But, also, so what? I can't take it personally. Those folks probably clicked "subscribe to all" on the related Substack offerings put up after they subbed to something they were interested in. Who knows? Who cares? That's really none of our business. And if they aren't sharing why they left, then it's really not worth the grief. At least in my opinion. Happy you are back and that you are painting, too!!! xo
Sandra! I always appreciate your wisdom so very much!
I have thought about disabling the notification, but always decided to leave it as is. Like you said, I still like to know🙃. I agree with you on wanting more of the readers who engage with your writing. It is quite rewarding to know that something resonated with someone. Love that feeling! I am definitely working towards the "who know? who cares" of it. Baby steps ☺️
As always, thank you for your kind words! It is good to be back!!