I had a conversation the other day around the characteristics of dyslexia.

I was asked a question, in a supportive way, the question was “ doesn’t everyone experience that ?”

It’s a valid question, but as an adult with Dyslexia/ADD it certainly is frustrating.

A couple of mis-spelled words does not make up for a life-time of feeling inadequate in your writing.

Being late a few times is not the same as that panic as you realise that you are never going to make that important meeting, again…

If you have someone who questions your diagnosis (even if it’s a self diagnosis) here is something you can reply with….

It is actually about the effect of those symptoms and the severity and the frequency, that is the difference between someone with Dyslexia/ADD or a neurotypical person.

If you’d like to feel more confident in yourself and your dyslexia - check out our Confident Dyslexic Programme. I know you’ll find it life changing.

https://tcd.truthaboutdyslexia.com/The-Confident-Dyslexic

This week I look at how hard it is to practice self care.

I know that, for me there are a few layers to this, one of which is self care means I’m being selfish - but that is a video for another time.

The other is how we are always rushing - always feeling like we don’t have enough time.

Taking 45 minutes out of my day to go for a walk on the beach made me so much more productive and motivated.

But boy did I have a battle in my head “I don’t have enough time to do this, I have so much work to do, I can’t go for a walk…. Etc etc”

Realising how much stress we feel everyday due to our different perception of time, and a lifetime of always not getting everything done in time, means we always feel under pressure.

However taking myself out of that spiral and giving myself those 45 minutes actually meant I got loads more done!

Does anyone else struggle with this?

So I have discovered that I am constantly surprised by life!

Yep all the time!

This was a realisation I had after talking to Becky (one of the founders of Truth About Dyslexia) about a situation that was changing and how I was surprised by that.

Her comment of “but surely you thought about that, and how it was going to be” made me realise that I hadn’t at all.

This can be a good thing and a challenge.

It means that we don’t always see the obvious connection or next step, or how it will pan out, which can be so frustrating and can cause all sorts of problems - BUT it does also mean that we can just accept the situation, and not worry too much about the outcome or the what if’s.

Does this happen to you?

As dyslexics we do not naturally think with words!

So when we are communicating with people it can really cause problems if we have a different idea/feeling or even visual image of what a word may mean. 

I was reminded of this during the week. 

We were in a meeting and I couldn’t get why the others weren’t as enthusiastic or as on board with my idea. In fact they seemed to be a bit resentful, I was so blindsided by this. 

After the emotions had calmed down I realised that they had a different feeling and picture for the word equal. 

It really reminded me that the best thing we can say to a Dyslexic is, “what is your picture for that?” Or “what is the feeling attached to that word?”. 

This way you can find out at the start if you have different images/ideas or feelings!

I really admire people that are so definite and certain and can know for sure what decision is best for them.

In this video I look at why we can struggle with this and also how dyslexics can have good intuition, but how often we struggle to see the one clear path, or one clear decision.

If you want to know more about how to harness your visual mind and start to use this talent to work for you and not against you join our Confident Dyslexic Programme

https://tcd.truthaboutdyslexia.com/the-confident-dyslexic

As an adult dyslexic there are lots of different characteristics and behaviours that I have adapted over the years. Knowing when to say no, is really difficult for me.

Wanting to do everything, not let people down... wanting to keep everyone happy. It is so exhausting and whilst this is a trait that other people can have too - I believe it is more prevalent in dyslexics.

If you have watched some of my videos before, you will know that dyslexics experience time differently.

Time is definitely one of our biggest challenges! I decided not to buy a diary for 2022, after all the years I have of diaries that are half completed in my cupboard, this was the year to change that.

But then I realised how much I need a month overview to "see" where I am in the month and the act of writing on a monthly overview actually helps me get a sense of time.

What happens when your dyslexic brain and friendships collide?

For me I am at each end of a massive spectrum here.

I love making connections and having close friends - but I really struggle to do the simple things that a friendship needs.

It’s not from lack of caring, it’s just that I can get distracted by work, family or other people.

Out of sight out of mind is so true for me and it is knowing this about myself that means I can also try and explain it to my friends!

So this week I share with you my experience of "nailing a simple job" - well it was a simple job to my quick visual dyslexic mind!

It’s at times like this when I realise how far I have come in my dyslexic journey. A few years ago I would have got myself so stressed about getting this job done, and felt such a failure for not being able to work it out.

However now I simply use our Sorting Tool (which is one of our Organised Dyslexic products) and I understand that, me not being able to hang a pair of curtains is not that big of a deal!

You can find out more about our Organised Dyslexia course by clicking on the link below - it includes a great selection of tools that will really reduce that overwhelm and help you feel in control of your day - every day!

https://courses.truthaboutdyslexia.com/organised-dyslexic-day

Dyslexia means that we have this amazing ability to visualise... it is so natural for us to do, we don't even realise that we think like this.

But what happens when we start this process and get lost in our dyslexic thoughts ?

It means we can create such a real, intense picture in our mind, that we then start to feel like the imagined scenario is real.

We start to believe that what we are thinking about will actually happen - and it changes how we feel about a situation.

Once you realise that your brain does this, you can start to learn how regonise when it is happening and then you can to use it to your advantage.

We have a name for this at Truth About Dyslexia - it’s called the Visual Emotional Vortex!.

If you want to know more about this, and how to use the way you think to your advantage click here https://tcd.truthaboutdyslexia.com/sales-page-page-9303