Support after a late autism and ADHD diagnosis: MT’s story

3 days ago

4 min read

Black shoes on rough asphalt beside two white painted arrows pointing apart.

A late autism and ADHD diagnosis can bring answers, relief and a whole lot of questions. What happens next? How do you move from “now I know” to “now I can live differently”?

MT came to me with exactly those questions, at one of the lowest points of his life. He’s kindly let me share his story, because I think somebody out there needs to hear it today.

Before: 30 years of believing he was broken

Following his late diagnosis, MT was facing yet another lengthy absence from work because he simply couldn’t function. As he puts it, he had “spent over 30 years believing I was broken, that everything was my fault, and that nothing could change.”

Exhausted, overwhelmed and increasingly disconnected from the world around him, MT kept hitting the same wall. Burnout would arrive, life would stop, and he couldn’t work out why. More than anything, he wanted to understand the pattern and break the cycle.

What MT hoped for from post-diagnosis support

His hopes and intentions when we began coaching were beautifully clear:

To understand what his diagnosis meant, so he could understand himself better
To find practical ways to avoid burnout
To feel more connected to the people and life around him

I see this a lot with new clients when they are looking for coaching support around neurodivergent challenges. It's often less about "I want to be more organised, better at time management and feel more focused" and more about a desire to understand yourself better; break the boom-and-bust cycles of burnout and rebuild the connection to yourself and what really matters.

Black-and-white hallway with an open door and window at the end, light spilling in; quiet, empty, and moody.

The wobble before saying yes

Here’s the bit I love most for its honesty. Everything on my website felt like it matched how MT thought, felt and experienced the world. And still he hesitated, wondering whether my coaching was right for him and whether we'd work well together.

Looking back, MT can see that wobble for what it was: a reflection of how low his confidence and self-belief had sunk. If you’ve ever wondered whether neurodivergent coaching is “for you”, please know that this doubt is incredibly common after a late diagnosis. Often it’s the exhaustion talking, or the self-doubt that you're up to the work required to see meaningful results, or perhaps even that you are capable and worthy of change. So was it worth the risk?

After: from burnout cycle to understanding himself

MT describes the experience of coaching as transformative, and I’ll let him tell you about the biggest change:

"The biggest change now after late autism and ADHD diagnosis is that I now have the awareness and tools to recognise when things are becoming unbalanced before they develop into something more serious. Instead of pushing through until I burn out, I can identify what's happening, make adjustments, and look after myself much earlier.

Perhaps even more importantly, I no longer see myself as broken. I understand why I experience the world the way I do, and I have far more self-compassion and confidence in my ability to manage my life. That shift alone has made an enormous difference."

Silhouetted person stands with arms outstretched on a reflective beach at vivid sunset.

MT says he could write a book on the changes he's experienced since starting coaching, but here are a few that make my heart sing:

Feeling hopeful about the future for the first time in years
Greater confidence in setting boundaries
Better relationships, personally and professionally, through understanding himself more
Working sustainably, which is keeping burnout at bay
Learning to work with his neurodivergent brain rather than trying to fix it

That last one is everything. Not fixed. Not “cured”. Just finally working with the brain he has.

What it felt like working together

MT tells me he felt completely supported, understood and validated, and that working together has been one of the most valuable investments he’s made in himself. What stood out most was turning his knowledge of autism and ADHD into practical, meaningful changes he could use in everyday life.

That’s the heart of what I do. Not just “now you understand”, but now here’s what you can do on a Tuesday afternoon when your inbox feels impossible, and you haven't had lunch yet.

MT’s advice if you’re looking for post-diagnosis support

If you’re thinking about taking the leap, here’s what MT would suggest:

Check out the resources available in the free Curiosity Starter Kit (a collection of my favourite resources MT found useful even before we’d started working together)
Book a free Discovery Call - this helped MT feel confident he was making the right decision by having a pressure-free space to find out more about my coaching and how I work
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, confused by your diagnosis or simply curious about yourself, take that first step

Ready to get curious?

If you’re looking for support after a late autism or ADHD diagnosis, I’d love to hear from you, and you can begin with that free Discovery Call. No pressure, no performance, just a friendly chat about what might help. If you’re in the UK, you may also be able to use Access to Work funding, so do ask.