I am new here and want to say hi and give my experience as a 53yo male who received a late diagnosis of ADHD/SLD/ASD + Clinical Anxiety; which explains my struggles in keeping employment and general ability to learn stuff (hello language dyslexia).
Warning, long post, but hopefully it can help others.
I lost a really good, law enforcement job of 6.5 years (not police, but similar) due to sporadic performance issues (nothing major, but little things that got noticed). Plus, being different and not fitting in while 'trying too hard to fit in' did not help either. It is on me for attempting a risky career at the ripe old age of 47 lol, yes I am a risk taker and got burnt big time.
My recently diagnoses is: ADHD, Specific Learning Disability (Dyslexia), which explains my slow processing speed in trying to 'get things' and follow instructions (very bad for any career). And of course, I clinical anxiety with a dose of depression. And lastly, possibility Moderate Autism as well. I spent over $2500 to get tested, so I know I am not neurotypical and it explains why I have always felt different and not just down to a bad up bringing.
What has helped me post diagnosis is a new hobby that I consider radical, risky and potentially too hard for my brain and old body to cope with. It is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)! I found this hobby after watching U Tube videos on people who have had similar issues and wanted to turn their life around and have more control over their Executive Functioning skills.
Executive Functioning skills = think Software for your computer (brain). As opposed to Hardware, your body.
Well, I can report, after six weeks of classes and getting use to 'having my Ass handed to me', I already feel different, less anxious, more focused with less confusing thoughts in following instructions (which has plagued me my whole life). Yes sure, I still get confused here and their, but I let it go because some moves in the intermediate classes (there is only two fundamental class per week) are tricky to learn.
I wonder if anyone else on this forum has tried a challenging hobby like (BJJ) or similar and noticed the benefits over time. This is my long term experiment on myself to see the results; I feel less panic when placed in difficult positions, which was not the case in my previous job!
