Olatunde

As a child, I think I always struggled with anxiety and in later years as an older person, I had been treated for depression at times. But I think the one thing I now realise looking back was whenever I was treated for depression, I dont think I had an outlook in life that was of no hope or feeling very low, just probably exhausted. 

I think what led me to think about mental health and wellbeing for this piece with Black Minds Matter UK is a quote I wrote about some time ago about mental wealth and it being something we have more or less of. I understand my difficulties now in the context of autism and so as a late diagnosed autistic woman I can think of many times in my life where I have experienced autistic burnout which led me to withdraw and reduce activities which only now that I am delivering autism training I understand.

So whether someone has been treated for depression or autistic burnout really matters. Several times across my life I have experienced Autistic burnout and I think it’s something important to raise awareness about as a Black autistic woman myself.