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Reposted by Gillian Fagan, AcoraTherapy

Connolly for President @catherinegalway.bsky.social · 1d

"Unpaid carers are predominantly women, which might go some way to explaining why their contributions are ignored." Catherine Connolly speaking out following yesterday's budget on the continuation of the means test for carers, and the unfulfilled promise of a cost of disability payment.

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Gillian Fagan, AcoraTherapy @acoratherapy.bsky.social · 19h

October isn’t just about darker evenings & woolly hats.

For many ND nervous systems, the change in light, routine & sensory input hits hard.

More fatigue. Mood dips.
Sensory overwhelm.
Dopamine dances.

If you’re feeling off right now, it’s not in your head. Your body is adjusting.
#Neurodiversity

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Gillian Fagan, AcoraTherapy @acoratherapy.bsky.social · 1d

Neurodiversity isn’t new.
What’s new is that we’re finally talking about it.

ADHD, dyslexia, autism, dyspraxia, PDA, DID, Tourette’s, sensory profiles…have always been part of the story.

The difference now is language, visibility & community.

#Neurodiversity #Psychotherapy #ADHDAwarenessMonth

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Gillian Fagan, AcoraTherapy @acoratherapy.bsky.social · 2d

For starters reflection, accountability, flexibility, self-awareness.

It helps to understand ableism, bias and privilege too.

You can’t have non inclusive, rigid systems and then claim to be neuro-affirmative!

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Gillian Fagan, AcoraTherapy @acoratherapy.bsky.social · 2d

Neuro-affirming practice is everywhere now.

It’s a great start.
But if it stays at the level of buzzwords, checklists, and slogans, we risk creating the appearance of inclusion without the substance.

What’s the neurodivergent version of pink washing?

Real inclusion demands more…

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Gillian Fagan, AcoraTherapy @acoratherapy.bsky.social · 3d

Human brains are gloriously varied. Imagine a world where they’re not!
The systems we’ve built for our wonderful brains… not so much.

Instead of embracing difference, we often try to excuse, justify, cure or eradicate.

That’s dangerous.

Without diversity, what would we become?

#Neurodiversity

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Gillian Fagan, AcoraTherapy @acoratherapy.bsky.social · 4d

October’s a great month for reflection.

Therapists, how does your own neurotype show up in the therapy room?
Whose communication styles feel easy to you and why?
What assumptions do you already have?

Neurodiversity work starts with awareness, not toolkits.

#Therapy #Neurodiversity #Psychotherapy

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Gillian Fagan, AcoraTherapy @acoratherapy.bsky.social · 5d

Neurodiversity is NOT “we’re all a little bit…”
Neurodiversity is NOT a new fad.
Neurodiversity is NOT one size fits all.

Neurodiversity IS the fact that brains come in many flavours.

Society was made for vanilla.
Some of us are pistachio, rum raisin or chilli chocolate.
#Neurodiversity #inclusion

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Gillian Fagan, AcoraTherapy @acoratherapy.bsky.social · 6d

I’m delighted to be presenting at the EAIP Biennial Conference, talking about:

Anti-Oppressive Practice with Neurodivergent Clients: Beyond Affirmation to Accountability
(Opening the Door to Real Inclusion in Integrative Psychotherapy)

I can’t wait!

👉 Book here www.eventbrite.ie/e/eaip-bienn...

EAIP Biennial Conference

We invite you to the 12th Conference of the European Association for Integrative Psychotherapy, hosted by IAPTP, 10 -12 October '25

www.eventbrite.ie

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Gillian Fagan, AcoraTherapy @acoratherapy.bsky.social · 6d

Late diagnosis isn’t rare. It’s just rarely talked about. It’s often seen as jumping on a bandwagon but some of us are finally getting the medical model to catch up with our lived experience.

#Neurodiversity #LateDiagnosis #ADHD #Autism #Psychotherapy

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Gillian Fagan, AcoraTherapy @acoratherapy.bsky.social · 6d

I’ve met people diagnosed in their 50s, 60s, even 70s. A lifetime of “coping” suddenly makes sense. The unmasking, unpacking and identity journey can feel mammoth.

There’s grief, relief, rage, understanding and often a spark of finally seeing themselves clearly. The paradox!

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Gillian Fagan, AcoraTherapy @acoratherapy.bsky.social · 6d

We talk a lot about neurodiversity in kids, many of us assume to know about autism or ADHD but through a child’s experience.

What about the generations who grew up without language for it? I was 40 when I was diagnosed AuDHD. I walked out of that appointment crying every emotion I could ever feel.

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Reposted by Gillian Fagan, AcoraTherapy

Hapexamandios - Ian C @hapexamandios.bsky.social · 6d

I think the below is one of the most succinct descriptions of what it is to be neuro divergent.

In times of increasing attacks from bad faith ideologues against anything that threatens any attempt at greater inclusivity & acceptance, concise, clear messaging is a must.

Gillian Fagan, AcoraTherapy @acoratherapy.bsky.social · 7d

Neurodiversity isn’t a trend, a diagnosis, or a club.

It’s the reality that human brains are naturally varied, in how we are, sense, process, connect, learn & regulate.

The question isn’t if or why neurodiversity exists. It’s whether systems, politics, schools & workplaces are willing to catch up.

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Gillian Fagan, AcoraTherapy @acoratherapy.bsky.social · 7d

Still one of my favourite albums!

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Gillian Fagan, AcoraTherapy @acoratherapy.bsky.social · 7d

Neurodiversity isn’t a trend, a diagnosis, or a club.

It’s the reality that human brains are naturally varied, in how we are, sense, process, connect, learn & regulate.

The question isn’t if or why neurodiversity exists. It’s whether systems, politics, schools & workplaces are willing to catch up.

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Gillian Fagan, AcoraTherapy @acoratherapy.bsky.social · 8d

My favourite month, October!

A whole month of spookiness and neurodiversity chats: ADHD, dyslexia, masking, inclusion… basically, my natural habitat.

My AuDHD mind is going to be rambling away… so be warned!
#Neurodiversity #psychotherapist #ADHDAwarenessMonth #DyslexiaAwarenessMonth

For Sale Page

away.so

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Gillian Fagan, AcoraTherapy @acoratherapy.bsky.social · 9d

This year, don’t just prepare for dark evenings.
Prepare for unpredictability.

Our mental health depends on more than daylight, it depends on rhythm, ritual & connection.

How will you ground yourself as the autumn rolls by with winter on the horizon?

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Gillian Fagan, AcoraTherapy @acoratherapy.bsky.social · 9d

We can’t stop the seasons from shifting but we can adapt.

Individually through light & ritual.
Collectively through community, climate action & compassion.

Seasonal Affective Disorder isn’t just personal when climate instability is considered, it’s cultural now.

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Gillian Fagan, AcoraTherapy @acoratherapy.bsky.social · 9d

Climate change doesn’t cause Seasonal Affective Disorder.

But it destabilises the environmental rhythms that we relied on for centuries.

The result? A longer, less predictable, sometimes more intense SAD season.

This along with Eco Anxiety can be quite challenging.

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Gillian Fagan, AcoraTherapy @acoratherapy.bsky.social · 9d

In Ireland, warmer autumns can often delay SAD onset but create a longer, murkier tail end in spring.

The calendar isn’t always the best predictor now. The weather is distorting our circadian rhythms, our moods, our wardrobe and routines.

Climate instability is rewriting the rules.

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Gillian Fagan, AcoraTherapy @acoratherapy.bsky.social · 9d

Weather unpredictability = social unpredictability.

Meetups cancelled, events postponed, routines scattered.

Community rhythm fragments just when many of us most need it. SAD thrives in this disconnection. We really should be talking more about climate instability and Seasonal Affective Disorder!

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Gillian Fagan, AcoraTherapy @acoratherapy.bsky.social · 10d

Everyday light matters more than most people realise.

A short walk, hanging washing, standing at the bus stop, a coffee outside.

With storms, floods & gloomier skies, these moments vanish. And with them, small but powerful serotonin boosts.

It’s helpful to learn how to naturally boost serotonin!

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Gillian Fagan, AcoraTherapy @acoratherapy.bsky.social · 10d

Light isn’t the only seasonal cue.

Sudden warm weeks followed by icy snaps send mixed signals to the body. The seasons aren’t as predictable.

The result: muddled sleep, brain fog, unsettled mood, apathy, the perfect storm for SAD to intensify.

I’m seeing this in the therapy room already.

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Gillian Fagan, AcoraTherapy @acoratherapy.bsky.social · 10d

SAD & Climate Change

Our circadian rhythms love consistency.

Historically, autumn light faded predictably.
Now? Weeks of gloom, sudden bright spells, warm snaps in winter.

This unpredictability confuses the brain’s internal clock and SAD symptoms often flare earlier or linger longer.

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Gillian Fagan, AcoraTherapy @acoratherapy.bsky.social · 10d

Climate change isn’t just happening to glaciers and forests.

It’s happening inside us.

Our brains rely on predictable stable seasonal cues: light, temperature, rhythm.
When those cues get scrambled, so do our mood patterns and our hormonal responses to nature!

#ClimateMentalHealth #SAD #autumn

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