ADHD Community Voices Felicity Henry
Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Felicity Henry, I am 33 years old, the youngest of five children, married to my partner and soul mate of 15 years and I am also a Mum of two beautiful boys.
My boy's are my whole world, they are SO FULL of life, and see the magic in every moment of everyday.
I also work as a Neurodivergent Mentor, Support Worker & Psychosocial Recovery Coach too and in my spare work time I also enjoy creating Content for brands. Yes the busy brain in me love's to do multiple things and be creative too! I also have two dogs, a Labrador and Frug (Frenchie X Pug).
I love animals and always have. I also enjoy spending time in nature, whether that's the beach, parks, creeks as I genuinely feel it can help you become more present. I love sport and have recently just signed up for a Women's Social Soccer Group!
I believe outside of our responsibilities, we should and deserve to have our own passion and joy for hobbies that we can enjoy, whatever that look's like for each person. My main focus in life is being present and really taking in the most of every single day while being the best version of myself.
Neurodivergence shows up everyday in my life personally and professionally.
I have an ADHD Diagnosis but call myself a Neurodivergent woman as I self-identify with other traits too.
Unfortunately like many neurodivergent folk, I have been through quite a lot of my own struggles in life particularly at a younger age, but at the same time fortunately that has now led me to where I am today.
I have personally overcome so much that I now have the ability to be extremely empathetic of others, understanding and caring both professionally and personally.
When did you first realise your brain worked differently?
I first knew when I was quite young. I would say it must have been around 5 years of age.
Could have been younger. I remember sitting down, looking around and feeling different. It almost felt like everyone else could sit down and focus on what was in front of them or who was in front of them, whereas my brain literally could not switch off and felt everything so deeply and saw everything a lot bigger too.
This could be a blessing but also it brought on many challenges in childhood without the proper understanding and support around me.
I remember struggling with sleep as a child and I also had developmental delays including difficulty with reading and speech at the age of 5.
I also struggled with coordination as a child. I had an eating disorder quite young that was never diagnosed because of how much I loved my sport. I realised later on that this became a way of control when I felt out of control in particular situations and stages of my life.
Sport was a very big part of my life and I really thrived in this but at the same time became a perfectionist too and felt like I needed to win everything or if I didn't I was a failure.
Once I entered high school I started to turn to alcohol and drugs as a coping mechanism, it was my way of protecting and hiding myself, now I have a deep understanding of this having lived it myself and understanding why children go down these paths although it is a unique journey and experience for each person.
I was finally diagnosed at the age of 32 with ADHD, once I became a Mother to two boys. I knew several years prior as more awareness started to surface and my understanding of neurodivergence grew. I don’t see label’s as a negative thing, I see it as a way of understanding ourselves better and ensuring we have the right support in place for that and celebrating our unique differences.
I am proud of who I am and proud to say I am a Neurodivergent Woman and some of the most amazing people I have met in my life are Neurodivergent!!!!
Looking back, what is something you wish people had understood about you growing up?
I wish people understood that every single person is unique. Because of how empathetic I am and have always been, I think that can be taken for granted or abused.
Although I had a very vibrant busy personality as a child I still felt everything extremely deeply even if I didn’t show it on the outside, I internalised a lot.
I wish people knew that everyone has feelings, to be kind, and to understand people's uniqueness that makes them who they are, and be celebrated/understood for that and not treated differently or poorly.
Because of my own experience I know how important it is not just to look at someone and think everything is ok, because of my own battles as a child and young adult I know that suffering can be silent. I remember when I first opened up about my Mental Health struggles so many of my friends or people that knew me would say you looked/look so happy though. As they say, never judge a book by its cover, we never know what the story inside contains.
Has your ADHD influenced the way you work, create or connect with others?
I believe my neurodivergence has influenced me in every single way possible. I would not be the woman I am today, the Mum I am today without the deep understanding I have now. Although my life has been challenging, there is trauma like a lot of us, there were a lot of Mental Health struggles especially between the ages of 10-19 as I battled it alone not talking to anyone about it, not even my own parents, until I was 19 I finally saw a GP for my Mental Health Challenges at the lowest and most depressive point of my life.
I used to be so critical of myself, put myself down, wonder why life was so hard for me while all putting a smile on for everyone else because I became so good at masking. But without those experiences I would not be as empathetic as I am, I would not be as passionate as I am so I personally am grateful for my life’s journey because it has in one way or another shaped me into who I am today.
I am especially even more passionate since becoming a Mum myself- to ensure that our children can have different experiences than a lot of us did as children and raise awareness and understanding from different perspectives so we can all be understanding of one another.
It has influenced my work because of my own experiences and challenges. I know that hope is possible and it is just about having the right support and environment around each person. Although everyone’s journey is unique and different I truly believe each person can thrive in a way that works for them.
What has been one of the biggest challenges you've faced—and what has genuinely helped?
I think being able to process my trauma safely. For many of my younger years- I was dealing with my emotions in unhealthy ways as I did not know how to safely process and regulate my feelings.
I used drugs and alcohol and even sometimes gambling as a way to cope/escape for many years and suppress my emotions.
At the age of 23 I applied for Australian Survivor which was completely outside of my comfort zone but at the same time I knew it was the challenge I needed. The experience was life changing for me, there were many up’s and down’s but having had the opportunity to live on an island twice, and be completely out of my comfort zone was exactly what I needed at that time.
Following my first experience I really started to believe in myself after overcoming so many of my own anxieties on that island. When I came home I always knew deep down I wanted to work with people and eventually with the encouragement from my eldest sister I studied for a Cert IV in Mental Health Peer Work. I did this alongside my sister as she already worked in this field, and had her own lived experiences too.
This was the biggest part of my healing journey as I became so interested in personal growth and understanding myself but then also wanting to understand and support others too.
I read a lot of personal growth books, started to eat healthier, surround myself around supportive people and focused on movement every single day.
This was a huge turning point in my life. I truly believe that a simple small shift can really help lift your perspective, while still validating yourself and your experiences.
Years later I became a Support Worker which really proved to me that supporting others was one of my life purposes, and years later after becoming a Mum I began studying Counselling which then helped me further learn more from a professional lens but also personal too.
Prior to my ADHD Diagnosis at 32, I finally saw a psychologist myself as I struggled with Post Partum Anxiety after having two children that hardly slept and multiple health issues. It seemed to be constant, because it was.
Seeing a psychologist allowed me to safely process and regulate a lot of my trauma’s I had held onto within my body and with the extra pressures that were on me daily.
And although I did a lot of healing on my own from my mid 20’s, seeing a psychologist- someone that felt safe to me- to properly opening up about some of my trauma’s I had blocked, was actually the first proper step into properly fully accepting and processing my past, who I am and all of the parts and experiences (negative and positive) that have shaped me even though I thought I had already overcome it all.
But there is always a right time, right place, right person- and it is about finding what works best for you.
Was there a moment when you finally felt understood or accepted?
When I became a Mum.
Because I realised that I needed to FULLY accept myself and love myself as I am so that my children hopefully do not have to experience similar feelings as I did growing up. And it sounds easier than said, but it’s a deep journey that was so needed so I can be the best version of myself as a Mum, Wife, Woman, Friend and Professional.
It’s not about being perfect, rather it’s about being able to understand yourself and who you are so you can live within your purpose and also understand other’s living within theirs. 7. If someone is newly diagnosed—or a parent has just learned their child is neurodivergent—what would you want them to know?
First of all that you are an incredible human being and you are amazing as you are! Also that all of our feelings are so valid in whatever way that shows up for us.
Different emotions and feelings will come up and how we handle it can differ person to person. There is no right or wrong way to feel. But what I can say from my own experience and perspective is that our challenges can be quite challenging and hard, BUT when we slow down and truly embrace the magic of presence, both ourselves and/or our children can thrive in the right environments.
If we as parents can learn to heal ourselves, our own trauma’s and see our children in the way they need us to see them rather in the way we want to see them- a lot of beautiful things can happen.
As a parent myself to two beautiful boys, we have faced many challenges.
At times I have felt gaslit from professionals both for myself and for my children, it can feel exhausting advocating.
But then there are so many amazing professional's and support's out there that can and will listen, and I find a lot of the time from my experience that the one's that truly understand are the one's that have also lived it themselves in one way or another.
I believe in early intervention and I know just how important that is, but more importantly is the relationship and bond between you and your own children. It is not always easy in neurodivergent households trying to constantly co-regulate everyone but when you can start to take better care of yourself as a parent, and fill your cup, you will then hold more capacity to be able to take better care of your children too and meet their needs too.
I know because I have lived this, and I also know it's easier said than done when your in the thick of it. I truly believe there needs to be more support for Neurodivergent Parents as I felt very well knowledgeable in many things and still struggled with the challenges we faced so I do empathize with so many other families out there that are lacking support.
I want any parent reading this to know that there is support out there for you and/or your family, it is just about connecting with the right supports for you and your family.
What does living authentically look like for you now?
It means making the most of every day. It means ensuring that my children feel loved and supported in every way they need. It is making sure that they are allowed to show their feelings in safe ways and learn in way's that feel right for them, validating their feelings and also encouraging them to be proud of the beautiful people they are.
It also meant launching my own business The Positivity Movement- A Neurodiversity Movement so that I can support and inspire others just like me, to Find Their Joy again in life in whatever way that looks and feel's right for them.
What's one misconception about neurodivergence that you'd love to challenge?
Yes… I believe there is a misconception out there that people think you need to physically be able to see the challenges that neurodivergence brings.
But for many of us we become so good at pleasing people, masking and perfectionism that so many people will not understand or see our past or present struggles. So for me I want to say that whether you're neurotypical or neurodivergent, remember that everyone has a story, everyone has their own traumas, their own experiences, their own pain, their own challenges, their own struggles.
And just because you may not share the same as them, or see them, or know about their struggles or challenges does not mean that they do not exist or that they are any less than yours. If we can start to understand one another rather than compare we can really start to understand ourselves better too.
So it is important to focus on yourself and advocate for yourself and your own family, whatever that looks like for you, but at the same time it is also just as important not to disregard someone else’s experience if they look differently to yours. We all have a story, we all have a journey and all of our experiences and feelings are just as valid as each other’s.
Finish this sentence: "If my younger self could see me today, they would know..."
My younger self would know that she is so incredibly brave, so strong, so smart, so loving, so caring. She would know that she is safe to be who she is, and that she will go on to help others and I just know and felt from a very young age that I had a purpose to help others but I never knew what that was, until I started working in this space and becoming a Mum to my own two boys and now help others find their joy too.
We all have the opportunity to find our own JOY (also my grandmother’s name) in life whatever that looks like for us. Our younger selves deserve that healing, and I am here to say it is possible.
At The Neurodiverse Network, we’re a neuro-affirming psychology clinic based in Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast, offering ADHD and Autism assessments, therapy, and NDIS supports for children, teens, and adults.
Our team of Gold Coast psychologists provide neurodiversity-affirming care, recognising and celebrating the strengths of every individual.
We provide a range of services including:
Gold Coast ADHD assessments and therapy for adults and children
Gold Coast Autism assessments and support across the lifespan
Individual counselling and emotional regulation support
NDIS psychology and functional capacity assessments
Neurodiverse support groups and online workshops
Our psychologists draw on lived experience and evidence-based approaches to create a space where neurodivergent people feel safe, understood, and empowered.
Whether you’re seeking a Clinical Psychologist on the Gold Coast, a neuro-affirming therapist near Burleigh Heads, or NDIS support, our team is here to help you navigate your journey with compassion and clarity.
Located in Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast — close to Miami, Palm Beach, Robina, and Varsity Lakes.
Learn more about our neuro-affirming care or book an ADHD or Autism assessment here.
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