Unmasking Autism & ADHD: Michele Collier’s Journey of Late Diagnosis, Parenting, and Self-Trust

CHECK OUT THE UNFINISHED RESOURCES Did you know that nearly 20% of the world is neurodivergent—and that many don’t discover it until adulthood? For those of us navigating a late autism or ADHD diagnosis, the journey often feels like piecing together a puzzle we’ve been carrying all our lives. In this episode, we dive into what it really means to unmask, rebuild trust in yourself, and parent neurodivergent children with both compassion and clarity.Today’s guest, Michele Collier, is an autistic and ADHD mom raising two autistic children. Diagnosed later in life, Michele has walked the path of confusion, self-discovery, grief, and healing—and now she shares her wisdom openly to help others feel less alone.Together, we talk about:-What life looked like before Michele’s diagnosis-How parenting revealed even more about her neurodivergence-The difference between people-pleasing and masking-Practical tools for emotional regulation and self-trustTAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODEDiscover why so many autistic and ADHD women go undiagnosed until adulthood—and how that shapes identity.Learn how parenting neurodivergent children can bring clarity, validation, and even healing to your own diagnosis journey.Understand the difference between people-pleasing and masking—and why it matters for self-trust.Explore Michele’s concept of the “sphere of comfort” and how expanding it slowly can help you thrive without burnout.Be reminded that awareness and acceptance are not the same—and that true acceptance has to come from others, not just us.Follow Michele Collier on Instagram Join the Unfinished Community WhatsApp. Where you can share your everyday joys, struggles, and differences! Click here to join.Sign up to our newsletter where we continue the conversation along with sharing helpful resources and techniques tried out by parents and professionals in the neurodiverse world. You can know get the episodes on YouTube! Click here to subscribe. Follow the show on all the socials @theunfinishedidea - look for the brain! Instagram Facebook LinkedIn TikTok Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices