Ready, steady, and take off. Allow me to delve into a reflection on my initial foray into travel while working at Arm. I'm Paul, the Global Physical Security Manager, and the last year has been transformative. A profound discovery led to a diagnosis of ADHD at 33, unravelling the mystery behind a lifetime of challenges.
This narrative captures the raw, unfiltered moments of my first travels, a journey riddled with the nuances of neurodiversity. From last-minute packing frenzies to the sensory whirlwind of crowded airports, each experience etched itself into my story.
Now, let me take you through my ADHD characteristics during travel.
Organization
Typically, it’s the day of travelling and I have an hour before I’m picked up. My open suitcase sits there half-filled and I’m running through what I need. *Thinking about every situation that could arise and procrastinating, not packing.
It’s time to leave. Laptop, phone, passport, boarding pass *pats self-down over and over.
Talking too much
Now I like to be distracted, so the drivers are about to find out just how much I can talk. It calms me and distracts me from the journey. If there is a silence, I can fill it. My feet a tapping and I’m not sitting still but that’s just me, nothing to change here just accept it. It’s two hours into the car journey and my social battery has run out and now I want to be left alone. Headphones on. Traffic ahead - I’m going to be late, I’m hungry I need food, I’m thirsty, do I have my laptop? Have I talked too much? I hope I have my passport, and lots of internal dialogue. “We’re here, the driver says”.
Overwhelmed / internal dialogue
Wow, it’s busy here. Lots of people, how long is check-in? Security is busy. Do I have liquids? What if I have something in my bag that shouldn’t be there? Will I get searched? I’m queuing. Lots of people - are they looking at me? Am I looking at them? Oooh this is awkward, look away look down aghhhh.
“Laptops, belts, liquids and electronics -put them in the tray please and move to the scanner.” Here we go, what if it goes off, what if I’m searched - everyone is watching, and they think I have something on me? * Waves wand – the moment of truth and hearts pounding. Thank you, sir, you may go through.
Woohoo 🎉
Sensory overload / Impulsivity
Duty-free, conveniently located so you can’t go anywhere without going through and seeing amazing deals on everything from perfume to a teddy that says Stansted 🤷 (worst gift ever) *buys teddy 🤦(joking)
The smell of every perfume as you stumble through hurried to get through, people studying stopping to spray, buy alcohol (it’s 9 am 🤷♂️) and cigarettes. Just move and let me through!! *Sees something shiny on offer, becomes one of the zombies in the way of others trying to get through 🤦♂️ doh!
Irrational thoughts/temperature sensitive
From nowhere “I’m trapped! I can’t go back” What if I panic, what if I pass out? Wow, it’s hot in here, why is it so hot, I need to sit down, what if I see someone I know, what if I fall over. *wishing I was in shorts and a vest! I need to cool down.
Now I’m finding a spot to sit but won’t last long, I don’t like sitting still so I’m playing a game of chess with the chairs in Wetherspoons.
Now, if you’re still with me let me tell you this is as exhausting to read as it is to write. Stay with me.
Irrational thoughts/smell sensitivity
I’m boarding my flight after finally being called through. I’m incredibly impatient and am worried I won’t get my bag above my seat and have to be that one that everyone is judging walking up and down the plane confused and embarrassed.
Window seat - great! But wait what if I need to get up for the loo and I have to ask the two people next to me to get up, worse yet what if I need to go more than once? What if I’m too jittery and become annoying? Stay focused -look out the window and distract yourself and don’t panic - *looks out the window and remembers a video I saw on Instagram of an engine on a plane bursting into flames - here we go again.
Exhaustion
Fast forward I’m at the hotel and my god I’m exhausted, mentally and physically. Calls the family - I’m here! Quick FaceTime before I sit and miss home and normality, the defunded structure of my day. Man, I miss my family.
Irritability
Bedtime - nope. *Turns out light- hmm this bed is weird, it’s warm in here, where am I going tomorrow, how do I get there, I miss the family, what shall I have for breakfast, I wonder if I can find that video on Instagram again.
It’s 4 am and I’m scrolling Facebook, playing candy crush.
In conclusion, navigating the world through the lens of ADHD, especially during travel, has been a journey of self-discovery and resilience. The challenges, from last-minute packing woes to sensory overload in bustling airports, have become stepping stones rather than stumbling blocks.
So, as I continue jet-setting across borders, I carry not just a suitcase but a profound understanding of myself. Each trip becomes a canvas where the vivid colours of neurodiversity paint a picture of resilience, adaptability, and a continuous journey towards self-discovery. Travelling neurodiverse has not only broadened my horizons but has allowed me to soar to new heights, both personally and professionally.
But this is just the beginning. The next blog will unveil the evolution, showcasing the strides made, lessons learned, and the intricate dance between neurodiversity and travel. Join me in the next instalment where I share how I navigate the world now, highlighting the improvements, adaptations, and the ongoing adventure of travelling neurodiverse.
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