Ever Branded Too Caring, too loud, too direct - too extra? Perfect. | NDY First Word
The First Word - straight from Dr Miriam’s kitchen table
In the next three minutes you’ll discover why Neurodiverse You (NDY) exists, what to expect from each issue, and one gentle way to join the conversation.
Welcome
Hello everyone, come in, shake off the day, breathe. Notice your shoulders soften.
If you’ve ever been called too sensitive, too intense, too dreamy, too logical, or simply too much something to be neurodivergent, your tenderness and “too-muchness” belongs here.
Who This Letter Is For
Quiet high-performers whose polished competence hides bone-deep fatigue
Late-identified adults piecing together “Why didn’t anyone notice?”
Tender-sensing parents who read their child’s weather before the sky changes
Partners & close friends learning to love a neurodivergent nervous system
Helpers by trade – therapists, nurses, doctors, teachers, coaches- still learning after the textbooks end
Anyone whose suffering stays inside with no disruption to others: migraines, brain fog, invisible tremors, stomach knots, silent freeze, skin flare-ups…
If even a single line whispered “that’s me,” or made you think, “that’s someone I love”, consider this your “welcome home” message.
Why Me?
I’m Dr Miriam Mavia-Zając, Consultant Chartered Psychologist and founder of Neurodiverse You (NDY).
From about seven I could recite entire novels, and chapter-and-verses from the Bible – plus the weekly class and sports timetables for every class in my school. That recall came from a pattern-hungry mind matched with a heart that could forecast classmates’ moods before recess. Yet the glare off Zimbabwe’s corrugated-iron roofs—and the playground’s excited chatter – sparked migraines that folded me in half. I kept the agony invisible, holding fast to an iron-willed compliance.
Justice still lit a polite rebellion. I’d gently ask when adults guessed instead of admitting they didn’t know, craving honesty over pretence. That blend of sharpness, keen emotional attunement, and a fast-paced pattern radar, coupled with a fierce devotion to getting things just right, earned me gold stars that masked how hard the sensory world pressed.
Years later, a client sat across from me and informed me she was told “You can’t be autistic; you care too much.” Hearing my own story echo in another voice reminded me why NDY exists. It affirmed that warmth is data, not disqualification, and that “too caring” is often exquisitely wired perception. Everything I share – Mirror, Map, and Method – continues to blend scientific rigour with lived empathy.
Why This Newsletter
The internet amplifies loud voices; while true healing needs careful, nuanced talk.
Each issue I present draws from two cupboards:
Pages I Didn’t Publish – margin scribbles, “is it just me?” musings
The Room I Brought With Me – frameworks and concepts built when no one else had space for such
Every three to four weeks you’ll receive some of these servings, sometimes something else:
| Mirror | Story or idea that helps you recognise yourself |
| Map | Framework for energy, sensory care, or boundaries |
| Method | Research-backed exercise I use with clients and myself |
Enough to feel companioned, never enough to flood your inbox.
Your Gentle Next Step
▶ Curious about assessment or coaching? → Explore NDY support
▶ The NDY Poll
Which topic feels most urgent right now?
Energy management
Sensory overwhelm
Boundaries with family
Connection & Communication
Other?
email us with a topic you’d love covered next. I read every note; it keeps this a conversation, not a broadcast.
Coming Up in NDY Newsletter #2
The Quiet Hunch-how gut-level knowing something is systemically off can steer us toward clarity before crisis, plus ways to trust that signal without burning out. I’ll also share the single sentence that changed an entire family’s diagnosis journey.
Until then, choose the kindest pace available. Your empathy isn’t a contradiction; it’s proof of how vividly you meet the world.
With warmth,
Dr Miriam
Consultant Chartered Psychologist | Founder, Neurodiverse You
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Our Assessment & Follow-up Services
Neurodiverse You offers timely, comprehensive ADHD, ASD & AuDHD Assessment, Diagnosis, Reporting & Coaching services for children over 10 yrs of age and adults. We also provide run regular support groups in partnership with ADHD UK.
We won an award - Best ADHD Assessment Provider 2025 - South East England
We are pleased to be able to share with you that Dr Miriam Mavia-Zajac and the team at Neurodiverse You won at the 2025 GHP Mental Health Awards.
We’ve been recognised as the Best ADHD Assessment Provider 2025 – South East England
