Refocused, Together: Emmanuel Abua and Putting the Pieces Together

Emmanuel’s journey with ADHD has been going on for a long time. It started when he was 5. A teacher raised concerns and despite his family’s expectations that he would outgrow it – they took him off stimulant medications because of this – Emmanuel struggled with focus and building his own structure throughout school. He excelled on tests and quizzes but homework was a different story and even though he was seen as capable, the transition to college proved challenging. But it is also when he was evaluated for ADHD, marking this frustrating period as a turning point in understanding himself. 

 

Almost a decade later, Emmanuel discovered he was also autistic and he struggled with this news going through bouts of depression and denial. His search for answers led him to the support he needed to accept his dual diagnosis. Through humility and growth, Emmanuel became an advocate for Autism and ADHD awareness, actively engaging with organizations like ADDA and addressing mental health stigmas within the African-American community.

 

Today, he pursues the work he's passionate about as a freelance writer, speaker, and voiceover artist and has been contributing his talents in the form of short audio stories for NeuroClassic's SoundCloud channel, sharing his unique perspective to help foster understanding.

 

Listen in to hear Emmanuel share more about his journey with ADHD and Autism, about the importance of connection for the neurodiverse community, and how the progress that’s been made in the neurodivergent community over the last decade is inspiring him to look forward to the future. 

 

Refocused, Together is a collection of 31 stories told throughout the 31 days of October, a part of our commitment to ADHD Awareness Month. Make sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts so you don’t miss a single story this month! 

 

Connect with Emmanuel on LinkedIn, read his latest work here and listen to the work he’s created for NeuroClassic on SoundCloud! 

 

READ: Embrace Autism | Autistic & ADHD Traits

 

READ: CHADD | ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder

 

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Connect with the show: hello@refocusedpod.com