--- title: A Journey to Self-Advocacy— Neurodivergent with CPTSD description: Explore Nick Bianchi's journey of self-advocacy as a neurodiverse individual with CPTSD, highlighting the importance of setting boundaries, prioritizing self-care, and seeking support for mental health. image: https://mrniceweird.com/hubfs/Untitled%20%28YouTube%20Thumbnail%29.gif --- [![Mr Nice Weird MNW Avatar](https://mrniceweird.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Mr%20Nice%20Weird%20MNW%20Avatar.png?width=75&height=75&name=Mr%20Nice%20Weird%20MNW%20Avatar.png "Mr Nice Weird MNW Avatar")](https://mrniceweird.com) [![Mr Nice Weird MNW Avatar](https://mrniceweird.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Mr%20Nice%20Weird%20MNW%20Avatar.png?width=100&height=100&name=Mr%20Nice%20Weird%20MNW%20Avatar.png "Mr Nice Weird MNW Avatar")](https://mrniceweird.com) [![Mr Nice Weird Logo](https://39577497.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/39577497/hubfs/Mr%20Nice%20Weird%20MNW%20Avatar.png?width=500&height=500&name=Mr%20Nice%20Weird%20MNW%20Avatar.png "Mr Nice Weird Logo")](https://HTTPS://mrniceweird.com) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. - Mr Nice Weird™ - [home](https://mrniceweird.com) - [about](https://mrniceweird.com/about) - [services](https://mrniceweird.com/services) - [Fractal Impact™](https://mrniceweird.com/fractal-impact) - [Niche-Famous™](https://mrniceweird.com/niche-famous) - subscribe - [linkedin](https://linkedin.com/company/mrniceweird) - [instagram](https://instagram.com/mrniceweird) - [facebook](https://facebook.com/misterniceweird) - [tiktok](https://tiktok.com/@mrniceweird) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. ## Fractal Impact # A Journey to Self-Advocacy— Neurodivergent with CPTSD by [Nick Bianchi](https://mrniceweird.com/fractalimpact/author/nick-bianchi) | May 7, 2024 A Journey to Self-Advocacy 3:34   As Mental Health Awareness Month unfolds, I'm sharing my journey, marking a significant step in my advocacy—a step that feels exceptionally crucial. Although I've become a [vocal advocate for mental health](https://mrniceweird.com/fractalimpact/from-burnout-to-breakthrough-a-journey-to-self-realization-and-advocacy) in professional circles, revealing my story so openly here is a new frontier for me. This openness is driven by a commitment to deepen understanding and challenge the stigma surrounding mental health, especially relevant for those of us managing our neurodivergence and Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD). Navigating life with these conditions often feels like trying to fit into a world that wasn’t built with us in mind. My evolution towards self-advocacy was born out of necessity, a survival mechanism crafted in response to unreliable caregiving in childhood.   ## The Trap of People-Pleasing Historically, I've defaulted to people-pleasing—a deeply ingrained habit developed as a means to cope with unreliable adult figures during my formative years. This pattern led to the frequent neglect of my own basic needs, driven by a misguided attempt to maintain harmony and avoid conflict.   ## Embracing Self-Advocacy The realization that I was neglecting my own needs for the sake of others' comfort was a turning point. I recognized that setting boundaries and advocating for myself was not only beneficial but essential for my mental health. Here’s how I shifted my approach: - **Understand Your Limits**: I started by acknowledging my boundaries and respecting my own limits. - **Prioritize Self-Care**: Integrating non-negotiable self-care routines became a cornerstone of my daily life. - **Communicate Clearly**: I worked on articulating my needs clearly to avoid misunderstandings and foster healthier relationships. - **Seek Support**: Engaging with therapists and support groups knowledgeable about neurodiversity and trauma proved invaluable.   ### A Moment of Realization ![Untitled (YouTube Thumbnail) copy](https://mrniceweird.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20(YouTube%20Thumbnail)%20copy.gif?width=672&height=378&name=Untitled%20(YouTube%20Thumbnail)%20copy.gif) A defining moment in my journey was captured while walking down Hollywood Boulevard, wearing a jacket that read "In Memory of When I Cared." This wasn’t just a fashion statement—it was a public declaration of my internal state at the time, reflecting the profound disconnect I felt with my own life’s direction. It symbolized the moment I recognized the need for profound personal change. ## Conclusion This journey of finding my voice has been fraught with challenges, but each step forward has strengthened my resolve and ability to advocate for myself and others. Through this process, I've come to a vital realization—one that I share with everyone I mentor, work with, or cross paths with in any capacity: No one can advocate for you as well as you can for yourself. While I am committed to advocating for those around me, and I will fervently do so, I know that I can never do it quite as effectively as you can for yourself. This understanding is not meant to diminish the support others can provide, but to empower you to take charge of your own advocacy. Your voice is your most powerful tool. Use it to assert your needs, set your boundaries, and steer your life in the direction that best supports your mental and emotional well-being. By sharing my story here, I hope to lessen the stigma and illuminate the critical importance of mental health support, particularly for us that are neurodivergent. As we [continue our journeys](https://mrniceweird.com/fractalimpact/from-burnout-to-breakthrough-a-journey-to-self-realization-and-advocacy), let’s remember: advocating for mental health isn't just a personal endeavor—it’s an essential aspect of living authentically and fully. - - - - #### About the author Nick Bianchi [Follow me on my website](https://mrniceweird.com) [Follow me on Facebook](https://instagram.com/mrniceweird) [Follow me on LinkedIn](https://linkedin.com/in/mrniceweird) [Follow me on Twitter](https://twitter.com/mrniceweird) Nick believes in the power of unconventional thinking and bringing something new and fresh to the table. By embracing both the "nice" and "weird" connections, Nick and his network strive to create stronger relationships and innovative solutions. Topics:   [neurodiversity](https://mrniceweird.com/fractalimpact/tag/neurodiversity) ,   [diversity](https://mrniceweird.com/fractalimpact/tag/diversity) ,   [professional development](https://mrniceweird.com/fractalimpact/tag/professional-development) [< Previous Post](https://mrniceweird.com/fractalimpact/master-of-disaster) [Next Post >](https://mrniceweird.com/fractalimpact/from-burnout-to-breakthrough-a-journey-to-self-realization-and-advocacy) Recent posts [It’s Giving Robber Baron - Lessons from History on Corporate Arrogance, Detachment & Greed](https://mrniceweird.com/fractalimpact/corporate-arrogance-lessons-from-historys-downfalls) [Fractal Impact: The Unseen Consequences of Corporate Greed](https://mrniceweird.com/fractalimpact/fractal-impact-the-ripple-of-justice-denied) [From Chaos to Creativity: Harnessing the Whirlwind of Ideas](https://mrniceweird.com/fractalimpact/from-chaos-to-conversion-crafting-effective-marketing-funnels) [BDE IS NOW MEASURABLE: MR. NICE WEIRD DEVELOPS SCIENTIFICALLY BACKED METHOD](https://mrniceweird.com/fractalimpact/bde-is-now-measurable) [Why ‘A Black Executive Perspective’ Is a Must-Listen—Even If You Disagree](https://mrniceweird.com/fractalimpact/why-a-black-executive-perspective-is-a-must-listen-even-if-you-disagree) [RUN TOWARD THE CHAOS. That’s Where they Hide the Money ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)](https://mrniceweird.com/fractalimpact/run-toward-the-chaos.-thats-where-they-hide-the-money-͡-͜ʖ-͡) [I Asked an AI to Roast Me: Here’s What Happened](https://mrniceweird.com/fractalimpact/i-asked-an-ai-to-roast-me-heres-what-happened) [Commitment to Empathy: A Leader's Pledge](https://mrniceweird.com/fractalimpact/commitment-to-empathy-a-leaders-pledge) [Healing & Hustle: Balancing Mental Health & Professional Success](https://mrniceweird.com/fractalimpact/healing-and-hustle-managing-mental-health-while-excelling-professionally) [From Burnout to Breakthrough](https://mrniceweird.com/fractalimpact/from-burnout-to-breakthrough-a-journey-to-self-realization-and-advocacy) ### Subscribe to blog [![Mr Nice Weird MNW Avatar](https://mrniceweird.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Mr%20Nice%20Weird%20MNW%20Avatar.png?width=50&height=50&name=Mr%20Nice%20Weird%20MNW%20Avatar.png "Mr Nice Weird MNW Avatar")](https://mrniceweird.com/about) Ponte Vedra, FL 32082 [77.999.WEIRD](tel:779-999-3473) FOLLOW US [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/mrniceweird) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/mrniceweird) [Follow us on Twitter](https://www.twitter.com/mrniceweird) [Follow us on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/mrniceweird) [Follow us on Facebook](mailto:mailto:hey@mrniceweird.com) © 2023 Mr Nice Weird LLC |  Privacy Policy ![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=4880514&fmt=gif) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Nick Bianchi", "url" : "https://mrniceweird.com/fractalimpact/author/nick-bianchi" }, "dateModified" : "2024-05-19T21:09:05.138Z", "datePublished" : "2024-05-07T02:04:45.000Z", "headline" : "A Journey to Self-Advocacy— Neurodivergent with CPTSD", "image" : [ "https://mrniceweird.com/hubfs/Untitled%20%28YouTube%20Thumbnail%29.gif" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://mrniceweird.com/fractalimpact/the-journey-of-self-advocacy-as-a-neurodiverse-individual-with-cptsd", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://39577497.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/39577497/Mr%20Nice%20Weird%20MNW%20Avatar.png" }, "name" : "Mr Nice Weird ™ 🫠" } } ```