Neurodivergent Sussex-ADHD, Autism and wider neurodivergent support group

✈️ New blog post!

As many of us prepare for our summer holidays, I’ve been reflecting on my research trip to China last year and how unexpectedly challenging jet lag was as a neurodivergent traveller.

Could differences in sleep regulation, sensory processing and circadian rhythms make adjusting to new time zones more difficult for some neurodivergent people? Whilst the research is still emerging, there are some interesting findings worth exploring.

In my latest blog, I combine current evidence with my own lived experience, along with practical tips that may help if you’re travelling this summer.

I’d love to hear about your experiences too. 💙

Read here ➡️ https://neurodivergentsussex.co.uk/blog/f/jet-lag-and-the-neurodivergent-mind

🌿 NEW EVENT – Ecology, Identity & Foraging Walk 🌿

Join Neurodivergent Sussex for a gentle guided walk through beautiful Park Wood, Hellingly.

Together we’ll explore the fascinating connections between ecology, identity and the natural world while meeting like-minded neurodivergent people in a relaxed, supportive environment.

🍃 No experience needed
🚶 Gentle pace with regular breaks
👥 Limited to 15 spaces
🎟️ Free to attend (booking required)

If you book and can no longer attend, please cancel your ticket so someone else can enjoy the experience.

We’d love to see you there! 💚

Booking now live, grab your tickets here👉https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1992201341842?aff=oddtdtcreator

🌿 Something exciting is coming…

We’ve been busy behind the scenes planning our next community walk, and we can’t wait to share it with you!

This walk will have a special Ecology & Identification focus, giving you the opportunity to slow down, observe nature and build your confidence in identifying plants, trees, fungi and habitats in a relaxed, supportive environment.

As always, our walks are designed to be welcoming, accessible and neurodivergent-friendly, with plenty of opportunities to connect with nature and each other.

We’re just putting the finishing touches to the event before we release the date and open bookings.

🍃 Places will be limited to just 15 people, so if this sounds like your kind of adventure, keep an eye on our page—we’ll be announcing all the details very soon.

Local ladies 💗

I am so excited to be bringing a HEARD. Walk & Talk to Southwater Country Park this weekend 🌿

This is a gentle, supportive space for women navigating ADHD, late diagnosis, overwhelm, anxiety or burnout- a chance to get outside, meet like-minded women and just be yourself without pressure or judgement.

✨ Walk. Talk. Connect.

�☕ Gentle lakeside walk followed by chats at the café�

💗 Come alone or bring a friend- you’ll be so welcome

📍 Southwater Country Park Café�

🗓 Sunday 21st June�

⏰ 2pm–4pm

HEARD. For women diagnosed with ADHD later In Life. is a community supporting women diagnosed with ADHD later in life, and this walk is hosted through HEARD • Studio to help raise funds for the charity.

We’d absolutely love to see some local women there 💕 message me to join the event what’s app group 🥰

As someone who knows how important it is to find “your people,” I wanted to share this wonderful local ADHD group.

They meet on the last Tuesday of every month here in Eastbourne and bring together ADHD adults for connection, support, learning, and the occasional laugh about the wonderfully chaotic things our brains do!

There are often guest speakers, plenty of friendly faces, and a welcoming atmosphere whether you’re newly diagnosed or have known about your ADHD for years.

If you’d like to learn more and attend their meetings here is the link ➡️ https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1939WMwAoa/?mibextid=wwXIfr

HOORAY — we did it! 🎉

Today marked the very first Neurodivergent Sussex Walk & Talk, and I'm still slightly pinching myself that it actually happened. 😄

What started as a conversation and a dream over two years ago became reality today — which still feels a little surreal, haha!

The idea was simple: create a space where neurodivergent people could connect through movement and conversation. Whilst traditional support and talking groups are incredibly valuable, we wanted to offer something a little different — a chance to walk side-by-side, enjoy nature, move our bodies, and let conversation flow naturally. 😊

As a physical educator, and with my husband’s background in substance misuse and recovery support, we both understand the power of movement, connection, and being alongside others who simply "get it." 💛

Despite the blistering heat today, we laced up our walking shoes and headed out across the South Downs. There were plenty of smiles, laughs, and little giggles along the way as we got to know one another. 😆

One of the most poignant moments was being reminded that connection really does matter. Even whilst navigating my own burnout recovery journey, it was reassuring to hear other people's experiences, challenges, and stories. There was something incredibly powerful about sharing space with people who understood without needing lengthy explanations. Between the meaningful conversations were moments of laughter too — the kind that makes you feel instantly more at ease. 😊

Today was about taking the first step.

It was about creating a community.

It was about bringing a vision to life.

And for that, I'm incredibly grateful. 😄

This is just the beginning. We have more walks planned, more ideas brewing, and exciting things we'd love to bring to our neurodivergent community in the future. There are already plenty of ideas being shared, lots of enthusiasm, and a few excited giggles about what's next! 🤭

But for now, I'm allowing myself a moment to celebrate the fact that we actually did it. Haha, we really did it! 🎉

Thank you to everyone who joined us today. Here's to the first of many. 💛😄

Looking forward to seeing some of you at the beach walk today ☀️ bring water and suncream, it’s going to be a scorcher.

🔥Heat & neurodivergent dysregulation is such a complicated mix🔥

It’s only recently I realised that heat itself can tip my nervous system into overdrive, especially in busy environments.

The hypothalamus helps regulate temperature, hormones, stress responses and autonomic nervous system balance, so when you combine hormonal fluctuation with ADHD/autistic sensory processing differences, it can become a bit of a perfect storm.

I spent years thinking I was just “bad at coping” in summer crowds, festivals, trains, bright spaces etc… but now I understand my nervous system was probably working overtime trying to regulate everything at once.

Learning that pacing isn’t weakness.
Sometimes it’s the reason I can still participate.

One thing that helps me most now is pacing before and after busy environments, resting beforehand, reducing sensory load where possible, and allowing proper recovery afterwards instead of pushing through until I crash.

💥That boom-and-bust cycle after dysregulation is very real🧨

Here is a neurodivergent summer survival toolkit:
Polarised sunglasses, hat, hydration, electrolytes, shade breaks, slower mornings, quiet moments, nervous system check-ins, eating small and often, sitting down when needed, and giving myself permission to rest without guilt ☀️🖤

Further reading:
Research around thermoregulation, autonomic nervous system differences, sensory processing, interoception, and hypothalamic involvement in ADHD/autism is growing and honestly helped me feel far less alone.

Still learning my nervous system has needs, not moral failings💖

Read-
✨https://neurodiverseyou.com/blog/2025/07/16/im-neurodivergent-why-do-i-overheat/
✨https://neurodiverseyou.com/blog/2025/07/16/why-neurodivergents-overheat-adhd-autism/