A medical professional who recently received diagnoses of autism and ADHD has shared her experience of coming to terms with these conditions and how they influence her clinical work.
Dr Somya Pandey, who serves as a specialty doctor in psychiatry at Cygnet Hospital Harrow, disclosed her diagnoses during Autism Acceptance Month.
Her work involves caring for patients on a general adult acute inpatient unit, and she previously spent time in an autism and learning disability rehabilitation service. According to her account, the diagnoses came after extensive personal reflection and a long-standing professional commitment to understanding neurodiversity.
She described the path to accepting herself as requiring deep introspection and making sense of difficult internal experiences in a way that encouraged personal growth rather than just moving forward. She committed herself to this inner work with dedication and intensity, going inward and continuing to explore more deeply.
Throughout her personal and professional journey, one question remained constant: why she felt so unlike others. Only after gaining experience in the autism and learning disability service did things begin to make sense.
She found working with her autistic patients deeply rewarding, with the ward and shared environment feeling welcoming and natural. The communication patterns there resonated with her intuitively and fundamentally, requiring no effort to adapt or perform comfort.
Yet when she transitioned to a general adult acute ward, she encountered different difficulties. On the previous ward, she had felt a sense of belonging, whereas on the new one she experienced persistent confusion and disconnection from her colleagues. Initially, she blamed gaps in her experience or training, but gradually recognized the real issue stemmed from how her mind processed the world around her.
A significant shift occurred at a professional gathering when a presenter addressed how to assist neurodivergent colleagues. During this session, she found herself struggling to maintain composure as the speaker articulated experiences she deeply recognized. The exhaustion she had long been unable to explain, the environments that either nurtured or subtly depleted her, and the years of pushing harder when that approach had never worked were all laid bare. Discovering written accounts from other doctors navigating similar neurodivergent experiences afterward felt like finding voices singing her own story.
This prompted her to pursue formal assessment, though considerable uncertainty accompanied this decision. She questioned whether her struggles stemmed from past trauma, insufficient motivation, or merely served as justification.
Following comprehensive evaluation, she received diagnoses of autism and ADHD, which she found deeply affirming. The relief she experienced was profound, comparable to finding a key to a lock she had not realized was there.
The diagnoses illuminated many facets of her life. Previously inexplicable exhaustion suddenly made sense, along with her consistent need for greater recovery time than colleagues after social demands. The intense concentration that could produce exceptional results existed alongside transition difficulties that could overwhelm her. Her entire personal history reframed itself with greater honesty.
She emphasises that while self-acceptance originates internally, the contribution of supportive colleagues and inclusive workplace cultures proves vital.
Marking Autism Acceptance Month, Dr Pandey is advocating for increased compassion, understanding and inclusion throughout healthcare environments.