Challenges

My journey hasn’t been easy. Undiagnosed mental health challenges from early adolescence led to debilitating anxiety and self-esteem issues which held me back both professionally and emotionally.
With no belief in my abilities it was impossible to embrace, let alone do anything with, the talents I was often told I had.

In 2006, in the pursuit of love and happiness, I made the impulsive and questionable decision to leave my comfort zone and support system in the UK and move to Canada. But here my challenges became much worse, leaving me wondering what was wrong with me and why I never seemed to fit in and why I would get bored of every single job while everyone around me could progress with life so effortlessly.

Penny Drops ('Lightbulb Moment' for non Brits)

The penny finally dropped when I was diagnosed with adhd in the spring of 2024. It was beyond liberating and a huge relief to finally find out that there was a reason behind my struggles and there was actually nothing wrong with me - ironic given that I had just been told that my brain doesn’t operate typically. From that day onwards I knew I was not alone, there is a growing community of intelligent, creative, funny, deep and out of the box thinkers, thriving, despite their adhd. The diagnosis was a humbling experience and I now have a new appreciation for the neurodiverse community, of which I am proud to be part of.

New Confidence, Leap of Faith

Unfortunately, my workplace announced layoffs around the same time as my diagnosis, but this time I knew things were going to be different! With my newfound confidence and belief in my capabilities I set out to find my purpose. It always used to bother me that sugary foods pumped with artificial ingredients were everywhere - at the office, at school fairs, at every single occasion I went to. I had already removed gluten and drastically reduced sugar from my diet a couple of years prior due to health reasons but it was only after my diagnosis that I realized just how bad sugar was for our brain. Not only that, but also that our brain health impacted every part of our body.

I knew I had to spread the word and share the delicious treats that had become staples in my own health journey. Taking a leap of faith, I launched Brainful Bites.

If any of the above resonates with you and you'd like to chat, feel free to reach out to me at ambrene@brainfulbites.com