Growing up with ADHD and Anxiety, I went to therapy, took medication, and was taught how to adapt and conform to the expectations at school. No matter how hard I tried, it was always challenging to sit still and be quiet enough. I often found myself sitting outside class in the hall because I got bored and wasn’t able to stop talking, feeling shame as other students and faculty walked past.
As an adult entering the workforce, it was immediately apparent I was working harder, faster, and in a more committed way than the majority of my peers. At this point, it became challenging to connect with those who weren’t focused on achieving in the same way I was. I was luckier than most people, and was able to find a flexible and autonomous work environment in my group practice after several years, and if I hadn’t I think things would have been far worse.
During reflection afforded to me by COVID, it became clear that no matter the setting, I wasn’t going to be able to conform to the expectations others had of me, and I needed to design my own environment that fit my authentic self. As an entrepreneur, I find myself functioning in a more authentic and impactful way and feeling more fulfilled on a daily basis.
The idea of bilateral stimulation was born when I had my first child. I began to notice intense negative reactions to the stress and challenge I was facing, I began doing EMDR trauma therapy and saw a bigger change than with previous modalities. As I became trained and began applying this therapy with my clients, I also saw them changing more rapidly than with talk therapy alone.
If there’s only one thing our users can gain from using Recess, I would want them to be able to embrace a biologically supported, sustainable process for personal growth, especially high performers, leaders, and entrepreneurs.
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