The Specialist Mental Health Nurse

08/12/2025

✨ January Assessment Appointments Now Open (Children & Adults) ✨

We know January is a time many people seek clarity around ADHD, Autism or emotional wellbeing — for themselves or their children.

The Specialist Mental Health Nurse (High Wycombe) now has January spaces available for:

✔️ ADHD & Autism assessments (children 7+ and adults)
✔️ Therapy & emotional regulation support
✔️ Parent guidance and school/work recommendations

If you’ve been unsure where to start or stuck on long waiting lists, we’re a warm, local service offering clear, compassionate support.

Comment INFO or message us privately for details. 💛

08/12/2025

Myth-busting to start the week 👇
So many parents tell us that the misinformation around ADHD makes the journey even harder.
Here are three myths we want to put to bed today:

❌ “ADHD is just bad behaviour.”
✔️ ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting regulation and executive functioning.

❌ “They’ll grow out of it.”
✔️ Many children grow with ADHD - with the right support, not out of it.

❌ “Screens are the cause.”
✔️ ADHD has neurological and genetic factors, not parenting or screen-time.

If you’ve ever felt judged or blamed, you’re not alone - and we’re here to support you.

02/12/2025

🪾💐 National Grief Awareness Week - 2nd – 8th December 💐🪾

December often brings more than holly and sparkle - for many it carries grief. Whether you’re grieving a loss, a changed season of life or unmet expectations, know you’re seen.

This week is . Find support and resources at https://www.thegoodgrieftrust.org/ngaw/

01/12/2025

How are you doing as we head into December? 🌲 🌟❄️

December can be beautiful - and overwhelming.
How are you feeling as we head into the final month of the year?

💛 Calm
💛 Tired
💛 Overwhelmed
💛 Taking it day by day

Comment with an emoji 🫶

30/11/2025

🧠✨ Dyscalculia & Autism: What Parents Should Know

Many autistic children experience challenges with numbers, sequencing, and mathematical reasoning — often linked to dyscalculia, a specific learning difference that affects how the brain processes numerical information.

Understanding the signs early can make a huge difference in confidence, school experience, and wellbeing.
Some key things to look out for include:
• Difficulty recognising numbers
• Trouble with sequencing or telling the time
• Challenges with quantity, measurement, or simple calculations
• Anxiety around maths-based tasks

Support strategies can include multi-sensory learning, breaking tasks into smaller steps, using visual aids, and celebrating strengths beyond maths.

If you’re noticing similar challenges, you’re not alone — and it’s something we can assess, explore, and support.

📚 Source: Autism Parenting Magazine – “Dyscalculia and Autism”
🔗 Read the full article: https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/dyscalculia-and-autism/

29/11/2025

🍁✨☕🌱 Addiction, ADHD, Autism and Compassion 🌿🍂💫

Addiction isn’t about weakness or lack of self control.

For many neurodivergent people it grows quietly out of coping, overwhelm, loneliness, shame or trying to feel “normal”.

🧠 ADHD and addiction
Many people with ADHD struggle with dopamine regulation. When the brain is under-stimulated it looks for fast ways to feel something.

That can look like scrolling, shopping, food, ni****ne, alcohol, gaming, s*x, substances or obsessive hobbies.

Not because someone “chooses badly”, but because their brain finally feels calm, alive or soothed for a moment.

🌈 Autism and addiction
Autistic people often face sensory overload, social exhaustion, masking and burnout.

Alcohol or other behaviours can offer temporary relief, confidence or a way to “switch off” from pressure and discomfort.

This is especially true in environments that don’t understand or accommodate their needs.

❤️ What matters most:
People don’t heal from addiction through shame.

They heal through safety, connection, understanding and being met where they are.

🌼 Recovery is different for everyone✨🍁

It might look like therapy, medication support, peer groups, trauma work, lifestyle changes, or a blend of approaches.

It can be slow, messy, beautiful and absolutely possible.

If you’re neurodivergent and noticing patterns that feel bigger than you meant them to become, you are not alone.

Talk to someone you trust. Start small. Your needs are valid.

💛 Helpful supports

• AA UK (alcohol) — www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk

• Turning Point (drug and alcohol) — www.turning-point.co.uk

• The Forward Trust — www.forwardtrust.org.uk

• NHS: addiction services — www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/find-an-nhs-service/drug-addiction-support

• ADHD UK — www.adhduk.co.uk

• National Autistic Society — www.autism.org.uk

28/11/2025

🛏️🌙 Independent Sleep Success for Autistic Children & Young People

Struggling with bedtime or sleep routines can be a common challenge for many autistic kids - but with the right strategies and support, independent sleep success is absolutely possible.

Key steps that can help:
• Establish a calm, predictable bedtime routine
• Use visual schedules or social stories to explain bedtime steps
• Incorporate sensory-friendly elements (e.g. soft lighting, familiar bedding, minimal noise)
• Gradually increase the child’s comfort and confidence with a consistent routine

If you’re navigating sleep difficulties with your neurodiverse child, there’s hope - and you’re not alone. 🙌

📚 Source: Autism Parenting Magazine - Independent Sleep Success
🔗 Read more: https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/independent-sleep-success/

28/11/2025

✨ Huge congratulations to Great Western Railway (GWR) for being awarded the Autism Friendly Award by The National Autistic Society - a major step in making travel more inclusive and supportive for autistic travellers. 🚆💙 

Their autism–friendly initiatives - sensory packs, ear defenders, virtual station tours, and staff training - make a real difference to many autistic individuals and their families. 

Well done, GWR - here’s to more businesses and services raising the bar for accessibility and inclusion. 👏

UK: Great Western Railway has gained the National Autistic Society's Autism Friendly Award for businesses which become more inclusive by providing accessible customer services, information and environments.

28/11/2025

💬 “Not a short-term fix… but the tools to take forward into her adult life.”

Feeling very moved and grateful for this beautiful review from a parent I’ve been working with for some time now.

So many families navigating neurodivergence face years of feeling misunderstood, dismissed, or worn down by systems that aren’t set up to hold them gently. Being able to walk alongside someone through that, and help create lasting change, is the deepest privilege of this work.

Thank you, And thank you to every family that trusts me to be part of their journey.

Aimee x

25/11/2025

✨ Ending Violence Together✨

Every person deserves to live free from violence. The 16-day campaign by the WHO, running from 25 Nov to 10 Dec, calls on us all to act now to stop violence against women and girls. 

If you or someone you know needs help - you are not alone.

At The Specialist Mental Health Nurse, we support adults and families in getting the clarity, safety and support they deserve.

📩 DM the page if you want a safe space to talk.
💬

24/11/2025

✨ JANUARY ASSESSMENT SPACES NOW OPEN ✨

As we move into a new year, many people - adults and parents alike - tell us they want clarity, understanding, and a plan that finally makes sense. If you’ve been wondering whether you or your child may be neurodivergent, we’re now opening our January appointments for ADHD & Autism assessments.

Our assessments bring together a full, specialist picture: your experiences, everyday challenges, strengths, and history, combined with clinical tools and professional insight. Everything is brought together in a detailed report, followed by a supportive feedback session where we talk you through your results and next steps. You’re never left trying to figure things out alone - we guide you throughout.

We support adults and families across Buckinghamshire and the surrounding areas at our High Wycombe clinic.

If January feels like the right time to begin this process, we’d love to hear from you.

📩 https://www.thespecialistmentalhealthnurse.co.uk/contact-us
📍 High Wycombe clinic