A writer from Bridport has published a heartwarming book about navigating the world as a neurodiverse person.

Maxine Frances Roper was diagnosed with ADHD and dyspraxia in her 20s and 30s after years of feeling misunderstood and struggling in ways she felt others didn't.

She described herself as highly ambitious but was viewed in school as 'bright but slightly neurotic'.

After finishing university and entering the working world, the 41-year-old, who at the time was only diagnosed with dyspraxia, continued to feel anxious and struggled with procrastination.

She said: "It would feel like a game of snakes and ladders where you would find a ladder and then there would be a snake, and you would shoot back down again. It felt like I would achieve something and then something else would stop me."

Even after obtaining a diagnosis, she was left struggling to understand herself, as a subject that that was rarely discussed at the time.

Maxine said: "There wasn't that understanding, I was given this diagnosis, but I didn't know what to do with it."

Former journalist Maxine, who splits her time between Bridport and London and also works as a voice over artist, decided to pen her experiences in a book, after her diagnosis of ADHD in 2020, titled 'No Heels No Problem'.

Described as a half a memoir, half a self-help book for people living with the two conditions, it covers everything from understanding relationships, navigating medication and even learning to drive - something that people with dyspraxia can find harder, as a condition which affects fine motor skills.

"I understood this about myself and wanted to tell other people about it, so other people didn't have to go through it alone. And it is my lived experience. I am not a medic, but [experiences] are often how people recognise themselves," she said.

The name of the book is also anecdotal, inspired by the challenges Maxine faces walking in heels due to her dyspraxia. But also highlights the gender gap surrounding learning disabilities, as historically, medical journals have focused more on how conditions manifest in males.

Dyspraxia is a developmental disorder that affects movement, coordination and can make everyday tasks extremely difficult. The exact cause of it remains unknown.

ADHD, short for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a condition that affects how much a person can pay attention, control impulses and manage activity levels.

The book was published in August, and the passionate writer is holding a meet and greet event in Waterstones in East Street, on Friday November 28, to sign copies and open up a discussion.

Ahead of the event, she said: "I enjoy making people feel less alone. If I have helped one person by saying 'this is me', to help them find their purpose in life, than that is a good thing."