Episode 24 : The Gentle Creative Path with Anastassia Mamyzova
In Episode 24 of Creative Diaries, Anastasiia shares a deeply personal journey of discovering her creative voice through the lens of neurodivergence, identity, and radical self-acceptance. What began as childhood sensitivity and artistic curiosity—nurtured by creative parents—later collided with societal expectations, corporate burnout, and internalized self-doubt.
As a neurodivergent creative, Anastasiia speaks about absorbing the world in vivid detail—every sound, emotion, and visual nuance—something that often led to overstimulation and being misunderstood. Growing up in post-Soviet Ukraine, creativity was seen as frivolous, not a career path. So she pursued a corporate job instead, one that left her drained, disoriented, and disconnected from herself.
It wasn’t until she became a mother and began to recognize signs of neurodivergence in her son that the puzzle pieces of her own identity began to align. In learning to support him, she uncovered her own ADHD and began to understand why she had always felt "too much" or "not enough." This awakening became the catalyst for reclaiming her creative voice—first through drawing, then through surface pattern design, and eventually through a therapeutic creative journaling practice.
Anastasiia opens up about the emotional cost of masking—trying to fit into a neurotypical mold, chasing productivity, and suppressing her natural rhythms. After fleeing her home during the war, losing everything, and navigating the grief that followed, she temporarily lost access to her creativity. But healing came slowly through journaling, therapy, and making space for gentleness.
Eventually, she created her self-published workbook, a tool born out of lived experience. Not meant to push or hustle, the workbook gently helps creatives navigate their internal landscapes and external challenges with compassion. As Anastasiia describes it, it’s more companion than product—a hand to hold, not a list of tasks.
Her story is an invitation to redefine creativity outside the bounds of hustle culture. To see neurodivergence not as a flaw, but as a superpower. And to remember that the intensity with which some creatives experience the world is the very thing that allows them to create such emotionally resonant work.
🎧 Want to hear how Anastasiia transformed masking, burnout, and grief into healing, creativity, and purpose?
Listen to Episode 24 of The Creative Diaries Podcast and discover the power of honoring your brain, your pace, and your truth—one moment at a time.
Key Takeaways from This Episode:
Neurodivergent creatives often absorb the world intensely, leading to both overstimulation and deep sensitivity.
Masking to fit societal norms can lead to burnout, depression, and disconnection from self.
Motherhood and personal reflection helped Anastasiia recognize her ADHD and redefine her identity.
Creativity returned through slow, therapeutic practices like journaling and watercolor sketching.
Her workbook offers tools grounded in lived experience, designed to support creatives gently—not push them.
The intensity of neurodivergence can be a superpower for observation, empathy, and storytelling.
Pacing, rest, and nervous system regulation are vital for sustainable creative practice.
You are not alone—others share your struggles and sensitivity, even if the world doesn't talk about it.
Healing unlocks creative flow, especially when you stop comparing yourself to others' timelines.
Honoring your energy and working rhythm is essential, especially outside hustle culture expectations.
About Anastasiia Mamyzova
Anastasiia is a neurodivergent surface pattern designer, creative guide, and the author of a self-published workbook designed to support overwhelmed creatives. Her work is deeply rooted in sensitivity, storytelling, and emotional honesty. She creates art—and tools—that help others feel seen, heard, and supported on their journeys.
📸 Follow Anastasiia on Instagram
📖 Learn more about her workbook here
🎧 Listen to her full story on Creative Diaries here