The umbrella term for the brain processing differences compared to the neurotypical population.
This term may also incorporate the traits and characteristics of a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), a person with ADHD and an Autistic person. There are also language, coordination, mathematical, spatial awareness, executive functioning and sensory input differences that may also be covered under this term.
If you’re on any social media platform and have accessed any online tool, test or shown an interest in any article on ADHD, for example, then the likelihood of you coming across the term “Neurodiversity” is extremely high.
In fact, the algorithms may have strongly indicated that you are indeed neurodiverse yourself and so you will now be bombarded with endless physical signs and symptoms to compare your life struggles to.
Be wary of this type of “pattern matching”. Neurodiversity isn’t trendy or the “in thing” to acquire.
While there are many, many wonderful and creative strengths and differences to a neurodiverse thinker, the way that the world is neurotypically set out is difficult at times for a neurodiverse person to navigate in a way that is socially acceptable. This narrow "one size fits all" human is very dehumanising and doesn't see the individual person.
This means that a large number of neurodiverse people are suffering with: burnout; emotional overwhelm; social difficulties; bullying; anxiety; sexual problems; addiction; work; and school related difficulties; depression and relationship breakdowns to name a few because a neurotypical world doesn't suit neurodiverse ways of being in the world.
Diagnosis, except for the very young or postcode lucky, is “potluck” with regards to appropriately and sensitively trained staff, prohibitively costly and is a very, very time-consuming process and that’s before the medication criteria have been met, if you’re deemed suitable.
I’m a neurodiverse aware counsellor and while I can’t diagnose in a way that the medical profession is allowed to, I can work with your neurodiverse diagnosis and/or your own curiousity if you think that you might be.
If this is something you think you might want to explore then please contact me at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.