By Alena Gerst, LCSW | Founder, Director, Psychotherapist
Everyone thinks differently about things. That’s how humans come up with so many different and varied ideas, creative processes, and ways to process the past, experience the present, and plan for the future. Some of these differences come from personality types, backgrounds, cultures, and different styles of learning.
But some people actually have brains that work “differently” from what is considered “neurotypical” (a term that is itself highly variable!). This is where we enter into the world that is increasingly called “neurodivergent.”
Being neurodivergent simply means you, or someone you know and possibly love, has a mind that processes information, thinks, learns, and behaves differently than what would be considered “the norm.” Neurodivergence isn’t a mental illness and doesn’t mean there is anything wrong. Thankfully, we’re learning more and more about how neurodivergent minds can present. Many people are discovering as adults that they are, in fact neurodivergent, as are many parents of neurodivergent children. When parents start learning about how best to understand and support their children, they often recognize some of the characteristics in themselves, which can be quite a revelation.
With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at exactly what it means to be neurodivergent.
A Different Way of Thinking
Neurological differences create a different way of observing the world and working through problems and ideas. Often, people who are diagnosed as neurodivergent tend to see things in a way that others do not. That’s why it’s typically more common for children to be diagnosed with neurodivergent conditions than adults, as many eyes are on children as they are assessed throughout their development, at home, school, in activities and within their routine medical care.
Neurodivergent people may also have heightened sensitivities that others find hard to understand. They may be uniquely sensitive to sounds, lights, smells, tastes, and textures. They may be sensorily avoidant, and some neurodivergent people are sensory seeking, like a heightened likelihood of dopamine seeking through screens, roller coasters, or even tighter clothes or heavier (weighted) blankets.
It’s important to note that neurodivergence occurs on a spectrum. Some people will show bigger differences in the way they think and experience the world than others. Just like the word divergence implies “diversity,” neurodivergence is as unique as all humans. However, some of the most common signs of being neurodivergent include perceiving social cues differently, developing intense interest and focus on special interests, difficulty with focusing on topics that are uninteresting, and unique approaches to problem-solving, which we’d like to add, have led to some of the most groundbreaking inventions in human history!
Other signs can include repetitive behaviors, anxiety, very intense emotions, and challenges with regulating energy (hyperactivity or fatigue). With such a broad range of characteristics, it makes sense that there are many different presentations that fall under the neurodivergent umbrella.
So Who Is Considered Neurodivergent?
Many people associate autism with neurodivergence. It’s true that an autistic person would be considered neurodivergent. But because autism presents on a wide spectrum from low support needs to high support needs, autism doesn’t always look like what is portrayed in the media. Autistic people are all around you. You may have even wondered yourself at times if you are on the autism spectrum. Often when the media portrays autistic people, it is people in distress. When the fact is autistic people are just like everyone else, experiencing all of the highs and lows of life.
Another common neurodivergent condition is ADD/ADHD. Attention deficit [hyperactivity] disorder is regarded as a clinical diagnosis, the deficit of which needs treatment. We prefer to think about AD(H)D as more of an attention regulation difference. People with attention regulation differences will tell you that when they find something interesting, they can hyperfocus on it, to the exclusion of almost anything else. While it’s often considered a children’s condition, some people don’t get diagnosed until adulthood.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, among other anxiety disorders, are also under the neurodivergent umbrella, often contributing to repetitive behaviors and intrusive thoughts; they can also all co-occur, which is common.
These conditions might seem negative on the surface. There’s no denying some of the aspects of neurodivergence can create challenges for people. But with the right support, many neurodivergent people are able to access their incredible strengths to manage the challenges and overcome barriers. Things like being able to pay close attention to detail, having hyperfocus, being incredibly creative, and recognizing unusual patterns are just a few amazing skills and strengths that occur when you tend to think differently than the norm.
Neurodivergent people are also likely to have a strong sense of empathy, loyalty, and compassion. They can develop a deeply rooted understanding of others, one of their greatest superpowers.
What You Can Do
If you or someone you know is neurodivergent, or if you suspect you may be, you’re taking an excellent first step right now. Educating yourself about what it means to be neurodivergent is essential. The more people who follow suit, the easier it will be to stop mislabeling, so the stigma behind this different way of thinking can continue to be addressed.
Another important step is to help yourself, or someone you care about, try out and develop systems that help; things like consistent routines, practicing (or encouraging) self-care, amplifying strengths, and staying connected with supportive community.
Neurodivergence isn’t a mental illness, and is not something that requires “treatment,” per se. It is really an umbrella term to acknowledge everyone’s different ways of perceiving and experiencing the world. However, it can help to have someone to talk to when it comes to understanding strengths and differences in how you can make the most of your, or your loved one’s, unique way of thinking.
