Having a neurodivergent brain taught me the importance of resilience and adaptation. And I’ve become less ashamed about living with ADHD. However, neurodiversity is a new way of approaching neurodevelopmental disorders. Instead of focusing on these conditions’ weaknesses, it’s placed on the associated strengths. Yet, there’s still debate regarding what it means to have a neurodivergent brain, how it impacts daily life, and how to overcome cognitive challenges to adjust to a culture built for neurotypical brains.
The Birth of Neurodiversity
The concept of the neurodivergent brain began when the autistic sociologist Judy Singer started to use this term in the 1990s to describe Autism. She believed that developmental disorders are normal brain variations. Furthermore, these brain variations alter how you learn and process information. Additionally, they impact your reaction to social situations and various stimuli. For example, you thrive when handling high-stress circumstances, whereas others falter under pressure.
Neurodiversity mustn’t be categorized as a disability. You may need accommodations for work, school, or daily life. However, learning to Implement skills and modifications allows you to lead a successful, fulfilling life.
Digging Deeper into the Neurodivergent Brain
As mentioned above, the scientific view of neurodiversity recognizes that the neurodivergent brain approaches problem-solving and thinking differently. In contrast to the neurotypical brain, which has a linear approach to thinking and problem-solving, the neurodivergent brain does not. Instead, you utilize out-of-the-box thinking to create alternative possibilities that are missed by others. Some differences vary from person to person, with some presenting a mild presentation of traits and others an abundance of characteristics. These differences prove the individuality of these conditions.
Another debatable topic is whether mental health conditions are part of the neurodiverse spectrum. There isn’t a specific definition of neurodiversity, leaving room for interpretation. Mental health conditions are considered neurodivergent because cognitive dysfunction is a common symptom of many mental illnesses. These symptoms impact your thinking, behaving, and interacting with the world. And they influence daily life. So, based on this theory, mental health conditions should be considered a neurodivergent condition.
Disorders and Mental Illnesses Considered Neurodivergent
Neurodevelopmental disorders classified as neurodivergent are Autism, ADHD, Tourette’s, and learning disorders such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and dyspraxia. In addition, mental health conditions included as neurodivergent are Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Schizophrenia, Anxiety, and Depression.
Common Traits of the Neurodivergent Brain
Impulse and Self-Control Issues
A neurodivergent brain can make it hard to control your impulses because of dopamine deficiency. So, there’s a need to find activities and experiences that trigger an increase in dopamine. Thus creating unhealthy coping mechanisms such as compulsive eating, shopping addiction, and substance abuse.
I’ve experienced the impact of compulsive binge eating, which triggered body dysmorphia and negative body image. Additionally, forgetfulness and inability to properly manage money led to excess spending and financial issues. While I never experimented with drugs, I did abuse alcohol heavily, especially in my twenties to early thirties.
Executive Dysfunction
Furthermore, neurodivergent brains struggle with complications in executive dysfunction, creating problems in work and school settings. Time blindness makes you oblivious to proper time management. You quickly lose track of time or do not know how to gauge time properly. Consequently, you struggle with chronic lateness. You find it hard to complete projects for work or school because you’re distracted or procrastinate. All of which lands you in trouble when you miss an important deadline.
Additionally, being disorganized and forgetful can make it challenging to keep up with items. Thus creating issues with work when you’re losing important information or forgetting tasks and deadlines. Not to mention, constantly losing things like your keys or phone can make time management an issue due to losing time trying to track down those items.
Difficulty Processing Emotions
Emotional dysregulation is another challenge you face with a neurodivergent brain. I struggle with anger management, especially when explaining myself or feeling confused. I’ll get frustrated because I feel overwhelmed and lash out. My patience is nonexistent, and I want things done quickly. I get antsy and irritated waiting in line and find it torture when there are multiple steps I must go through to complete a task.
On the flip side, I’m super sensitive. I cry when I’m upset. And it doesn’t take much for loved ones to hurt my feelings. Which usually causes me to withdraw and push people away. Often, I don’t even understand the emotions I’m feeling. When in social situations with multiple people, I can’t concentrate on what’s going on and become lost. People say things I either misinterpret or don’t understand until later and become upset. Processing conversations in group settings is hard, so I prefer one-on-one connections.
How to Flourish Despite Challenges
I believe it’s essential to focus on the positives of having a neurodivergent brain, such as enhanced creativity, unique problem-solving skills, functioning well in high-stress situations, being innovative, energetic, and spontaneous. I also know it’s imperative to find solutions for overcoming the areas you’re weak in to perform as a well-rounded person. Thus improving your quality of life and decreasing the negative consequences of neurodivergent conditions.
Enlisting the Help of a Psychiatrist
The first step is to get properly assessed and diagnosed by a psychiatrist. Having suspicions is one thing, but obtaining a proper diagnosis is another. It opens doors for various treatment options and ways to get help. Self-diagnosis doesn’t provide adequate support to manage and live with your condition. Options that come with working with a psychiatrist include the choice to utilize medication management. For some neurodivergent brains such as myself, medication can make a big difference in your ability to function. While it shouldn’t be considered a standalone treatment or a cure, it is a helpful tool when combined with therapy and lifestyle modifications.
Working with a Therapist
Therapy is beneficial because it allows you to work through the thought processes that trigger behavior patterns and cause negative consequences. As a result, you can develop skills that will help you overcome challenges and prevent undesirable outcomes. There are various types of therapy, but cognitive behavior therapy has been the most beneficial for me. I’ve learned to identify thinking patterns that lead me to react and behave in specific ways. Knowing this allows me to take the time to think critically about various situations, scenarios, and challenges I face in daily life and find positive ways to handle them.
Additionally, working with my therapist has allowed me to create strategies and systems that improve my ability to concentrate, focus, complete projects, and lessen the impact of my executive dysfunction. Creating routines has led to more order and function in my life. As a result, I feel more productive and efficient.
I’ve also found the courage to speak up for my needs and the accommodations that help me perform at my best. This means being honest about my skills and abilities and choosing jobs and tasks that allow me to deploy these strengths. Additionally, if I feel overwhelmed, I let others know I need help or take a break and allow myself to devise alternative methods to approach the situation differently. Finally, when I am in a slump, I identify the root cause of what’s happening to find actionable solutions to fix the issue and move forward.
Working on Personal Development
As I mentioned, early lifestyle modifications positively influence your cognitive function and behavior. Learning how to manage time, increase productivity, and improve focus will assist you in your professional and personal life.
Time management is vital for honoring commitments with others as well as yourself. So, finding a sustainable system that meets your specific needs is crucial. A few of my time management hacks that have been beneficial are creating multiple reminders. Is this obnoxious? Probably, but it’s highly effective. I create alarms to remind me when I need to leave to head to a location when it’s time to take medication, go to bed, and do any other time-bound activity.
Additionally, when it comes to appointments, I schedule them 30 minutes earlier in my schedule to ensure I’m on time. Another tool that’s beneficial for time management and productivity is calendar blocking. I set aside specific chunks of time for certain activities. This way, I have a designated time frame to work on the task, and it’s on my calendar, reminding me that I’ve committed myself to it.
I utilize a digital planner to maintain the monthly, weekly, and daily tasks I must complete. Doing so has helped me stay on top of the projects, plans, and responsibilities I need to know. Additionally, I utilize a guided goal-setting journal that helps me create, plan, and execute my goals. It allows me to break the goal down into smaller goals to determine the actions I need to take to achieve them. Finally, I’m given 90 days to complete them and review my progress to achieve my overall goal.
Another system I’ve created is developing a routine. Doing so created a daily structure, allowing me to complete tasks and become more responsible. I’ve also developed habits that have allowed me to manage finances, stay on top of household chores, and finish my work.
Adopting a minimalist mindset led me to decrease clutter and become more organized. Keeping things simple means I don’t have many things to be responsible for. And it means I’m tidier and less messy. Furthermore, organizing my belongings helps prevent me from losing things all the time. Utilizing organizational tools and keeping items in a central location has also proven helpful.
Additionally, utilizing the Pomodoro method helps me focus on work and various household tasks. I set a timer for 25–45-minute work blocks and 5–15-minute breaks for a set number of Pomodoro sessions. Usually, ten sessions or higher, depending on how long the work blocks are or how long I need to work on my task.
Lastly, I will listen to music or a podcast and use it as a timer. For example, if I need to tidy up, I play a 30–45-minute playlist and make sure I’m done within that time. Or, when I’m getting ready, I’ll listen to a 45-minute podcast and aim to be finished when it’s complete. Doing this makes it easier for me to keep track of time.
Beginning to Understand and Accept Neurodiversity
While there’s still misinformation and ignorance about neurodivergent conditions, the neurodiverse movement is making strides in changing this. Most importantly, it’s helping those with neurodivergent brains find self-confidence and acceptance. Discovering my strengths and unique traits benefits me, creating systems that allow my abilities to shine more easily.
And you can do the same thing, too. Stop focusing on all you’re not and celebrate all you are. You’re lovely, resilient, and remarkable. You get to define what it means to have a neurodivergent brain and how much impact it has on your life. Furthermore, you have the power to overcome the challenges you face and advocate for your well-being. Just because society was built to favor a neurotypical mindset doesn’t mean you can’t innovate a new approach and make it better.
