Because some of us got the deluxe brain settings – with all the quirks and a missing user manual.
🔍 What Does “Neurodivergent” Mean?
Neurodivergence refers to brains that function differently from what’s typically expected. This includes conditions like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and more.
It’s not about being broken or less capable — just wired differently.
💭 Think Windows vs Mac. Or, if you’re like me — a brain that’s somehow running 87 tabs, three music tracks, and occasionally freezes during basic human interaction. A change in plans? Please excuse me while I reboot and work out how to process this.
✳️ What Falls Under Neurodivergence?
Here are a few of the most common neurodivergent conditions
🧩 Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC)
A neurodevelopmental difference that impacts how someone experiences the world — communication, sensory input, social rules, and routines.
It’s not something to fix. It’s a different way of experiencing life.
What it feels like:
Like trying to function in a world that’s permanently set to “hard mode” unless routines are followed and lights are dim.
🔗 Related post: Autistic Overwhelm and Meltdowns: It’s Not What You Think
⚡ ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
ADHD impacts focus, memory, attention, and self-regulation. It’s often misunderstood as being lazy or easily distracted — but it’s much more complex than that.
What it feels like:
Like trying to catch a soap bubble in a hurricane. That’s your thought process on a regular Tuesday.
🔗 Related post: Autism vs ADHD – The Whirlpool Effect That Leads to Burnout
😶 Alexithymia
A difficulty identifying and describing emotions. Common in both autistic and ADHD individuals.
What it feels like:
“I know I feel something, I just have no idea what that something is.”
🔗 Related post: Learning to Manage Emotions with a Processing Delay
🎧 Sensory Processing Differences
Some brains don’t filter sensory input in the usual way. Sounds, lights, smells, and textures can be overwhelming — or deeply comforting.
What it feels like:
Either “Why does that light buzz sound like a chainsaw?” or “I can hear everything except what you’re saying.”
🔗 Related post: The Battle of the Brain: Living with Noise Sensitivity and Tinnitus (And Losing It at 4 A.M.)
📚 UK-Based Resources
Looking for some solid sources of information, rather than just the garbled contents of my brain? These UK organisations are brilliant starting points:
- 🌐 National Autistic Society
- 🌐 ADHD UK
- 🌐 Contact – For Families with Disabled Children
- 🌐 IPSEA – Education Rights Help
- 🌐 Ambitious About Autism
- 🌐 Sensory Integration Education
💬 Final Thoughts
Understanding neurodivergence is like learning a new language — except it’s the one your own brain speaks. If you’re here, you’re probably somewhere on the same winding path I’m on: parenting neurodivergent kids, or finally understanding how your own brain ticks.
Welcome aboard. We don’t always have maps, but we’ve got snacks and mutual understanding.
