Am I Neurodivergent?
That is a great question! I am so glad you are asking it! Because that means you are curious about who you are and seeking to learn more.
After working with neurodivergent teens/adults for 12+ years, doing my own research, discovering my own neurodivergence and taking in neurodivergent made social media content, I have noticed some signs of neurodivergence over the years.
If you are here now, then you must have had some experiences that have pointed you in the direction of Neurodivergence. (To be clear, in this sense of neurodivergence I mean Autism, ADHD or AuDHD.)
Maybe you were labeled as quirky, weird, messy, intense, gifted or annoying as a kid. Maybe a loved one, friend or teacher suggested it. Maybe you noticed your own difficulties and how easy it seems for everyone else. Maybe you just have a feeling about it. Regardless, I am glad you are here.
Signs you may be Neurodivergent:
-You just feel “different” than others
-You have a harder time fitting in with people or feeling like you belong
-You feel judged for the ways you act or how you communicate
-You have a hard time making or keeping friends, lack of a close friend group
-You feel confused by some conversations or social situations, sometimes missing subtle social cues
-You feel uncomfortable with prolonged eye contact or small talk
-Sensory differences - like hypo or hyper sensitivities, preferred textures of food, clothing or avoidance of certain textures, an overall higher attunement with your environment than others, difficulty filtering things in your environment
-Niche interests that often fall into these communities: gamers (a million within this one), fantasy or roleplay, theatre and music, arts and crafts, history or psychology, books and learning everything about everything. Your interests run deep and you may hyper-fixate on them.
-Chronic difficulties at school or work - organizing, prioritizing, following through with things, avoidance of boring or overly strenuous tasks, trouble focusing, time management
-You prefer routines, rules, scripts to make things more logical/manageable
-Create your own rich inner world or have a high level of imagination
-You like being around animals, sometimes more than people
-You consider yourself a deeply feeling or highly sensitive human
-Find written communication or social media easier or less stressful than face to face interactions
-Find yourself dwelling on past negative social experiences or judging how you do in social situations
-Revel in your alone time or “me time”
-You get along REALLY well with other neurodivergent people
-You are happiest when you are engaging in or talking about your interests
If many of these signs/traits strike a chord with you, then I would keep going further down this path.
Stay tuned for more posts about Autism, ADHD and AuDHD.
