Neurodiversity is a term that is becoming more popular. It can have a few different meanings, but neurodiversity essentially refers to differences in how brains function and acknowledges that there can be differences between different brains.(1) However, you may wonder what this actually means.
This article will take a closer look at neurodiversity and how you can embrace it if you are neurodivergent or if you have relationships with those who are.
Who Is Neurodivergent?
Because neurodiversity refers to differences in brain functioning and processing, neurodivergent individuals often have one or more medical conditions. However, these conditions may or may not be diagnosed, and many people simply refer to neurodivergence to describe people who think or react differently, rather than people with a diagnosable challenge.
Conditions that are commonly associated with neurodiversity include:
- Autism spectrum disorder, including Asperger’s syndrome
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Dyslexia
- Sensory processing disorders
- Tourette’s syndrome
- Social anxiety
- Mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)(1)
How Are Neurodivergent Individuals Different?
Neurodivergent behavior and thinking processes vary depending on which medical condition a person’s differences are associated with.
For example, an individual with social anxiety may struggle with interviews or work events with lots of people. These individuals may benefit more from initial screening tests and interviews with one person rather than a panel of individuals. Additionally, they may prefer more intimate events with fewer people.
A person with dyslexia, on the other hand, may excel in social situations but struggle with reading and words. Many are more visual and may learn better with pictures.
Other ways in which neurodivergent individuals may be different include the way they are affected by sensory information, process emotions, communicate, or solve problems.
How Do You Know If You Are Neurodivergent?
Because neurodivergent is a popular term, not a medical condition, there isn’t a list of different symptoms that you can look out for. However, if you suspect that you may be neurodivergent, you might notice that you see the world differently, or you may find yourself communicating and learning differently.
If you suspect that you may be neurodivergent, you can talk to your healthcare provider for a referral to a specialist. There are various specialists who are able to perform different assessments to determine how your brain functions. Getting confirmation can be a huge relief for some and can start the process of finding techniques and equipment that might help you in your everyday life as well as in work situations.
How Can You Support Someone Who Is Neurodivergent?
Learning how to support neurodivergent individuals is an important step to embracing neurodiversity. Here are some ways you can help:
- If an individual shares that they are neurodivergent, don’t assume that they are unintelligent or incapable. Some neurodivergent individuals are gifted and highly intelligent. Don’t assume that challenges in one area mean they are challenged in all areas.
- Remember that neurodivergent individuals are different from one another as well.
- Respect them. While they may view things differently, neurodivergent individuals are still humans who deserve respect and have important things to contribute.
- Listen. Many neurodivergent individuals feel misunderstood. Listening to them and listening to their struggles can help you be more supportive and better understand their viewpoint. At work, for example, you can ask them how they prefer working and what tools they need to do their job adequately.
- Communicate in ways that help them. Neurodivergent individuals may prefer other modes of communication, such as emails or texts. Asking them what they prefer can help to improve communication.
How to Get Support at Work if You Are Neurodivergent
If you are neurodivergent at work, it’s important to remember that you do not have to share your internal challenges with your colleagues if you do not want to. However, sharing may help to improve support and understanding at work in some cases. If you do share with your colleagues, you can always come up with a list of ideas that may help you at work. These include:
- Asking for email communication rather than in-person meetings or phone calls.
- Requesting not to be disturbed at certain times, such as a lead-up to a big meeting or project.
- Getting permission to use noise-canceling headphones.
- Requesting that you work at home or work in a smaller, closed office rather than an open plan.
- Requesting online reading tools.
Is Neurodiversity A Good Thing?
If you are neurodivergent, you may sometimes struggle to think of neurodiversity as something positive. It’s not unusual to feel like an outsider and different from everyone if you think differently. However, neurodiversity also has its strengths and is nothing to be ashamed of or feel you need to fix.
Some strengths of neurodiversity that not only benefit yourself but also your community and workplace include:
- Seeing situations differently from others. This can give you a unique perspective that many may not see.
- Being able to problem-solve and find solutions that are out-of-the-box.
- Creativity.
- Challenging the ways things are. Since you may see the world differently, you are in a unique position to challenge certain ways and habits with the potential to improve them.
- Passion for fairness. If you are neurodivergent, you may have been discriminated against in the past, which may give you a passion for treating others fairly.
Can Neurodiversity Affect Stress Levels?
This depends on the individual. However, being neurodivergent may make you more susceptible to stress. If you are triggered by certain environments, such as loud noises and lots of people, and you find yourself in these environments often, then it may increase the amount of stress you are exposed to.
When you are exposed to stress, the adrenal glands produce hormones such as cortisol to help you cope with stress. This response is also known as the fight-or-flight response. When the stress clears, your adrenal glands should stop producing these hormones, and your body should move back into a state of rest and digest. Your adrenal glands are part of the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) Stress Response System, a six-circuit system that is designed to help you respond to stress.
If you are exposed to environments that trigger you frequently, it may increase the amount of stress you are exposed to. When this happens, your adrenal glands will continue to produce stress hormones. If this continues for a long period, it can result in Adrenal Fatigue. This is when the adrenal glands become depleted of stress hormones, resulting in your body being unable to keep up with the long-term stress. When this happens, imbalances start to arise in your NEM system. In adrenal fatigue, you may experience different symptoms depending on where the imbalance in the NEM system occurs.
One of the circuits that can become imbalanced is the Neuroaffect circuit. This circuit consists of the brain, autonomic nervous system, and gut microbiome and is responsible for regulating how you think and feel. An imbalance in this circuit can cause symptoms such as:
- Anxiousness
- Depression
- Stress intolerance – things that usually do not stress you start to cause stress
- Difficulties falling asleep and staying asleep
If you are neurodivergent, you may already experience some of these symptoms, such as anxiety. This can worsen or contribute to adrenal fatigue, at which point other symptoms, such as difficulties sleeping, may appear.
Neurodiversity and Stress: What You Can Do
If you are dealing with increased stress levels, several strategies may help reduce stress and support your brain health, including:
Focusing on high-quality nutrition in your diet by:
- Increasing unrefined carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables
- Limiting sugars, trans fats, and alcohol consumption
- Including gentle movement in your day, such as walking or yoga
- Identifying potential triggers and brainstorming effective solutions. If you are struggling, getting professional support may help provide you with another perspective and some solutions that you may not have thought of
- Practicing stress relief techniques such as breathing exercises and meditation
Another strategy that can also help is supplements. There is a wide range of supplements that are focused on brain health. Brain Trust by Dr. Lam is one supplement that may help. This supplement provides a range of different ingredients that can help support your brain in different ways. These include:
- Choline – helps to increase the synthesis of the brain hormone acetylcholine, which may help in memory. (2)
- Glutamine – an amino acid that is a precursor to the brain hormones glutamate and GABA. This may help support your mood and cognitive function.
- Phosphatidyl serine – may enhance communication between the brain cells.
- Ginkgo biloba – may help boost memory.
Brain Trust is available in capsules, with the recommended dosage being one capsule once to twice daily. If you aren’t sure how many times you should take it, you can consult with your healthcare provider.
Closing Thoughts
Neurodiversity is a helpful idea for society to begin understanding how people think and react differently. However, if you are neurodivergent, you may find it challenging to live with. Embracing your neurodiversity can take time, but it also comes with strengths. Additionally, identifying potential triggers and working to understand your differences can help.
If you aren’t sure whether you are neurodivergent or are experiencing changes as a result of stress, you can call our office at +1 (626) 571-1234 for a free initial consultation.
