What Does It Mean to Be Neurodivergent?

What Does It Mean to Be Neurodivergent?

Alanna Carlson Consulting

I get this question a lot. 

I identify as a neurodivergent person. I am an ADHDer, Dyslexic, Dyscalculic, and likely Autistic as well (no formal diagnosis yet). Sometimes, I use the terms "ADHDer" or "AuDHDer" to describe myself. Perhaps this is different than what you are used to hearing. While the use of these sorts of terms is growing, it is not quite commonplace. I know it is unusual to say in the legal profession, to which I belong (even though you will find that a higher percentage of lawyers are neurodivergent, as compared to the general population rates). 

My preference is to use identity-first language ("I am AuDHD", but I understand others may prefer person-first language ("a person with ADHD"). For me, identity-first language acknowledges that I have a neutral attitude about my disability, which I was born with, and that others see me as different. I am no longer trying to hide from my identity and instead, I embrace it. I find that this approach also helps others feel safe and comfortable being themselves around me, especially in the coaching and legal consulting work I do. 

The term "neurodivergent", at its most simple, means that an individual’s brain deviates from societal expectations of how brains should exist or function. 

Neuronormativity refers to the fallacious idea that there is one “normal” type of brain to which all others should be compared. Dominant culture operates with an assumption of neuronormativity. 

Neurodivergent ("ND") is a term invented in 2000 by autism rights activist Kassiane Asasumasu, who was writing online about her lived experiences and wanted to use a neutral term. It was a radical departure from the medical model, directly responding to the pathologizing nature of treating Autism as a medical disorder rather than a distinct and natural neurotype. Neurodivergent is a political term because it renounces the idea of neuronormativity. The neurodivergent paradigm understands different neurotypes as part the diversity of our human experience. 

Neurodivergent is now used as an umbrella term referring to many different neurotypes, such as ADHD, Autism, OCD, GAD, Dyslexia, Bipolar Disorder, Tourette’s Syndrome, Down Syndrome, Schizophrenia, and Synesthesia, TBI, MS, and PTSD (not an exhaustive list). It includes differences people are born with as well as acquired conditions (such as traumatic brain injury).

Neurodivergent people often have differences in thinking, learning, communication, memory, attention, time perception, emotions, sensations, and other functions. No two neurodivergent people have the exact same experience, though there are lots of common experiences. 

These neurotypes are considered disorders and disabilities in our dominant society. Many people with these neurotypes find their experience disabling and have support needs - some people may have low support needs and some may have high support needs. Some people with certain neurotypes may experience added distress from their disability related to compulsions, altered states or voices. Much of the day to day challenges is due to how societies are not set up to support people with differences and often actively harm them.

I find it helpful to treat these neurotypes as disabilities because that is how they are currently understood, and using that model can help us access needed support. I do not find it is usually helpful to refer to these natural differences as "disorders", though some people do. It is important to match an individual's language that they use when you are talking to them. 

Everyone knows someone who is neurodivergent. If you work in certain industries like tech, arts, emergency services, or law, you are no doubt surrounded by them! Some of us are good at hiding or masking our neurodivergent traits to appear "normal" (girls and women are especially socialized to do this), and some of us either never did that or have stopped doing that in order to exist in a more authentic, sustainable and affirming way. 

What About Neurodiversity?

People often mistakenly use terms like "neurodiverse" or "neurodiversity" to refer to individuals or neurodivergent people. However, it doesn’t make sense linguistically or socially to refer to one person as being diverse. One person cannot be diverse; communities are diverse. Just as we describe communities as diverse in race or gender, disability also makes our community diverse. Our population is neurodiverse because there are many different neurotypes. I am not a neurodiverse person; I am a neurodivergent person.

The concept of neurodiversity refers to the fact that our populations have many different neurotypes, giving us variance and strength. This terminology has been in use since the 1990s. 

Language can be confusing, and it is easy to make mistakes, but it’s also easy to learn more!

Is It Due to Genetics or Trauma? A Focus on ADHD

You may have heard or read recently that some neurodivergence, such as ADHD, is caused by trauma (when an event or several events overwhelm the body’s ability to feel safe). This is a common misconception that has gained prevalence due to the spreading of misinformation by many authors, including Dr. Gabor Maté in his book Scattered Minds.

While Dr. Maté has significant experience working with trauma as a family physician and has gained valuable knowledge, and is ADHD himself, not everything he says on ADHD and trauma is accurate. He essentially says that some individuals are born with a genetic hypersensitivity, and then childhood trauma "activates" the ADHD. This is not exactly accurate. It gives the impression that you can heal your way out of ADHD through trauma therapy. 

While ADHD individuals are more likely to experience trauma (more on this later) and much trauma healing can be done, we cannot change the type of brain we were born with! ADHD and Autism are genetic neurotypes—you are either born with it or not. It’s a different way of existing and functioning. Even after trauma healing, we will still have a different brain. 

On one hand, neurodivergence such as PTSD or TBI can be caused by traumatic experiences or blunt-force trauma head injuries, and it can resemble ADHD. Sometimes, people who have gone through traumatic events believe they have suddenly developed ADHD. 

Some may actually be experiencing distress states and mistaking it for ADHD, because in the overlap in symptoms. Or, sometimes, a person is discovering their ADHD later in life due to changes in functioning (such as no longer being able to mask their disability - a common experience in chronic illness). 

In my experience working on discrimination complaints as lawyer, investigator or mediator, I frequently saw how the medical system, education system and legal system tend to misunderstand ADHD and Autism, particularly when it comes to the cause and unmet needs behind observable behaviours deemed "disruptive" or "difficult". 

The confusion around ADHD arises from outdated and inaccurate diagnostic criteria in the DSM-V, which focuses on observable (and often extreme) behaviour, rather than internal experiences. The diagnostic manual assessment for ADHD relies on and pathologizes distress states that neurodivergent people may experience, which are caused by stress and trauma, and treats them as inherent symptoms of neurotypes like Autism or ADHD. However, these distress responses are not inherent traits of those neurotypes.

A DSM-V ADHD assessment (the one used in North America) is essentially looking for a stressed out and un-supported ADHD person, not an ADHD person who feels at their best or even their baseline. What does this tell us about the expectations around well-being for ADHD people in our society?

The DSM-V ADHD assessment looks for impulsivity and inattention. Not every ADHD person will exhibit impulsivity and inattention, though it is more likely that ADHDers will experience distress states that manifest as impulsivity and inattention, but not for the reason you might think. 

It is commonly thought that impulsivity and inattention arises because the ADHD brain lacks the hormone called dopamine. However, this is not exactly accurate. The dopamine in an ADHD brain is more likely to get depleted faster, because we often use up all our adrenaline just trying to survive and function in a society not made for us (i.e. it doesn't feel safe), and then once the adrenaline runs out, the brain starts to use up the dopamine. 

There is also research showing that we may have less efficient dopamine pathways in the brain, which means we might not have a burst of dopamine for certain tasks in the same way that others might.

We also have what is called an interest-based nervous system, where other factors like interest, novelty, challenge, passion, competition/cooperation and urgency are what drives our functioning, rather than importance or other external demands that might make more sense to someone else. 

Compared to another person, we might sometimes appear impulsive and inattentive, but this actually a symptom of being in a distress state brought on by early dopamine depletion and/or a lack of urgency and interest, not because it is an inherent "symptom" to our neurotype. 

This concept similarly applies to Autistic shutdown, which is usually a distress state brought on by unique safety needs not being met. These distress states are an expected result from feeling unsafe due to discrimination and living in a society not made for us and our unique needs. 

As more neuro-affirming research takes place, we will learn more about this process. 

The Traumatization of Neurodivergent People

Though not common in our society, it is possible to be neurodivergent and not traumatized. There is actually an issue now with some ADHD children who are raised in safe and supportive environments not being able to get a diagnosis to help them in their educational setting because they do not present with distress states (which are considered necessary in the current diagnostic criteria). 

Addressing Misinformation

There is significant misinformation about neurodivergence. Health professionals often make statements that are not inclusive and can be oppressive.

For instance, the idea that one can heal out of Autism using nervous system regulation is highly problematic. Wellness content on social media often suggests that certain neurodivergent traits are simply trauma responses; they often call our traits "functional freeze". This pathologizes the neurodivergent brain, implying that our characteristics—such as social isolation, rigid routines, difficulty with transition, temperature sensitivity, or avoiding eye contact—are inherently bad. No amount of trauma healing will change all of these traits forever.

While nervous system education and trauma healing practices can help neurodivergent people feel safer and avoid distress states, they will not change their fundamental functioning. This is not to say that neuroplasticity is not present - it is - it just can only go so far and cannot reverse the type of brain someone was born with. 

Navigating Polyvagal Theory 

Polyvagal Theory has its limitations, especially in its early versions. Some descriptions of responses in the Dorsal Vagal Shutdown category included traits common in Autism, like lack of eye contact or low voice prosody. This failed to account for differences in neurotypes. Even in a state of calm, Autistic people may exhibit traits considered "anti-social" by neuronormative standards.

I created a more comprehensive inclusive Polyvagal Theory Map based on work by Stephen Porges, Deb Dana, Stanley Rosenthal, as well as observed experiences from hundreds of self-healers, including myself.

My Nervous System Map helps identify appropriate techniques based on your body's signals, offering a personalized pathway through trauma healing. It’s a menu where you can pick what works well for you.  

I’ve received feedback that this map made healing work finally make sense from a neurodivergent perspective. I hope it benefits you too!

Neurodivergent related self-assessments tools

If you are wondering if you fit under the Neurodivergent Umbrella, you may want to try some self-assessment tools. Online self-assessments can play an essential role in the process of self-discovery, and give you something to discuss with professionals and your support network. You may decide to pursue a formal diagnosis, though this is not necessary for everyone. For a formal assessment, please see a knowledgeable and trained health professional, and ask them if they take into account gender and masking. 

For more on how neurodivergence affects healing from chronic illness, listen to this episode where I was interviewed on Post Viral Podcast. Contact me for neuro-affirming executive coaching or health recovery peer mentoring. 

 

This does not constitute medical advice, and any new approaches or treatments should be discussed with a knowledgable health care practitioner. 

 

Sources:

Dr. Gabor Maté, Scattered Minds

American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787

Janae Elizabeth, The Trauma Geek Blog.

Sonny Jane Wise, The Lived Experience Educator https://www.livedexperienceeducator.com/blog 

Dr. Nick Walker, Neuroqueer Articles. 

Dr. Megan Neff, Neurodivergent Insights

The Polyvagal Institute, Resources. https://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/research 

 

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