The what and why of Neurodiversity

Neurodiversity can present in multiple forms. They can also co-occur and many people will exhibit traits of more than one form of neurodiversity. The precise nature of what constitutes neurodiversity, and why it exists in humans, remains widely debated. For example, whilst a lot of neurodivergent people develop a tendency to people please and set unreasonable expectations of themselves (perfectionism), neither of these traits are unique to neurodiversity. It is not solely the existence of a trait or behaviour that determines whether or not someone is neurodiverse. The consistency, intensity and unconscious intent behind it is much more indicative. Having said that, it’s currently understood that neurodivergence is dependent on three factors:

1: Our genetics:

neurodiverse people will often have direct family members who are also neurodiverse, whether those family members are aware of it themselves or not. It’s important to note that the genetic links are sometimes not direct. For example: though you may have a parent who exhibits ADHD, you yourself might exhibit ASD and Dyslexia in ways they do not.

2: Our childhood development and upbringing:

If our neurodiversity is recognised and accommodated early, we’re much less likely to adapt the way we interact with our environment in an imbalanced way. If we grow up unaware of our neurodiverse traits, we have to develop defences and subconscious strategies in the dark. These adaptations, like people pleasing, can be enormously effective at helping us survive, but they can be brittle and start to do more harm than good if they become our default way of being.

3: Our current environments:

The third factor is comprised of the work, social and home environments that we regularly engage with. Sadly, in the UK, our educational institutions and national infrastructure are still very much geared towards the neurotypical. If we don’t feel safe enough to allow our neurodiversity to be seen, the more of our internal resources we have to expend to hide it. We can become hyper-fixated on how we’re perceived, on how our written and verbal communication come across, and what might happen if our true nature were to be exposed.

It’s important to note that these three factors can vary greatly in terms of which factor has the greatest influence over the nature and intensity of each person’s neurodiverse traits. For example, if someone exhibits ASD to the extent where they cannot communicate verbally, that is often far more dependent on biological rather than developmental factors.

Whether suspected or formally diagnosed, the link between neurodiversity and difficulties with mental health is well established. It’s thought that up to 81% of adults with ASD and up to 66% of adults with ADHD have co-occurring difficulties with mental health.

Unfortunately, our key institutions remain rigidly unaccommodating for those of us who are not neurotypical. Whether it’s the workplace, school, university, or the home, people with neurodiversity routinely feel misunderstood and that they don’t belong in their environments.

There is a growing proportion of our society who recognise themselves as having aspects of neurodivergence. I have often found clients in turmoil because they hold themselves to internalised neurotypical standards of productivity or social intuition. They feel at war within themselves for not being able to function in the ways that seem to come intuitively and effortlessly to those around them.

They struggle in the dark, because whilst they have always felt different, or suspected themselves of being neurodiverse they have not yet had the opportunity to properly explore the possibilities. The purpose of neurodiverse therapy is give clients that opportunity, and from there to integrate the unique nature of their neurodivergent traits.