Neurodivergent Symptoms: Insights and Resources for Enhanced Well-Being

Impact on Daily Life

Being neurodivergent comes with both strengths and challenges that impact daily living.

Neurodivergent individuals often experience the world in unique ways, which can influence how they interact with their environment, approach tasks, and manage social situations. For instance, people with ADHD and autism have difficulties with time management, completing tasks, or understanding social cues.

Neurodivergence is often linked to an increased likelihood of experiencing mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. At the same time, neurodivergent individuals may demonstrate exceptional creativity, problem-solving abilities, or hyperfocus in certain areas of interest.

Ultimately, understanding and embracing neurodiversity can lead to better support systems in schools, workplaces, and social settings, helping individuals thrive despite these challenges.

Mental Health, Addiction, and Neurodivergence

Neurodivergent individuals, particularly those on the autism spectrum, often face heightened mental health challenges, including higher rates of anxiety and depression. These difficulties are influenced by a range of neurodevelopmental, genetic, and environmental factors.

Personalized mental health support⁴ that is informed by neurodivergence, recognizes the unique ways brains work in neurodivergent individuals. It is crucial that healthcare professionals provide a personalized, holistic approach to treatment when supporting neurodivergent individuals in navigating their mental health struggles and fostering resilience.

While the connection between neurodivergence and addiction is complex, it’s essential to recognize that mental health challenges, and potential mental illnesses, faced by neurodivergent individuals can contribute to the risk of developing addictive behaviors. Co-occurring mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression, may lead some individuals to turn to substances or other coping mechanisms as a way to manage their symptoms.

Understanding how neurodivergence and mental health challenges intertwine is key to developing effective strategies for addressing addiction in people with neurodivergence.

How can we best address the mental health challenges that often co-occur with neurodivergence, and what role do individualized support systems play in promoting well-being?

Many of the same evidence-based therapies that exist for anxiety, depression, PTSD, and other mental health challenges can be helpful for autistic and ADHD folks, as long as they’re provided in a neurodiversity-affirmative way. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, for example, can help many people who struggle with intense emotions or impulsivity, and it can be adapted to accommodate various sensory, learning, and executive functioning needs.

Therapy is always going to be most effective when the client believes the therapist understands them and is considering their unique preferences, values, and goals. Individualized support systems are so important for promoting well-being, for anyone, but especially for neurodivergent people.

Kiki Fehling, PhD, DBT-LBC

Embracing the Unique Strengths of Neurodiversity

Neurodivergent individuals are often misinterpreted and undervalued; there are many unique cognitive abilities that are frequently viewed as challenges rather than strengths.

Embracing neurodiversity means recognizing the value of the unique ways in which neurodivergent brains work such as exceptional creativity, attention to detail, and intense focus. These strengths can drive innovation and problem-solving in various fields, from technology to the arts.

By fostering inclusive environments that celebrate cognitive diversity throughout society including in schools, universities, and workplaces, we can unlock the full potential of neurodivergent individuals, benefiting both society and the economy. Understanding and embracing these differences in the ways people’s brains work helps create more inclusive spaces where everyone can thrive.

Tips for Promoting Inclusion

Promoting inclusion involves creating environments that recognize and embrace neurodiversity. For schools and workplaces, this means offering individualized support or reasonable accommodations, to ensure that neurodivergent individuals can fully participate and thrive. Encouraging neurodivergent individuals to share their unique perspectives can enhance creativity and problem-solving within teams, ultimately driving innovation.

Training staff and peers on neurodiversity, along with providing accessible resources, further empowers individuals to feel accepted and valued in their communities or workplaces.

It is crucial that all areas of society work to foster a culture of empathy and respect—where differences in thinking and learning are celebrated rather than viewed as deficits. This approach not only benefits neurodivergent individuals but enriches the broader environment by promoting understanding and reducing stigma.

What are some of the most common misconceptions about neurodivergence, and how can we work to challenge these misunderstandings in schools, workplaces, and society at large?

One of the biggest misconceptions about neurodivergence is that it only shows up as visible or disruptive behavior, when in reality, many people mask their differences to fit in, often at the cost of their mental health. Another is assuming neurodivergent individuals are either ‘too much’ or ‘not enough’, rather than recognizing their unique strengths. We can start to challenge these misunderstandings by listening to lived experiences, making room for multiple ways of thinking and processing, and shifting from compliance-based environments to connection-based ones.

Amanda Stretcher Lewis, MA, LPC-S | Crescent Counseling

Improving Well-Being

Improving the well-being of neurodivergent individuals requires a multifaceted approach that focuses on enhancing personal strengths, developing appropriate coping mechanisms, and keeping executive functioning in check.

Key resilience factors,⁵ such as effective emotion regulation, self-determination, and self-understanding, play a crucial role in promoting mental health and quality of life. Neurodivergent individuals who develop strong emotional regulation and adaptive coping strategies are better able to manage stress, reduce anxiety, and improve their overall resilience.

Similarly, fostering self-esteem and self-efficacy—through a sense of agency and competence—has been linked to improved mental health outcomes, including better social functioning and reduced depressive symptoms.

Additionally, cultivating a positive self-identity, including embracing one’s neurodivergence, can contribute to a stronger sense of self-worth and resilience, buffering against the challenges that arise from societal stigma.

Participation in meaningful activities, including leisure, recreation, and community engagement, also plays a vital role in enhancing well-being. These activities not only improve social functioning and life satisfaction but also buffer against negative factors like depression and loneliness. Regular engagement in physical activities, in particular, has been shown to foster resilience, reduce stress, and improve both mental and physical health.

By focusing on building self-awareness, offering opportunities for growth, and ensuring access to supportive environments, it is possible to significantly enhance the well-being of neurodivergent individuals, promoting greater life satisfaction and emotional health.

FAQs

Q: What are 3 signs of being neurodivergent?

A: Neurodivergence can manifest in various ways depending on the individual and their specific condition. A person qualifies as neurodivergent if they process information differently from the general population. Three signs of being neurodivergent are:

• Behavioral traits that reflect atypical cognitive processing, such as challenges in social interactions, learning, or attention.
• Diagnosis of a neurodivergent condition (such as autism, ADHD, or dyslexia).
• Experiencing co-occurring conditions like anxiety or depression.

Q: What makes you considered neurodivergent?

A: You may be considered neurodivergent if you have a neurological condition that leads you to think or behave in ways that are different from the general population.

Q: What is a low-support neurodivergent?

A: A low-support neurodivergent individual is someone who, despite having a neurodivergent condition is able to manage day-to-day tasks, maintain executive functioning, and navigate social situations with minimal support. Many people considered to be low-support face challenges that are not always visible. Note that in the past, this was referred to as “high-functioning.” There is a move away from this language as some with personal experience note that determining a level of functioning does not always match the actual persons internal experience of their needs level.

Q: What is neurodivergence?

A: Neurodivergence refers to the natural variation in how people’s brains work, leading to unique ways of thinking, behaving, and learning. Conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and others fall under the neurodivergent umbrella, challenging the concept of a “one-size-fits-all” way of thinking.

Q: Are people born with neurodiversity?

A: Yes, neurodivergence is often present from birth or early childhood. Some conditions, like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia, can be detected early, while others may become apparent as individuals grow older.

Neurodivergence is typically believed to be part of an individual’s genetic makeup, though environmental factors can also influence how traits manifest.

Q: What is regressive autism?

A: Regressive autism refers to a form of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) where children appear to develop typically for a period of time before losing previously acquired skills, such as speech or social abilities. This regression is a subject of ongoing research.

Q: What skills do neurodivergent people have?

A: Neurodivergent individuals often have exceptional skills, particularly in areas like attention to detail, creativity, problem-solving, and pattern recognition.

For instance, people with autism may have intense focus on specific topics, while individuals with ADHD may exhibit creativity and the ability to think outside the box.

Q: What does neurotypical mean?

A: Neurotypical refers to individuals whose cognitive functioning and behavior align with societal norms or expectations. They don’t have conditions like autism or ADHD that lead to unique ways of processing information, learning, or interacting socially.

Q: What are neurodivergent symptoms in adults?

A: In adults, neurodivergent traits may include unique challenges with time management, organization, maintaining focus, or navigating social relationships. These differences are part of the unique way in which you engage with the world and approach daily tasks.

It’s also common for adults with conditions like ADHD or autism to experience co-occurring mental health challenges, such as anxiety or difficulty managing stress.

Understanding these traits allows you to develop strategies that work for you and seek the support that empowers your well-being and success.

Q: How can I tell if I’m neurodivergent?

A: If you find that you approach focus, learning, social interaction, or communication in ways that are unique to you, you may be neurodivergent. These differences are part of the rich diversity of human experience and thinking.

Tools for self-assessment or evaluations from professionals can help you explore whether you identify with conditions like ADHD, autism, or dyslexia. While these traits often become apparent in childhood, they can also evolve and become clearer in adulthood, offering opportunities for self-discovery and growth.

Understanding these traits can empower you to embrace your strengths and seek support in areas where you may need it.

Q: How can I recognize neurodivergent traits in children?

A: In children, neurodivergent traits can manifest as unique ways of engaging with the world, such as deep and focused interests, heightened sensory awareness, and a distinctive approach to social interactions.

These children may demonstrate a strong ability to focus intensely on subjects they are passionate about, often displaying remarkable expertise in those areas.

While they may face challenges with attention, adapting to routine changes, or navigating social situations, these traits are part of their incredible diversity of thought and perspective.