Neurodivergence
Being neurodivergent can affect many different parts of everyday life
Sometimes in ways that aren’t immediately obvious.
You might find mundane tasks almost impossible to concentrate on while being able to spend hours deeply focused on something that interests you. Planning, managing time, meeting deadlines or keeping up with everyday responsibilities might feel much harder than you think they “should”.
You might have a strong need for routine, or find creating and maintaining any kind of routine incredibly difficult.
There can also be differences in how you experience your body and the world around you. Certain sounds, lights, temperatures or textures might feel overwhelming. You might find it difficult to notice when you’re hungry or thirsty, experience emotions very intensely, or use repetitive movements or stimming to soothe yourself.
Over time, trying to manage all of this can be exhausting, and you may find yourself going through periods of burnout.
When you’ve spent a long time feeling different
Relationships and social situations can bring their own challenges.
You might miss social cues or misunderstand what someone means. Perhaps you frequently feel misunderstood yourself.
You may also have learned to mask by consciously changing the way you speak, behave or use body language so that you come across in a way that feels more acceptable to other people.
After years of doing that, it can sometimes become difficult to know what feels natural to you or who you really are.
Many neurodivergent people I work with have spent parts of their lives feeling different or “odd”. Those experiences can have a real impact on how you feel about yourself and where you believe you fit.
%20(2).png)
Understanding what works for you
Therapy can help you understand how your neurodivergence affects your life and what you need to make your life suit you better.
Sometimes that involves practical things, such as self-care strategies or finding ways of establishing routines that work for you.
But it can also go deeper.
It might mean exploring who you are when you’re not trying to act the way you think you’re supposed to, building your self-esteem, understanding what you need from the people around you and finding people and communities where you feel understood.
The aim isn’t to make you fit one particular way of functioning. It’s to better understand yourself and find ways of working with your brain rather than against it.
Thinking about starting therapy?
If you’re thinking about starting therapy, you’re welcome to get in touch.
​
You can ask any questions you have, learn a little more about my approach, or book an appointment if you feel ready to get started. If you’d prefer to speak first, you can also request a free 15-minute initial conversation to briefly talk about what you’re looking for and whether I might be the right therapist for you.