Would you consider yourself to be neurodivergent, even if you have not been diagnosed with...

TinyViolins · 31-35, M

No. I feel like many people conflate being socially awkward with being on the autism spectrum. Studies suggest that boys are getting overdiagnosed with ADHD just because of hyperactivity or inattentiveness.

I think the reality is that people have been spending so much time in front of screens that their ability to navigate human interactions gets stunted. Social skills are exactly as their name implies, a skill. Like any other, it takes practice and repetition to feel confident in communicating with others.

A lot of kids are also being raised on tablets and videogames and never get to learn that sometimes life is supposed to be boring. They're being overstimulated and bound to the safety and security of electronic devices. Sometimes feelings of anxiety can happen when thrust into unfamiliar situations because they don't learn how to handle things on their own.

I know I got my social struggles, but I feel like it's far too convenient to just blame things on my brain being different. It just gives people an excuse to stop trying, to stop learning, to stop working on themselves. Interacting with strangers or being in unfamiliar situations is supposed to be weird because we don't know if we can trust them or ourselves yet.

I say we should just learn to embrace the awkwardness and not slap a diagnosis on it. Most people can function just fine in spite of it

Edit: grammar

Miram · 31-35, F

I am unsure. I have a fluctuated ability to experience empathy and radically different perspectives, as well a far less need for socializing and seeking acceptance than most people. Same for being loved. And I do get overwhelmed by certain sensory input.

There have been guesses that I do by professionals. My siblings were previously diagnosed as having Asperger's. Now that's not the agreeable term.

It is even more complicated to decide because I had a TBI as a kid. I am very functional compared to many , even those who aren't neurodivergent. I also have PTSD and maybe my lacks are natural character growth to ensure survival. And since I do well socially when I want to, they don't need to be treated like problems. They are more inconvenient for others than they are for me. Often people wish to emotionally pressure me but all they achieve to get from me is more detachment.

Zeusdelight · 61-69, M

My daughter is diagnosed as highly adhd.

We in thinking/behavioural ways are very similar.

I may have more adhd or some aspects of it than most.

HootyTheNightOwl · 41-45

I do have autism... I just don't have the diagnosis to back up the claim.

I had all the struggles as far back as I can remember, though... and I can't help but feel salty that they saw enough of it that they were threatening me with special needs school - but not so much that they could make a diagnosis.

BillyMack · 46-50, M

Yes. Even if it’s not a full diagnosis it gives me a framework to understand a few things.

fun4us2b · M

Sometimes. Like if I see a solution that looks obvious and others totally missed it's because of a different approach. I do try to allow free flow thinking.