Other Neurodivergent vs neurotypical

Status
Not open for further replies.
It makes a lot of sense to me that a person who does fall on the neurodivergent spectrum would want to understand what that’s about, as a way to better understand themselves.
Yes. Right. But is neurodivergent a spectrum really? ASD is a spectrum. Anxiety is a spectrum. Dissociation is a spectrum. Even schizo-ish disorders .. is a spectrum.
ND/NT is more like a dichotomy, either you are neurodivergent or you are neurotypical. Just like alcoholic in AA.
Which I suppose *is* what it is, a colloquial term used inside the community. For identification?
 
Which I suppose *is* what it is, a colloquial term used inside the community. For identification?
My understanding is that it’s for this purpose:
Neurodivergent has been traced back to Judy Singer in the late 1990s. It refers to people whose brains have particular neurological responses with respect to remembering facts and patterns, as well as explicit cognitive focus. It was introduced primarily to distinguish between developmental disorders (which need treatment), and developmental differences (which simply need certain types of accommodation)
 
IDK, I haven't read everything, but I come from a ND family and I love it. Not all the challenges that are faced, but yes it can help with understanding and work arounds as understanding in general increases. Personally, I prefer it in others as regards how they think and the ways they think (often out of the box) and the depth to which they feel (expressed or not). The extra energy when it applies is a benefit in my eyes, especially later in life. To each their own. And it's never boring, and as my mom said, "God knows one thing I could never stand was boring".
 
Difference is normal.
But not every person falls on every spectrum.
Yeah, it seems to me that "everyone is divergent" is just another way to dismiss or invalidate our concerns. I can tell you from lived experience that most people are neurotypical. It's easy to convince yourself this is not the case when you have the capacity to choose your own friend group and neurodivergent individuals tend to cluster up, but spend any time at work or school "amongst the crowds" and yeah.

It's also important to understand the difference between typical and average. As @ziter describes it, average is a statistical term. It's not logically consistent to say that because statistics indicate that it's more common to have more arms than average, that it is therefore average to have 3 arms. Because it isn't. In day-to-day life, if you see a person with 3 arms, chances are that is an anomaly to your everyday existence.

Let's poll the entire forum: how many times have you ever met a person with 3 arms?

It's OK that neurodivergent people want to understand themselves and create terms for intracommunity usage.
 
Hopefully this isn’t taking it off topic (please let me know if it is)

When people are talking about nuero divergence, and we talking differences the person was born with - so eg austism, or differences (like ptsd, for example) that were ‘acquired’ for want of a better term?
 
When people are talking about nuero divergence, and we talking differences the person was born with
The term is normally applied to people with congenital neurological divergence (autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, etc). Personally, I also think that acquired neurological divergence also qualifies, because it is still neurological divergence.
 
A little like HSP then.
What is HSP?

When people are talking about nuero divergence, and we talking differences the person was born with - so eg austism, or differences (like ptsd, for example) that were ‘acquired’ for want of a better term?
For me, I have always known, the people I have had to surround myself with did not think like me. At all. I hated talking to any of them because they could not keep up with the conversation, etc. Knowing now what ND/NT is has given me the insight to understand WHY I could not communicate with them. I know an NT immediately now that I know the term (I have always known actually). I honestly don't care what diagnosis they may or not have, I now know their brain does not work the way mine does so I can adjust or leave the situation. Many people here are getting caught up in what belongs under the ND umbrella. I don't care. I don't see that. I just see how the brain works for everyone compared to mine. I just wanted a way to understand how to identify myself (and my brain) so I could deal with the real world. This concept has already helped me navigate the few relationships I have. I have been able to communicate our differences. Some get it. Some don't. But now I'm not afraid to set boundaries. I actually can now. Never have in my life until now. I have a beginning point to begin the learning process. And that is good enough for me. I'm easy. 🤣 🤣 (Not what anyone that has met me has EVER said.) I'm just really happy to to have clarity and a vocabulary to help me navigate this crazy world we live in. Thank you!
 
It's also important to understand the difference between typical and average
You're completely right. Typical isn't average. Dismiss my statement as a stupid attempt at playing the Devil's Advocate.
What is HSP?
Highly sensitive person. A colloquial term for people who tend to feel more deeply than what's considered normal, have high moral standards etc

that it is therefore average to have 3 arms
More like 1,99999998 arms or so, as some people have 1 or 0 arms (not accounting for more than 2 arms). And since most people have 2 arms, most people have more arms than the average. It was a bit of math humor. Nevermind.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Btw @Weemie, just curious, is a failure or hardship of understanding abstract thinking a feature of alleged neurodivergence, or your individual divergent neurology? I was wondering why you labeled what I said logically inconsistent, discounting the fact that the average does not need to be an observable portion of the population you are considering. I mean, in a population where most people have two arms, and a small minority have 1 or 0 arms, the average number of arms per person would be a fractional number slightly below 2, it's pretty basic math.

Just curious, trying to understand if there is an 'abstraction failure', or if it was just a plain misunderstanding? Trying to learn about our differences, instead of stupid arguments.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

2025 Donation Goal

Help Keep MyPTSD Alive! Our annual donation goal is crucial to continue providing support. If you find value in our resource, please contribute to ensure we remain online and available for everyone who needs us.
Goal
$1,600.00
Received
$220.00
13%

Trending content

Featured content

Back
Top