neurodivergency is indeed neat!!! I feel like something that's not a diagnostic criteria for autism/ADHD/neurodivergency is the fact that we tend to mainly get along with people like us. like, at this point in my life, almost all the people I'm friends with are either on the spectrum or ADHD or both (and they're almost all trans too lol), and it's made me realize recently that I'm probably on the spectrum too. like if I get along really well with someone, it's almost 100% likely they're some sort of neurodivergent, but especially autistic folks. idk if I'll get tested though (is it worth it?), I already have an ADHD diagnosis and I'm not sure an autism diagnosis will do anything for me.
I'm being tested because I've spent my whole life being put down by others, being asked "what's wrong with you?", being so different that nobody can handle me. My mother has 4 kids. 2 are nonverbal autists, one is deaf and has ADHD, and I'm so riddled in neurodivergency that the ladies at the testing place (I had another appointment today, my final one is Friday) are so sure I have ADHD, ADD, and autism, and I haven't even finished up. Getting tested isn't for everyone. Some people don't need to hear that. Some people don't want to hear that. Some people look at it as a weakness. Some people don't want the stigma that comes with it. Some people are not into the idea of having a label. And some people worry that a diagnosis will affect them negatively. Getting a diagnosis is for me. It's for my happiness. It's for my fulfillment. And it's for who and what I am. But it's not for everyone and I'll never pressure anyone into testing or anything. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate it
im AUDHD with tourettes and ive always felt weird about thinking my neuro-divergency is cool because i feel like its really frowned upon to LIKE having a mental disorder. i love being autistic! i would never trade my autism for anything because it makes me who i am! i hate the narrative that i have to hate everything about myself just because i have autism
The narrative your referencing is sadly normal. It's everywhere and it's put on anyone who has anything different. It wasn't put together by your fellow neurodivergent folks. It was made to demean and silence us. You don't have to be happy that you have this. But you should be proud of who it makes you. And happy with how it makes you special. Thank you for sharing, it means a lot and I hope you are doing well
