Neurodiversity

[crazydreamer]

I recently got diagnosed as an adult with ADHD-C (Combined ADHD) even though my therapist said I've had it since I was a kid.  I kinda knew for a long time but with my parents who are pretty strict, I never got I diagnosis until now in college.  So I was wondering about other peoples stories and stuff.  Do we got some other ND people here? When did you kinda know? What do you do? Misrepresentation/Stereotypes that annoys you? Stuff that you love? Sensory toys? I don't know why I'm doing this but I hope to learn a lot. I was a good school kid which made it hard to get a diagnosis, being AFAB and stuff.  But I figured it out and I'm so happy that I can understand myself better. So yeah, stay safe and have fun and I can't wait to see what everyone thinks.

Edited March 22, 2021 by crazydreamer

[ScarfOfSexualPreference]

Hey!

I don't have any diagnoses, but I'm super glad you were able to understand yourself a little better!

I do think I have anxiety though, and I'm on meds for it. Some of my favorite fidgets are super small and quiet that can just help ground me, yk?

[Alaska Native Manitou]

10 years ago I was diagnosed on the autism spectrum by a psychiatrist.  When I was in school I was sent to see a counselor every week starting in 3rd grade.  The teachers wondered why the one who was always considered the smartest in class couldn't make good grades or get along with other kids.  Of the many counselors I spoke to, not one ever figured it out.  They just seemed to agree with the teachers that I was stubborn & selfish.

[crazydreamer]

13 hours ago, ScarfOfSexualPreference said:

Hey!

I don't have any diagnoses, but I'm super glad you were able to understand yourself a little better!

I do think I have anxiety though, and I'm on meds for it. Some of my favorite fidgets are super small and quiet that can just help ground me, yk?

Fidget toys are some of the best things in life and you can't change my mind.  I also really love zippers for no reason.  

[crazydreamer]

On 3/21/2021 at 12:37 AM, 2 Spirit Cherokee Princess said:

10 years ago I was diagnosed on the autism spectrum by a psychiatrist.  When I was in school I was sent to see a counselor every week starting in 3rd grade.  The teachers wondered why the one who was always considered the smartest in class couldn't make good grades or get along with other kids.  Of the many counselors I spoke to, not one ever figured it out.  They just seemed to agree with the teachers that I was stubborn & selfish.

That must have been awful to not know why people thought you were like that.  This is why it's so important to educate people about all different sides of neurodiversity because so many people grow up thinking that something's wrong with them when it's not their fault. People used to think I didn't care about their ideas and didn't show any interest in them.  I'm so glad you have a diagnosis now. I don't know why they don't talk about mental illness and neurodiversity in kids other than the occasional, "be nice to kids who are different" in school.

Edited March 22, 2021 by crazydreamer

[Lovebird]

I am autistic and cognitively/intellectually disabled. I am look for other people with IDs to befriend, but it's difficult as we are a minority of a minority. I also think I have ADHD. I wasn't diagnosed till I was 15-16, however people suspected something was 'odd' about me when I was 5, but my mum never bothered to seek a diagnosis for me. My hyperfixtations are birds & Jojos Bizzare Adventure. My favourite sensory toys are tangle plastic toy, fidget cubes and my recent favourites is the push & pop -- made popular from the internet, because of course. The biggest misrepresentation that bothers me? people treating those with IDs like babies. Not only do NTs do this but also other NDs too, to make themselves 'superior' because they're 'smarter' -- I hate when they use that as an excuse 

[crazydreamer]

10 hours ago, Lovebird said:

people treating those with IDs like babies. Not only do NTs do this but also other NDs too, to make themselves 'superior' because they're 'smarter' -- I hate when they use that as an excuse 

I hate that! It makes it so annoying when people treat other's like children, like we can't handle ourselves. Like Sia's movie.  Ugh. Yes we need help sometimes but so do all humans. Neurodivergence is too stigmatised.  On a brighter note, my favourite fidget toy is this one, I don't know what it's called but I really like it because it's silent and I can do it mindlessly. Here's the link for it: https://www.etsy.com/listing/266708061/fidget-toy-great-for-focus-autism-adhd?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=fidget+toys&ref=sr_gallery-1-14&organic_search_click=1&frs=1&bes=1&col=1

 

 

Edited March 26, 2021 by crazydreamer

[Lovebird]

2 hours ago, crazydreamer said:

I hate that! It makes it so annoying when people treat other's like children, like we can't handle ourselves. Like Sia's movie.  Ugh. Yes we need help sometimes but so do all humans. Neurodivergence is too stigmatised.  On a brighter note, my favourite fidget toy is this one, I don't know what it's called but I really like it because it's silent and I can do it mindlessly. Here's the link for it: https://www.etsy.com/listing/266708061/fidget-toy-great-for-focus-autism-adhd?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=fidget+toys&ref=sr_gallery-1-14&organic_search_click=1&frs=1&bes=1&col=1

 

 

I also have a critique regarding the neurodiverse community 'forgetting' people with intellectual disabilities when it's convenient for them, they'll talk how IQ is problematic yet talk bad about those with cognitive disorders, either with insults or making themselves superior "at least we're not like those guys!!" and romanticising gifted & talented programs, saying things like "if you were in gifted, you're probably ND!!" and thinking there's no issues of class, competivity, pressure, or disability divide these programs at all. 

[Cinematic]

I am dyspraxic (DCD), and I was diagnosed almost 2 years ago despite showing symptoms for my whole life. Our representation is limited to one character in Doctor Who, and a bunch of theories about other characters (Arthur Christmas is definitely dyspraxic). The problem with this depiction is that we are usually shown as the clumsy, comical sidekick, never leading the story. Even this representation is so limited that most people don’t even know what DCD is, and doubt that I am disabled

(I’m glad to finally have somewhere to talk about this, it’s a cool thread)

[crazydreamer]

20 hours ago, Cinematic said:

(Arthur Christmas is definitely dyspraxic). The problem with this depiction is that we are usually shown as the clumsy, comical sidekick, never leading the story. Even this representation is so limited that most people don’t even know what DCD is, and doubt that I am disabled

(I’m glad to finally have somewhere to talk about this, it’s a cool thread)

Media representation can really annoy me when it comes to Neurodivergence.  On the bright side, Doctor Who is pretty fantastic and Arthur Christmas is the coolest son of Santa. It would be nice if they put more neurodivergent characters in media and books because it feels good relating to someone like you without them being the weird sidekick or the neville of the group.