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AIBU?

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Original poster

To wonder whether lack of tolerance for mess is an ND trait?

30 replies

NW3Lady · 10/04/2025 22:02

I don’t just mean that I like my house to be tidy. I mean I actually struggle to function when it’s not. Mess overwhelms me.

I always assumed I was BU but it’s now suddenly occurred to me that perhaps this is an aspect of neurodiversity and that it’s to do with how my brain is wired. Has anyone ever heard of this as an ND trait?

OP posts:
GoldfinchesInTheTree · 10/04/2025 22:07

Im AuDHD. I need it tidy to function but lack the executive function to keep on top of things. I'm my own worst enemy 😔

TotHappy · 10/04/2025 22:06

My husband feels like this. He's not very tidy though. But the untidiness overwhelms him and really stresses him out. He has ADHD.

MyUmberSeal · 10/04/2025 22:06

I don’t believe it’s particularly exclusive to being ND. I am not ND but I hate mess. Tidiness brings clarity to both environment and mind. Before I start things, I like things to be clean and tidy first. It’s not at all unusual.

farmlife2 · 10/04/2025 22:04

Yes, I know some ND people who need everything perfectly in order. I know quite a few ND people and probably about two-thirds are more likely to be messy rather than tidy. But those who are tidy are very tidy.

No idea if it's just them or a ND trait. For the messy ones it usually is as it is to do with executive functioning difficulties.

Iamstumblingin · 10/04/2025 22:04

Not sure but would love to know as the smallest thing out of place really annoys me, especially when DH makes little clusters of his crap, as if it makes it tidy - it’s not, put it all away.

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