Do you think you're neurotypical?

[Whyx]

Quick search didn't show this had been asked before which surprised me.

A lot of neurodivergent (ND) stuff on social media these days. Got me thinking I am definitely ND maybe ADHD. I always think "surely everyone is like that though???" I struggle to comprehend how anyone could think of do things differently to me.

So Mumsnet - do you think you are neurotypical or neurodiverse?

Yabu - neurotypical

Yanbu - neurodiverse

I think the responses on this thread are self selecting so I'm not convinced that this is typical of the general population TBH.

Even if 60% or even 80% of people were neurodiverse, if the world we live in is designed against their ability to function in it it's a disability.

I do accept that using the term neurodiverse is problematic in that it umbrellas so many other terms verses neurotypical which is standalone but no other way to phrase the qu succinctly in a forum with only two voting options.

I think the ‘typical’ range has now become so narrowly defined that the whole diagnosis thang is getting out of hand. “Co morbid” as an expression and concept is quite bizarre. At some point it all blows up and the ASD diagnosis become more realistic

NT, I think. I grew up with a brother and mother who have ASD indicators. I struggle socially when stressed. I did wonder whether I also have ASD, but all the tests show very low scores. I think I have social anxiety from not knowing what was going on in my family and the fear this generated when a child.

I’m diagnosed with Asperger’s (even though it supposedly didn’t exist at the time of my diagnosis). Also diagnosed with GAD and OCD.

I’m self-diagnosed with Inattentive ADHD and Pure O OCD.

I have one DS diagnosed with ASD and another DS with inattentive ADHD (diagnosed by me and I have NEVER been wrong with a diagnosis).

@HeadNorth
Autism can be a serious and life limiting condition that bears no relation to the so called neurodiverse behaviours reported on Mumsnet. We are all diverse.

This isn’t correct at all.

The nt world isn't designed against nd.

It's not deliberate.

I get this shit as well due to my job and some of my interests.

I'm NT but my DP, some of my friends - including those I've known decades - , colleagues and acquaintances are ND.

In my case I suspect it is due to the questioners sexism and/or racism.

I’ve not had any assessments but I think that it’s a possibility that I may be ND in some way. I do a lot of masking, and probably appear NT to almost everyone around me, but I hide a lot.

I’m not looking to pursue an assessment at present, though I find it hard to articulate why. I think perhaps that I feel there are more deserving cases waiting and I can continue to muddle through.

I’m definitely ND I’m pretty sure I have ASD but not diagnosed. I’ve been different all my life, failed at school and bullied throughout. I have awful mental health, daily panic attacks and lots of sensory issues. I mask every day and frequently burn out, I only ever last a couple of years at a time in jobs. My ds is also diagnosed with ASD and ADHD.

@Whyx Even if 60% or even 80% of people were neurodiverse, if the world we live in is designed against their ability to function in it it's a disability.

neurodiverse does not necessarily mean disability.
Difficulty and difference is sometimes more accurate.

I didn't mean that it was deliberate..I didn't know how else to phrase it but it's not usually designed with neurodivergent traits in mind is it? Not unless it's a specific space. More place are being designed with this is mind but it's not the norm yet.

I've been diagnosed with autism, and I have a son who has been diagnosed with autism. I believe I also have ADHD but never sought diagnosis..

I've struggled more than the average autistic adult - never held down a job, can't drive or form friendships, multiple suicide attempts. Didn't get diagnosed until adulthood but it was fairly straightforward and on the NHS.

I am neurodivergent. My mental health team say that it's obvious but it isn't or wasn't to me. I haven't decided yet whether I want to pursue an autism diagnosis but I was told it's highly likely I would be diagnosed.

@Whyx

Well, no

Because being nd isn't the norm

Society is set up for the majority, mostly.

It's not always easy for nt people to do things differently either but obviously much easier than for nd people

but it's not usually designed with neurodivergent traits in mind is it?

I think it would be very difficult given that autism, for example, is a spectrum, and what might be fine for one person might not be for another.

I have noticed that our local cinema now has regular autism friendly showings of films. So it is a step in the right direction.

I am neurotypical.

Adhd here

I've been wondering about this a lot recently as DD just got diagnosed with ADHD.

I've always considered myself firmly NT but when I think back to my childhood I displayed a lot of ND traits - poor at friendships and socialisation, over attached to certain clothes etc, always away with the fairies, overly worried about the fate of the world, obsessions which took up all my waking thoughts, the kind of kid who had friends over but just took a book and went off to read...but at about the age of 17 I just kind of found my feet and slotted into life more easily. I got a good education, good jobs, happy marriage.

But now I question myself a lot - maybe I just don't understand myself. DD's adhd must have come from somewhere. On the one hand maybe we are all neurodiverse, on the other maybe it's a serious disability and I need to be desperately worried for her future. I can't get perspective on it at all.

The world isn't designed for women who are at least 50% of the population ( though more if you are older) let alone other larger groups in some society.

So no the world isn't designed for ND people.

Definitely have autistic traits - happy with just one or two friends, love to delve deep into my chosen topics, hypersensitive to loud-ish noise (others don't seem to mind), love to spend time alone.

In fact I just quickly did a test online and have been told there is a strong possibility I am autistic.

I'm 'bi-neural'*
I have sufficient empathy/theory of mind and intelligence to relate to most people however it takes relentless effort to pull it off. It's like being bi-lingual. I get by but I know my mother tongue. Often I'll have different views and emotions to the majority but I believe I have the same range and depth as others.
I worked as a Qb tester (for ADHD) and within 2 days of training I could predict with very good accuracy the 'print off'. I'm pretty good with acute mental ill health too, but then i am an android😉l (mostly) teach now.
When trying to converse in 'typical' , it's s not fool-proof or fluent but it's hugely better than your (society's) attempt at non typical. I'm like the foreigner who asks you how high you are and you laugh because it should be how TALL are you. Should it? Why?

• bi-neural...this isn't a real word, I made it up but I like it.

So DS has been diagnosed with inattentive ADHD, DH, we realise, probably has same.

I have always been a bit 'emotionally weird', though on any standard 'are you on the autism spectrum' type test online I don't show up as anything. I don't feel passionate in love, I'm not big on sex and could live without it, I have never felt any urge to compare myself to other people, I have never felt the pressure that most women seem to feel about being slim or pretty and am fine with how I look (and I don't think it's because I'm more 'sensible' or better than other women or something, just that I'm weird and I don't feel things a lot of people seem to feel). I don't feel 'mum guilt' about my parenting decisions or sadness about my kids getting older and needing me less. Those aren't necessarily ND things of course, but they make me wonder as so many other parents seem to feel them but I never have. So basically there's quite a lot of stuff that a lot of people say they feel that I never have.

I got diagnosed with ADHD in childhood.
When on medication for ADHD I manage my life quite well but I’m still a little scatty.

When I don’t take my meds I go days without sleeping, the second I put something down I’ve lost it, I’m late all the time because I have no concept of time.
My colleagues tell me off all day for being fidgety and for constantly getting up walking round etc.
I interrupt conversations without meaning to and then overthink it to the enth degree which then triggers off anxiety of thinking I’m an awful person for interrupting others only to interrupt them again 2 seconds later and overthink again.
I am deffo ND I wish meds me was non meds me 😂 she gets shit done!

Wow, amazed at the % YANBU. I'm NT. I've met many ND people and they've quite clearly struggled with particular things, not that I don't struggle, we all do but not with anything ND wise. I do think social media isn't that helpful, I saw something last week '5 kitchen related signs you have ADHD' that included not being able to face the washing up, burning toast and having food past it's best before date. I can't remember the other two but they were all completely common things that everyone would agree with