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 don't feel 'mum guilt' about my parenting decisions or sadness about my kids getting older and needing me less.

I'm the same. I was very happy for DD when she went to university, and didn't spend all summer sobbing at the thought of it.

I consider myself NT.

This!

I suspect I am ND, my son is going through the ASD assessment process at the moment and it’s really a formality at this point, we’ve got multiple medical and educational professionals in agreement that’s we’re looking at ASD.

I’m not seeking a diagnosis for me as I just don’t think I need one, I’ve managed this far with a lot of what I now realise are coping strategies and masking and am happy in myself. I personally have found it useful just to be more self aware.

I'm recently diagnosed with inattentive ADHD. I get through life haphazardly by being intelligent, personable and honest but feel as though there is a system or framework in place that I just can't seem to grasp.

I've done fairly well for myself- 2 degrees, good jobs, well travelled, wonderful partner of nearly a year- but don't manage money very well (no major debts or anything, I just can't seem to save), and struggle socially in that I just find it a huge uphill battle to form and maintain friendships unless it's with people whom I mutually click with very deeply. I have maybe a dozen friends I would trust with my life but nobody to have coffee with in the city where I've lived over a year. I tend to scrape through qualifications as I run out of steam, mess up all my deadlines and exam revision timings and get into a tangle. I'm late for everything. The commitment of a regular hobby or class exhausts me even if I'm really interested in it. I am retraining in something that's hard to get into but I'm only really in because I hyper focussed on the entrance requirements. Currently I'm completely disorganised and trying to turn it around.

I have a neurological condition that is commonly found with ADHD and sometimes it's difficult to work out where problems caused by that start and those caused by ADHD end.

I count my blessings but my mind feels like a total bin fire most of the time.

I'm NT but I have a ND child (ADHD)

I think the thread has attracted a lot of neurodivergent people, I don't think that's the general percentage in the population.
Interesting that most people seem to be referring to ADHD and autism, whereas actually neurodivergence also refers to stuff like dyslexia, OCD, Tourette's, DID, I've seen people with cerebral palsy refer to themselves as ND because of it.
I'm neurodivergent: diagnosed with autism, ADHD, dyspraxia, OCD, FND I guess could be considered a neurodivergent condition too.

ND. I am almost certainly autistic and likely have adhd. It’s been misdiagnosed as many mental health disorders over the years start with anxiety, depression, eating disorders, addictive tendencies and ocd…and i could never figure out how to overcome my struggles. When actually my mental health “issues” were signs of autism and adhd and as a result of not being able to understand myself I was absolutely depressed and anxious but that’s why meds and cbt never actually helped. I feel like my father likely had adhd.

Also this. Your title will drive ND individuals so your poll is entirely bias sadly but there is still many interesting view points here

Neurodiverse isn’t limited to autism by the way. There is a lot that fall under it. And even so called “high functioning” people with autism absolutely struggle with life limiting consequences

ND. Defo. Sad that I was 53 before I realised

I think I am ND, currently being assessed. I manage day to day life and won't take medication if diagnosed. Eldest DC is diagnosed with ADHD and youngest at is currently being assessed .

ND. I have traits of ADHD and OCD. I also have anxiety and complex trauma. I am very aware of how different my thinking is to other people.

When I was younger, I read about autistic people (mainly men and boys), who were talented at maths and computing but uncomfortable with anything creative and unable to make eye contact in conversation. That didn’t fit me at all, so I decided I couldn’t be autistic.

Then when I was 39, I heard a radio interview with Anne Hegerty and some of what she said really struck a chord with me. I then read about how autism often presents differently in women and it was a revelation. I remember one list of about thirty traits associated with autistic women, and I had two thirds of them to some extent. So many dots joined together, my apparent dyspraxia, my synaesthesia, my mood swings, my OCD and anxiety, my crippling shyness at secondary school, my difficulties with romantic relationships, my inclination to spend most of my time reading….

That was two years ago and I haven’t asked my GP about being assessed as I feel he might just say, “the NHS is too busy and there’s no treatment anyway”. I also worry that the process might be very embarrassing and demoralising, especially if my social skills are judged to be poor.

I am dyslexic which apparently is nd

Definitely ND. Diagnosed a decade ago and still shocked it didn't happen sooner.

at 42 ive just been diagnosed (few months ago)with ADD-INATTENTIVE TYPE 1,new term for ADHD with out the hyper part and ODD Oppositional defiant disorder

both my boys have numerous disabilities each and my 18 y old has ODD but as their dad has asd i put it down to his dna

im a take no shit type of person and a alpha female type so put my personality down to that

ive never struggled like a lot of newly diagnosed adults say they have and have been a full time carer for 14 years(my oldest was 4 when his symptoms kicked in)and a home educator so im on call 24/7 and stressed.

I am ND, confirmed with a diagnosis.

Not true, that’s like saying ‘everyone is a bit autistic’. There are certain traits, I prob have some, but I’m def not autistic.

Yes there will deffo be a bias in terms of who has replied (although it is particularly interesting to me seeing the replies from NT people saying how the world just seems set up to work for them and they in it). It's not like taking a random sample from the population and asking them the same question. I'd put an apparent overrepresentation of ND people down to that more than over- self diagnosis.

I have been diagnosed with OCD and ADHD. However it’s complicated as probably these days my OCD would be considered sub clinical and my current psychiatrist has tried to remove the ADHD diagnosis in favour of some other anxiety diagnosis and I will now go through another assessment with the ADHD/ASD team and the whole process is very upsetting and stressful. The diagnostic process, especially for women I think, is often a really bumpy road, so no wonder people look for other sources of help.

I’m not personally on the fence about the OCD and ADHD as I feel confident these diagnoses were accurate. However, I am going through the doubt and questioning on ASD. Another psychologist suggested it and it’s true that I do have a lot of those traits (my AQ score is consistently about 34) but I go back and forth on whether I would have enough of the social challenges as in some ways I am quite socially skilled.

I really understand what you are saying about “doesn’t everyone think/feel/act like this?” Sometimes it can be quite a revelation to find out that no they don’t! I do compare my experiences to my DH a lot to try and understand what might be genuinely unusual. But I think unfortunately social media does sometimes portray “normal” experiences as though they are traits or symptoms because it attracts views as everyone can say “hey, I do that!” and so it becomes popular content. On the other hand, because the internet does bring people together to share experiences, this has actually helped to shed light on things like autistic burnout where only now researchers are finally looking into and validating something that people have always spoken about online. So again, it’s complicated.

For me, whatever condition I do or don’t have, what is clear is that I spend a lot of time and energy masking and compensating for something, and it takes a huge toll. So my current psychologist is just helping me work on the self acceptance aspect, whatever the cause, so that if I need rest time, if I want to stay alone reading about an obscure topic etc. I can accept and allow that, because I do find that hard having focused so much energy to construct a persona of what I understand to be “normal”. That might not even be an uncommon experience, but even if it’s common, that doesn’t make it easier.

This is exactly me as well.

I personally think we all have our little traits that are perhaps "not quite the norm". Which doesn't mean we actually have anything diagnosable.

Sorry I can't help. I went private because it would have been such a long wait (if I could even have got a referral at all).

All my life I've been told that I was hyper and that I needed to calm down. I do everything fast. Talk, walk, move, think.

I also struggle in group environment. I struggle to understand group chatting can never follow it and feel awkward as a result. People struggle to get me when they first meet me.

I guess I have ADHD and some element of ASD.

i could go on.

In reality, I think I'm just who I am and it doesn't mean I fall under either category. Even if I did, so what? I've adjusted fine in life and it would be very boring if we didn't have our quirks.

I think the vast majority of people could find examples that could put them into categories leading to a diagnostic. But then, doesn't it make those who don't the 'odd' ones?

I've been quoted 2k. But that's London prices. But does it help having a diagnosis? I'm too shy to bring it up at work, so don't think I could utilise it. Maybe if I changed jobs?

I have an ADHD diagnosis but I don't tell people, especially work as there is so much hate and discrimination.