Neurodiversity and other health issues - do they often go hand in hand?

[ArnieandBob]

I have suffered with a poorly functioning digestive system since I was young. I have also always been super bendy but not in a good way as I am often in pain (pretty certain I am hypermobile). And don't even get me going on my decades of gynae issues.

I have never felt that my body and mind work in harmony with each other, in fact neither work well, full stop.

Does anyone else feel this way? Do people with neurodiverse issues often have physical issues?

Sorry yes.
Hyper mobility syndrome/hEDS has loads of things that are more likely.

Asthma, autism, allergies, gut and bladder issues

Ime yes.

But don't expect any doctors to be aware of this.

A lot of people with ASD also seem to suffer from CMPA but I've not seen any research, I've just noticed so obviously ciukd he very wrong

In my experience, absolutely!

Growing up the first things I was diagnosed with were severe eczema and hayfever, both common co-morbidities with hypermobility and dysautonomia. I then began getting migraines, and I also have digestive issues. In my teens I was diagnosed with autism and ADHD, and then later still hypermobility and dysautonomia. Every single friend I have who is neurodiverse also has at least one of the aforementioned issues, including EDS, MCAS, IIH and similar. I doubt I've actually reached the end of my own diagnostic journey, as there are still several symptoms I have which aren't explained by my existing illnesses, so I'm sure in future I'll have even more connected issues identified.

Last I heard there was some research underway- I had a friend who was invited to take part in a study- though I have no idea on what timescale we'll begin to see more evidence and connections in scientific and medical journals. Hopefully it'll see the light before too long, because personally I am itching to see some actual evidenced research in this area!

Hopefully it'll see the light before too long, because personally I am itching to see some actual evidenced research in this area!

Me too!

I've recently found podcasts by Gabor Maté which really resonate for me in terms of trauma and attachment, he also has views around illnesses and connecting them to the mind, maybe take a listen and see what you think.

Yes, I have RLS and there is growing evidence of a neurological link.

Marco Castori researches heads/HSD has some articles on this.

Dc is sensitive to milk. (Can have some cooked cheese but not milk)

I know that that quite a lot of neurodivergent people are hypermobile... Not sure what the science behind it is though.

Re Gabor Mate... Loads of people I know love him but I'm not sure tbh... For example, how could he explain the link between hypermobility and neurodivergence? Surely hypermobility isn't a trauma response, seems pretty physical to me