The truth about neurodiversity, and why it matters

With April being Neurodiversity Awareness Month, May being Mental Health Awareness Month, and June being Brain Health Awareness Month, one might believe that the brain, nervous system, and mind all operate separately and independently from each other (a common misunderstanding that does more harm than good).

Thankfully, science has come a LONG WAY in the past 100 years, as we continue to learn about the mind as a function of the brain and nervous system; so much so that we’ve developed Artificial Intelligence based on what we’ve discovered about the brain and nervous system so far.

If only our mental healthcare system was as far along as the tech industry (that’s a bit concerning in itself).

So it’s time to catch-up with what we DO know (so far) about the brain, nervous system, and mental function in the 21st century to improve human health, fitness, and well-being!

What is neurodiversity, and why is it important?

Simply put, neurodiversity is a scientific fact that applies to YOU and every other person on the planet.

When we break it down, “neuro-“ relates to the nervous system and “-diversity” relates to differences among a group, so “neurodiversity” means differences among nervous systems.

Functionally speaking, neurodiversity is the basis of understanding HOW and WHY we think, feel, and behave the way we do that may be different from others for a number of reasons — due to internal factors, external factors, or both — that impact the health, function, or development of our brains and nervous systems (that can be different for different people).

Unfortunately, very often neurodiversity is referenced only in the context of diagnosable conditions like Autism or ADHD (that often go undiagnosed or even misdiagnosed due to lack of understanding and acceptance as well).

This is why accepting and understanding what YOUR unique brain and nervous system need to operate in a healthful way (that may be different from another) is essential to developing and maintaining healthful thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, that is the basis of mental health, fitness, and well-being.

Without this basic knowledge and acceptance of how our brains and nervous systems operate, we become quick to shame, judge, and even neglect ourselves and others when thoughts, feelings, or behaviors are either threatening or socially unacceptable (due to our own unconscious fear and stress response).

Illustration by Steve Veasey

What are neurodivergent and neurotypical?

In an effort to acknowledge and accept the invisible fact of neurodiversity, those who have been identified with a specific diagnosable neurological state (or any combination of) are often referred to as “neurodivergent.” Divergent acknowledges how their brain and nervous system diverge, or function differently, from others in the group (who might also consider themselves neurodivergent).

The term “neurotypical” is often used to describe those believed to have neurological development and function that is similar or typical when compared to the broader group. For example, being cisgender (i.e., identifying mentally and emotionally with the same gender as what’s expressed physically) may be considered neurotypical while being transgender (i.e., identifying mentally and emotionally with a different gender than what’s expressed physically) may be considered neurodivergent since gender identity is one aspect of neurodiversity among many, even though gender identify is not often understood or discussed as such (yet).

That said, it’s important to acknowledge and understand that what is considered “typical” is still up for debate since what is considered “divergent” is often based on what is considered culturally or socially acceptable. At this point, most neurodivergent diagnoses are based solely on self-reported evidence and/or behavioral observation without standardized brain scans or accessible ways to accurately measure neurological activity or development.

This is why so many questions remain, and why so many people may identify as neurodivergent later in life, once they have greater understanding, acceptance, and access to necessary health information and support services.

Acceptance from the inside-out

A major challenge to understanding neurodiversity is that unlike physical diversity (that’s visibly obvious), neurodiversity is invisible and not as obvious. Most often, neurological activity isn’t observable until expressed in our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors or other physical manifestation (like a rash or other physical health condition).

Very often, it’s this invisible nature that fuels so much shame, stigma, and prejudice around mental healthcare and mental illness — when it’s believed we should have conscious control of our brain function and neurological activity. With this belief, our cultural tendency to correct unwanted thoughts, feelings, and behaviors is punishment, fueled by our unconscious stress response (that can further traumatize and trigger the nervous system).

It’s this fear, shame, and stigma of unwanted or unacceptable thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that prevent and discourage many of us from proactively finding the care and support we need — made even more difficult when access is limited and unaffordable.

On the flip side, consider this…

What if we were to understand and accept ourselves and each other better from the inside-out? What if we started to learn how to care for our brains and nervous systems with greater understanding and acceptance and less shame and judgment?

Even with broader understanding and acceptance, the fact remains that you will never be able to walk in a room and know for sure who is neurodivergent or neurotypical (terms that might even start to mean less as we start to learn more). The only sure thing is that neurodiversity is a fact among all humans who must be understood and accepted beyond the surface level to fully optimize and thrive.

Special thanks to my artistic partner!

My sincerest THANKS & RESPECT to my Canadian Instapal Steve Veasey (@steve.can.draw on Instagram) for his inspiring artistry, advocacy, and support of mental health, function, and fitness, having created this thoughtfully inclusive illustration to help raise awareness about the importance of understanding and accepting neurodiversity — the diversity of every brain & nervous system that hides inside us ALL!

Attend a FREE 30-minute mental fitness training session via Zoom on June 6 (10:30-11AM CST) to learn more about how neurodiversity applies to YOU and everyone around you.