Neurodiversity
 

What is considered to be neurodiverse? Do all/some mental illnesses count? I can't find a clear answer about this. Thanks.

short answer - in our understanding most mental illnesses count, yes. don't know that there is one set list or strict definition. which is why you can't find one. would argue that anyone who says there is is just gatekeeping. the most generally accepted are going to be autism, adhd, tourettes (neurodevelopmental disorders) ocd, psychosis related diagnoses, bipolar, etc. but we personally don't see the point in gatekeeping other diagnoses.

longer answer - would also personally say that it's less about specific diagnosis and more so about literally just diversity of brain function and cognition. (neuro being brain diverse meaning different) so if your experience differs from the "societal norm" so to speak, than to us that's neurodiverse. diagnosis to many is inaccessible and can often be harmful (and helpful to others). so we don't see the point of gatekeeping the neurodiverse umbrella so only specific diagnoses fit. for us neurodiversity in general is kind of a starting point or jump off point to anti psychiatry in general. it means being able to think critically about diagnosis and the systems in place. who defines neurotypicality? who decides on and defines the diagnoses that are "disorders?" people in power deciding what societal norms are and exerting control over those who are different. so if we don't necessarily agree with those systems or act like those norms then we're probably neurodiverse. probably going off on a tangent here.

of course others may differ with our point of view or definition and that's okay. we see it as similiar to using a label like queer, where there's no one set definition as it's really about again not fitting the norm. so open ended to be inclusive.

I wonder if it's different in the US to the UK, as that's not my understanding at all of how it's viewed here in the UK.

In the circles I move in, I get a vibe of it mainly being used to describe Autism & ADHD. We had neurodiversity training recently at work and it seemed to have a pretty progressive take on things (talking about the Double Empathy problem and such) and it did have other things listed under the umbrella such as dyslexia but I've honestly not really seen the mentalz counted under the umbrella.

Not saying I'm right, just my experience :)

definitely interesting. we've never seen it only as autism and adhd and that applies to both irl and online spaces.

it might also be just in the workplace where they take a more narrow view of it and feel it needs to be rigidly defined? because in most things we see and interact with it's a lot bigger and more inclusive.

here's an article for example with a list of diagnoses:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/healt...neurodivergent


eta- we almost always see psychosis related diagnoses included too because of the large overlap in patterns of thinking between autistics and psychosis related folks. this is also why it used to be that you couldn't be diagnosed with both but you can be now.




editing again to add-
we kind of wonder if perhaps only counting autism/adhd under neurodiversity is a bit of an older and more outdated thing. the definition has definitely changed as the term itself has gotten more popular. so perhaps in terms of workplaces using an older definition would make sense? obviously speculation.

So interesting!

I went to some neurodiversity training yesterday which in some ways was Not Good ('high functioning' was used wrt autism and she also said that everyone was somewhere on the autistic spectrum, both of which are not considered acceptable things to say here), it did actually mention that some people include mental health conditions in it, which I've never heard over here before.

I have just asked in my ND group chat how they define neurodiversity so we shall see...

Not straightforward then! Thanks for the input.

Nope!

also had a nice laugh at the irony of wanting a clear answer about neurodiversity because that's a very neurodivergent thing to want lol

I have had people say they believe I might be autistic and I did speak to my GP years ago and she wrote to get me assessed but then my CPN found out and told me I wasn't autistic it was all due to my MH problems which made me feel wrong and upset for even considering it so I didn't respond when they wrote back to me about the assessment.

uh yea so. we can't diagnose. but based on what interactions we do have with you on here (which isn't a ton) and things you say, you very much read as some flavour of autism or adhd to us.

mh problems don't rule out autism. they can and do typically cooccur.

Also can’t diagnose and am by no means an expert, but toe you’ve always presented as having some form of autism/adhd too. I don’t know which area you live in, but typically in Scotland unless you’re a kid/adolescent theu don’t tend to happen quickly, with some areas redusing to diagnose at all.

I'm actually surprised that it's been noticed online with just words.

I would like to have an assessment but I'm so afraid of how my current MH people would react.

if you got referred for the assessment in the first place, whomever referred you would have agreed there was enough reason to do so. can you go back to them to ask to be referred again?

if your current MH people get weird you can remind them that autism and other MH challenges can co exist and it would be helpful for you (and them) to know more accurately what is happening for you.

The GP that I spoke to has retired now. I don't have the confidence to try again after how it was responded to the last time and I don't have anyone to stand up for me. I wouldn't ask for an advocate because people might think I was challenging them. Basically I'm just not brave enough to welcome upsetting judgements again.

self diagnosis is also valid, just unfortunately doesnt get you access to different types of health care things that an official diagnosis might. pros and cons to official diagnosis.

dont really know what you are looking for with this. you say really futile and self defeating things like that a lot, and we never really get what you are looking for response wise. but we hope your original question was at least answered.

Would it help to let you know whats specifically available in Scotland after diagnosis Lindsay since other members may not know not being from here?

I was really just looking for an answer to my original question, Camden. Sorry if my responses seem futile aka pointless, that's kind of difficult for me to take in since I'm just talking through things and being honest.

That might be helpful, Ali. Thanks.

Okay. Whats the easiest way for you to process information, in a pm or on a thread? If you want location specific information pm might be better depending on if you want to keep that private or not.

Would be easier for me to process on a thread but you can PM me if you think it would be better.

that's fine if that's how you feel. it's your thread. just hard for us to know what you are looking for response wise when you get in that space. we hope ali can help with some info. it sounds like your country does pretty good with offering support.

I just spoke to my CPN and mentioned the autism thing in passing. He seemed to be saying I can ask for a referral if I want but it isn't going to change the treatment I get. I guess I really just want to know one way or the other.