MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS: Understanding neurodivergence and mental well-being

As always, what I share with you in my columns is intended for informational purposes only. For specific care for yourself and/or a loved one, always consult with a professional who you see specifically for your unique situation. So, with that being said, grab your cup of coffee and let’s get going!

To set the stage, this week I am going to share with you information about neurodivergence, sensory processing disorders and mental health. In my next column, we will look at how these conditions can cause disability as well as what are considered best treatment practices in each case.

Perhaps you too have been hearing more and more about neurodivergence. You may be wondering what this is all about. Or you might identify with neurodivergence yourself or see it in a loved one. Some of you may have never heard of it before! Today, I want to try to unpack some of the information we have on neurodivergence itself as well as its intersection with mental health. I will also offer some current definitions and language to help us wade through all the information.

What does ‘neurotypical’ mean?

This is one of those phenomena where we become aware of the exceptions before we knew there even was a rule. So, let’s look at the “rule” first. What is the definition of “neurotypical?” The term “neurotypical” refers to brain development and functioning that aligns with the dominant societal expectations and standards as well as normative developmental modals. One dominant but often unspoken standard is that we expect others will intuitively know that in the Western world, we give people a certain amount of physical personal space (typically about 2 feet) as we interact with each other.

What does neurodivergence mean?

Neurodivergence or neurodiversity involves conditions that still fit within the normal bell curve of how the brain functions, but perhaps on one tail end of that curve. These conditions are considered to be basically stable (they don’t get better or worse) and are considered to be lifelong. Neurodivergence can sometimes be observed in someone’s behavior. As described above, it may mean that person does not intuitively know about personal space, or at least does not feel the social discomfort when they stand within a foot of others’ personal space. This behavior tends to challenge the dominant societal expectations. The fallout is that others become uncomfortable with the person’s behavior, rather than the person themselves becoming aware that there is something just a bit different about themselves.

These terms were created to avoid labels such as “normal” or “healthy brained.” Labels such as “normal” also connote the idea that if one does not have a neurotypical brain, they must be broken or inherently defective. This is not the case. Neurodivergence still falls within a natural continuum of the diversity of how human brains are built.

There are some key shared characteristics involved with the different neurodivergences. One being that one’s development may not follow typical medical and psychological timelines. Talking, first words, walking and/or standing may happen slightly behind what the developmental charts indicate as “normative.” Or, one may be well ahead of the normal developmental milestones. Gifted and talented people are also on the neurodivergent spectrum.

A second characteristic involves the function of one’s senses. For example, one may have a difficult time understanding spatial awareness. Again, going back to personal space, they may not understand the value that many people place on this social norm. Another example is understanding when to wait for a conversation to finish before sharing an unrelated concept or idea. Or, neurodivergence may lead to someone giggling or laughing at something most people find sad or disturbing.

Thirdly, people who are neurodivergent in some way may have difficulty adapting to everyday work or social interactions. Their cognitive styles diverge from those who are considered neurotypical. Because of this difficulty in adaptation, transitions and change can be particularly difficult

Sensory processing conditions

In addition to neurodivergence, people can sometimes experience a sensory processing issue. This means that the person experiences one or a combination of the sensory systems we have in a different way than most of the rest of us. For example, there is a condition called “chromesthesia” where one sees colors when experiencing auditory stimulation such as tones or musical notes. Once we became aware that there are people who experience chromesthesia, we also became aware that most people do not in fact see colors when they hear tones. Also, and probably not such a surprise, we find that statistically speaking, chromesthesia is more prevalent among musicians, artists and creative professionals. Billie Eilish and Pharrell Williams have chromesthesia. These people’s stories remind us that these conditions need not hold a person back from success!

What actually occurs in the brain that causes this condition? Chromesthesia occurs because the brain processes sensory information through unique and unusual neural pathways. Research shows that there is a type of “cross-wiring” between parts of the brain that deal with auditory functions versus those that deal with visual functions, which typically does not happen. The result of this cross-wiring for the person who experiences it can be very distracting. A friend tells me that when they are in a room with a lot of noise, they easily become overwhelmed. Of course they do. They are being bombarded by both auditory and visual chaos.

Another example of a sensory processing issue is called misophonia. This is when the sounds of someone chewing food, crunching, lip-smacking or swallowing leads the person with the condition feeling frustration, overwhelm and sometimes downright rage. One of my family members lives with this processing condition. We have developed a wordless signal when they are having an episode of misophonia during dinner. They simply get up and take their food to another room, and we all understand why this is happening.

The cross-section with mental health

Mental health conditions include depression, anxiety, PTSD, obsessive-compulsive disorder and eating disorders, among others. These conditions can start at any time, can come and go, wax and wane, but they also can respond to treatment by getting better or “cured.” These are considered a problem that stops the brain from working well. They are fluid in nature.

Unlike neurodivergence, which is on a continuum of brain functioning, mental health conditions are something that we develop after birth, often before the age of 14 and, of course, later as well. These conditions may develop in response to trauma or a loss, or they can begin during certain stages of life.

Adolescence can be a particularly difficult time given all of the hormone and body changes. Social pressures begin to mount quickly in middle and high school. Mental health and neurodivergence are not mutually exclusive of one another. At the same time, it is more likely if you live with neurodivergence, you also have a risk of developing a mental health condition as well. What mental health and neurodivergence often do share in common, however, is that both are often misunderstood, invisible and carry social stigma.

Being misunderstood, feeling invisible and enduring social stigma can increase stress, burnout and social strain. As a result, the chances of developing mental health challenges also increases. Simply put, the world has been designed and built for people who are neurotypical, or not burdened by mental health conditions. By having to adjust outside of those norms, some folks have a lot of adaptation to live out.

Not to be confusing, the condition of ADHD is often described under both neurodivergence and mental health. Let’s look at how ADHD can affect a person’s life. ADHD is a condition that affects a person’s ability to pay attention, remember things and stay organized. There are some who also experience a great deal of anxious and busy behavior.

Living with ADHD as an untreated condition as an adult can easily become demoralizing and discouraging. We question ourselves constantly. “Why can’t I get my child to school on time? Why am I always late for meetings? Why does my desk and work space always look like a tornado just came through? Why do I keep missing appointments even though I have them booked on my calendar? Why is it I keep zoning out during meetings that my boss sees as essential, but I cannot remember any of it afterward?” These constant social faux pas can become depressing, overwhelming and anxiety-producing.

These conditions — neurofunctioning, sensory processing and mental health — are distinct from one another and have different origins, but can also occur simultaneously. This means they also call for different management and/or treatment options. And while any of them can become disabling, many people live successfully with these conditions. Because they exist on a continuum, they can range from barely noticeable to life-altering.

Next time, we will look at how they can become disabling as well as what are currently considered appropriate treatment options.

My best! Until next time – be well!