The Difference Within Divergence

Neurodivergence isn’t one experience. It’s many.

Autistic. ADHD. AuDHD. Dyslexic. OCD. Tourette’s. And beyond.

Even within the same diagnosis - or a combination like AuDHD - the lived experience can look completely different.

Some of us need structure, others need flexibility. Some hyperfocus, some struggle to focus. Some mask to survive, others don’t (or can’t). Some feel “too much,” others feel disconnected.

And that’s the point.

There is no single way to be neurodivergent. No typical profile. No one-size-fits-all.

When we talk about neurodiversity, we often group people together - and that helps raise awareness. But we also need space to honour the differences within divergence. The unique ways we each experience, express, and navigate the world.

I saw this play out vividly during a recent helicopter flight - someone’s birthday treat.

They’re autistic. I’m AuDHD.

They were in their element - lit up, calm, completely at home in the experience.

I, on the other hand, was as close to a panic attack as I could be without actually having one. Despite using all the tools I’ve learned over the years - grounding, breathwork, cognitive strategies - my nervous system was overwhelmed.

Same flight. Same neurodivergent umbrella. Two totally different internal realities.

Especially for those of us who live in the in-between - like those with AuDHD - it’s rarely straightforward. And it doesn’t need to be.

But it does need to be understood.

Because inclusion isn’t just about understanding “neurodivergent people.”

It’s about understanding people, one individual at a time.