Neurodivergence
Autism
Also known as Autism Spectrum Condition
A lifelong developmental difference affecting sensory processing, communication and social understanding. Not an illness, but often accompanied by real distress in an unsuited environment.
What it can feel like
- Sensory sensitivities or seeking, to light, sound, texture, smell
- Social interaction needing deliberate decoding
- Strong focused interests
- Need for predictability, and distress at change
- Masking, and exhaustion from it
Not everyone has every symptom, and you do not need a label to deserve support.
Things that help
Reduce sensory load
Ear defenders, lighting changes, clothing that feels right. Accommodation beats willpower every time.
Build in recovery after social time
Downtime after meetings and events prevents the long crash that follows masking.
Plan for change where you can
Advance notice, visuals and transition time turn a disruption into something manageable.
Want to actually do these? Save them to your practices and tick them off as you go.
Add to my practicesWhen to reach for more support
Assessment can be valuable for understanding and support. If you feel persistently low or anxious, seek help that understands autistic experience rather than dismissing it.
Often looked at together
ADHD
A lifelong difference in attention regulation, impulse control and activity level, which affects how easy it is to start, sustain and finish things.
Tourette Syndrome
A neurological condition causing involuntary tics, movements or sounds, which can be suppressed briefly but at the cost of rising tension.