Is Anxiety Considered Neurodivergent?

You may or may not know what it means, but chances are you’ve seen the words “neurodivergent” or “neurodiversity” floating around.

Neurodivergent may not be a medical term, but it does have significance in the psychology world and when it comes to acceptance for people with different minds. So, what does it mean and does it apply to anxiety?

What is Neurodivergence?

Being neurodivergent means having a brain that works differently from what is considered standard or typical. A neurodivergent brain develops, processes information, or behaves differently than the brain of the vast majority of people.  

The terms neurodivergent and neurodiversity emerged in the late 90’s by sociologist Judy Singer. She sought to recognize the oppression and exclusivity experienced by people with unique minds, and also offer a positive alternative for how these differences were viewed. 

She originally coined the term to change the negative language to more neutral or positive. Neurodiversity was initially used for people on the Autism spectrum, however the concept has far outgrown these bounds. Today, neurodivergence covers a huge range of disorders and differences.

Neurodivergence vs Mental Illness

Neurodiversity is different from mental illness. Neurodivergence describes a difference in brain function, but mental illness denotes distress.

Someone who is neurodivergent may still experience a mental illness that is associated with their divergence. For example, OCD is considered neurodivergent, but there may be distress associated with obsessions and compulsions.

Common Neurodivergent Conditions

Health professionals use neurodivergent to describe any consistent ways someone's brain develops and functions differently than it does for the majority of the population. 

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism is the most well-known kind of neurodivergence, and it’s the disorder that began the term. It’s a developmental disorder that impacts communication, social interaction, sensory sensitivity, and learning ability.

Autism is a spectrum because the symptoms exist on a wide spread of severity. 

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is a neurodivergent disorder that causes symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention, impulsivity, and sudden episodes of indecision. These symptoms can affect daily life.

Dyslexia

Dyslexia is a learning disability that makes processing written language difficult. This affects how people learn, read, spell, and decode words.

Dyslexia is neurodivergent because it changes the way people’s brains work.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

OCD is a hard-to-live-with disorder that is characterized by obsessions that lead people to act compulsively. It’s often considered an anxiety disorder, but it’s also growing recognition as neurodivergent.

OCD affects how people perceive the world and how their brain functions.

Down Syndrome

Down syndrome is a neurodivergent disorder that causes cognitive and behavioral symptoms. It also has physical signs such as distinct facial features.

Down syndrome results in developmental delay and intellectual disability. Those with Down Syndrome are considered neurodivergent because their brain works differently than the typical person’s.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is an emotion everyone experiences from time to time. It is an intense feeling of worry, apprehension, and fear. It's a natural and normal response to a perceived threat or stress. 

Although anxiety is normal from time to time, persistent, excessive, or disproportionate anxiety is generally indicative of an anxiety disorder. Anxiety of this nature interferes with a person’s well-being and day-to-day life.  

There are a variety of anxiety disorders with symptoms that manifest both mentally and physically. Overwhelming and long-lasting anxiety like this can impede how people are able to function and their overall quality of life.

Is Anxiety Neurodivergent?

While experiencing some anxiety is normal, dealing with  crippling anxiety or a specific anxiety disorder is out of the “norm.” 

Living with severe or chronic anxiety can make someone feel like they experience the world differently from others around them. Having a concept for these different experiences and a neutral label like neurodivergent can validate people’s experiences. For this reason, many people with anxiety identify as neurodivergent. 

Anxiety and Neurodivergence

While experiencing some anxiety is normal, dealing with  crippling anxiety or a specific anxiety disorder is out of the “norm.” 

Living with severe or chronic anxiety can make someone feel like they experience the world differently from others around them. Having a concept for these different experiences and a neutral label like neurodivergent can validate people’s experiences. For this reason, many people with anxiety identify as neurodivergent. 

How to Know if You Are Neurodivergent

There is no test you can take to find out if you’re neurodivergent. However, if you want to know if you’re neurodivergent, meet with a specialist and work with them to examine symptoms and your experience.

Signs & Symptoms

Because neurodivergence is an umbrella for a lot of disorders, it’s difficult to find a conclusive list of signs and symptoms. However, there are buckets of symptoms most commonly associated with Neurodivergence.

• Difficulty Socializing: Some people who are neurodivergent may have a difficult time keeping eye contact, picking up on social cues, or understanding humor.
• Sensitivity to Sensory Experiences: Neurodivergence can cause reactions to stimuli like touch, sound, light, or taste, to be lessened or heightened.
• Difficulty Learning: Many neurodivergent disorders make learning difficult. However, some people who are neurodivergent have average or above-average intelligence.
• Difficulty Communicating: Those with neurodivergence may have difficulty talking including stuttering, limited language, or nonverbal. 
• Difficulty With Focus: Neurodivergence can make focusing on a specific task difficult. It may also make changing focus difficult.

When to Seek Support

Neurodivergence is not something that can be cured, but it can be maintained with therapy and medication. You can always seek support no matter how major or minor your struggle is. 

Anxiety is a very common issue many people face, and it can be treated. If anxiety is causing issues in your daily life, seeking professional support would be a good idea.

Treatment for Anxiety

Sequoia Behavioral Health has an experienced and caring team ready to help you manage anxiety in your daily life and embrace your ability to break the mold. With individualized treatments that include Neurotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy, our inpatient and outpatient programs can work for all levels of anxiety

‍Reach out today and schedule a consultation.