Guide Library

• ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

  ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It affects how someone focuses, manages impulses, and handles energy. It’s not about laziness or bad behaviour — it’s a different way the brain is wired.

• Alexithymia

  Alexithymia is when someone finds it difficult to recognise or describe their own emotions.

• Allyship

  Allyship is about supporting and standing alongside neurodivergent people in a way that respects their experiences and needs. It’s not about speaking for others — it’s about listening, learning, and making space.

• Anchoring and Grounding (Neurodiversity)

  Anchoring and grounding are ways to feel more connected to the present moment. They can help manage overwhelm, support emotional regulation, or offer a sense of stability in day-to-day life.

• ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder)

  ASD stands for Autistic Spectrum Disorder, a term still used in some clinical settings. However, many people now avoid this term because it frames autism as a disorder, rather than a valid form of neurodivergence.

• Associative Thinking

  Associative thinking is when thoughts connect through personal or creative links rather than logical steps.

• AuDHD (Autism & ADHD)

  AuDHD is a term used when someone experiences traits of both Autism and ADHD. These can overlap in ways that affect how a person thinks, feels, and interacts with the world.

• Auditory Processing Differences

  Auditory processing differences affect how the brain makes sense of sound, not hearing itself.

• Autism (Autistic Spectrum)

  Autism is a form of neurodivergence that influences how a person experiences the world. It may affect communication, social interaction, sensory processing, or routines — but it’s not a problem to be solved.

• Black and White Thinking

  Black and white thinking is when things feel ‘all good’ or ‘all bad’, with little room for in-between. It’s a common way the brain tries to make sense of complex or uncertain situations.

• Body Doubling

  Body doubling is when someone works alongside you — in person or virtually — to help you stay focused or get started. It’s common in ADHD communities but helpful for many people.

• Burnout (Neurodivergent Experience)

  Neurodivergent burnout is a deep, ongoing exhaustion that builds over time — often from masking, adapting, or pushing through environments that aren’t naturally supportive.

• Camouflaging

  Camouflaging is when someone consciously tries to hide their neurodivergent traits in social situations. It’s similar to masking, but often more strategic and deliberate.

• Co-regulation

  Co-regulation is when two people help each other feel calm, safe, or steady — often without needing to say anything at all. It’s a natural part of human connection.

• Cognitive Inflexibility

  Cognitive inflexibility is when someone finds it hard to adapt to changes in plans, routines, or ways of thinking.

• Context Blindness

  Context blindness is when someone finds it difficult to interpret or respond to situations based on the surrounding social or emotional context.

• Convergent Thinking

  Convergent thinking is about narrowing down ideas to find one correct or most appropriate solution.

• Disorder (as a Clinical Term)

  In clinical settings, 'disorder' is used as a label to describe patterns of experience. But many neurodivergent people avoid the term, as it can feel stigmatising or misleading.

• Doomscrolling & Dopamine Looping

  Doomscrolling and dopamine looping refer to getting stuck in repetitive, often unhelpful scrolling — fuelled by the brain’s reward system and a need for stimulation or comfort.

• Dopamine Hacking

  Dopamine hacking is the idea of using small tricks or habits to boost motivation by tapping into the brain’s reward system. It’s especially common in conversations about ADHD and productivity.

• Dyscalculia

  Dyscalculia is a form of neurodivergence that affects how a person understands numbers. It can make maths feel confusing, inconsistent, or harder to work with — even when other areas of learning are strong.

• Dysgraphia

  Dysgraphia is a form of neurodivergence that affects writing. It can make handwriting slow, uncomfortable, or hard to read, and can also affect how thoughts are organised on the page.

• Dyslexia

  Dyslexia is a common form of neurodivergence that affects how someone processes written language. It can make reading, spelling, or writing feel harder — even when other skills are strong.

• Dyspraxia / DCD (Developmental Coordination Disorder)

  Dyspraxia, also called DCD, affects how someone plans and coordinates physical movement. It can make everyday tasks like writing, catching, or tying shoelaces feel more effortful or unpredictable.

• Emotional Dysregulation

  Emotional dysregulation is when emotions feel harder to manage or process. They might come on suddenly, feel more intense, or last longer than expected — and that’s a valid experience.

• Emotional Labour

  Emotional labour is the behind-the-scenes effort it takes to manage your feelings — or other people’s — to meet social expectations. It can be tiring, even if it’s invisible to others.

• Energy Accounting

  Energy accounting is a way to manage your energy like a budget — helping you avoid burnout and plan for recovery.

• Everyone’s a bit ADHD (Myth)

  The phrase 'everyone’s a bit ADHD' is a common myth. While many people experience distraction or forgetfulness, ADHD is a real neurodevelopmental condition — not a personality quirk or a trend.

• Executive Dysfunction

  Executive dysfunction is when it feels hard to start, organise, or follow through on tasks — not because someone doesn’t care or isn’t trying, but because the brain is struggling to connect intention with action.

• Executive Function Coaching

  Executive function coaching is a supportive approach that helps someone build habits, routines, and tools to manage tasks, time, and focus — especially when those things feel overwhelming.

• Feeling Different (Neurodivergence)

  Feeling different is a common and valid part of many neurodivergent experiences — not because anything is wrong, but because the world often isn’t built with your way of thinking in mind.

• Functioning Labels

  Functioning labels like 'high-functioning' and 'low-functioning' are often used to describe neurodivergent people, but they can be misleading and unhelpful.

• Gender & Neurodivergence (Bias in Diagnosis)

  Neurodivergent traits often go unrecognised in women, girls, and gender-diverse people — not because they’re less present, but because society expects those traits to show up in a certain way.

• Gifted Burnout

  Gifted burnout is when someone with high ability becomes exhausted, disillusioned, or emotionally shut down from constant pressure or unmet support needs.

• Hyperfocus

  Hyperfocus is when someone becomes completely absorbed in what they’re doing — often to the point of tuning everything else out. It can be energising, but also exhausting or disruptive.

• Identity-First vs Person-First Language

  Identity-first and person-first language are different ways of describing someone’s neurodivergence. Each has different meanings and implications.

• Imposter Syndrome

  Imposter syndrome is the belief that you’re not as capable as others think — even when there’s clear evidence of your skill or success. It’s common, especially among neurodivergent people.

• Info Dumping

  Info dumping is when someone shares a large amount of detail about a topic they care about. It’s often a sign of enthusiasm, connection, or comfort — not dominance or oversharing.

• Internalised Ableism

  Internalised ableism is when someone starts to believe negative ideas about their own neurodivergence or disability — often without realising it, and often shaped by years of messaging from society.

• Intersectionality (Neurodivergence & LGBTQ+)

  Intersectionality helps us understand how neurodivergence and LGBTQ+ identities can overlap — shaping how someone experiences the world, how they're treated, and how they see themselves.

• Intersectionality (Neurodivergence & Race)

  Intersectionality helps explain how being neurodivergent and part of a racial or ethnic minority can affect how someone is seen, supported, or understood — in ways that are often overlooked.

• Is Neurodivergence a Disability?

  Neurodivergence isn’t always a disability — but for some people, it absolutely can be. It depends on context, support, and how the world is set up around you.

• Is Self-Diagnosis Valid?

  Yes — self-diagnosis can be valid, especially in the context of neurodivergence. Many people explore their traits deeply, especially when formal diagnosis is unavailable or unaffordable.

• Late Diagnosis

  Late diagnosis refers to discovering you're neurodivergent later in life — often after years of confusion, burnout, or adapting to fit in. It can be both overwhelming and validating.

• Low Frustration Tolerance

  Low frustration tolerance is when even small setbacks or interruptions can feel overwhelming. It’s not about overreacting — it’s often about how the nervous system handles stress or sudden change.

• Masking

  Masking is when someone hides or downplays their neurodivergent traits in order to fit in, avoid judgment, or stay safe. It can be exhausting — even when it’s done automatically.

• Meltdowns vs Shutdowns

  Meltdowns and shutdowns are valid neurodivergent responses to overwhelm. One looks like explosion, the other like retreat — but both are signs of too much happening, too fast, for too long.

• Misunderstood Competence

  Misunderstood competence is when people assume you’re more or less capable than you actually are — often due to masking, spiky profiles, or stereotypes.

• Monotropism

  Monotropism is a way of thinking where the brain focuses intensely on a few things at a time — often linked to autism. It can create deep flow, but also make switching tasks or multitasking hard.

• Neuroaffirming Practice

  Neuroaffirming practice means supporting neurodivergent people in ways that honour their identity — not trying to make them appear 'less autistic' or 'more normal'.

• Neurodivergent Pride

  Neurodivergent pride is about recognising and celebrating neurodivergent identity — not as a flaw to fix, but as something valuable.

• Neuroqueer

  Neuroqueer is a term used by people who identify as both neurodivergent and queer, embracing the ways these identities intersect and resist norms.

• Neurotypical and Neurodivergent

  ‘Neurotypical’ means a brain that works in ways society expects. ‘Neurodivergent’ describes brains that don’t — not in a bad way, just different.

• Overthinking and Rumination

  Overthinking is when thoughts won’t switch off. Rumination is when those thoughts keep circling the same topic — often making you feel stuck or anxious.

• Parenting While Neurodivergent

  Parenting while neurodivergent can be overwhelming, joyful, messy, and deeply meaningful. It doesn’t make you a bad parent — just a human one, doing your best with a unique brain.

• PDA & Demand Avoidance

  PDA stands for Pathological Demand Avoidance — a term used to describe an intense resistance to everyday demands, often rooted in anxiety or a need for control. Many prefer to simply call it 'demand avoidance'.

• People Pleasing & Fawning

  People pleasing and fawning are ways of avoiding conflict, rejection, or discomfort — often rooted in nervous system survival responses, not just ‘being nice’.

• Processing Speed Differences

  Processing speed differences describe how quickly someone can take in, make sense of, and respond to information — and it varies widely.

• Procrastination vs Paralysis

  Procrastination and task paralysis may look similar, but the reasons behind them — especially for neurodivergent people — can be very different.

• Reasonable Adjustments in the Workplace

  Reasonable adjustments are changes that help remove barriers at work. For neurodivergent employees, they can be the difference between struggling and thriving.

• Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria

  Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) is when rejection or criticism — even if imagined — feels deeply painful or overwhelming. It’s not about being dramatic. It’s about being wired to feel intensely.

• Scaffolding

  Scaffolding is the temporary support provided to help someone learn or succeed — gradually removed as confidence and skill grow.

• Self-Advocacy

  Self-advocacy is the ability to speak up for your own needs, limits, and rights. For neurodivergent people, it’s often a vital — and sometimes difficult — part of getting the support they need.

• Sensory Diets

  A sensory diet is a personalised set of activities that help someone feel more calm, alert, or regulated — especially when their sensory needs are different from the norm.

• Sensory Fatigue

  Sensory fatigue is the deep exhaustion that sets in after too much noise, touch, movement, light, or other input — especially common in neurodivergent people or parents who feel 'touched out'.

• Sensory Processing Disorder

  Sensory Processing Disorder is a clinical term used to describe intense differences in how someone experiences sensory input — though many prefer to use more neutral language like ‘sensory processing differences’.

• Sensory Seeking

  Sensory seeking is when someone actively craves strong sensory input — like movement, noise, touch, or bright colours — to feel alert, focused, or regulated.

• Sensory Sensitivity

  Sensory sensitivity is when everyday sights, sounds, smells, or textures feel overwhelming or intense. It’s common in neurodivergent people, and isn’t something that needs to be fixed.

• Slow Cognitive Tempo

  Slow Cognitive Tempo describes a set of traits like daydreaming, mental fog, or slow information processing — distinct from typical ADHD hyperactivity.

• Social Fatigue

  Social fatigue is the exhaustion that builds up from being around people — especially when you’re masking or managing social expectations all day.

• Special Interests & Deep Interests

  A special interest is a deep, often joyful focus on a specific topic. It’s common in neurodivergent people — especially autistic folks — and can be a meaningful part of identity and wellbeing.

• Spiky Profiles

  A spiky profile is when someone has a wide range of strengths and challenges — excelling in some areas while struggling in others. It’s common in neurodivergent people.

• Spoon Theory

  Spoon Theory is a way of explaining what it’s like to live with limited energy — using spoons as a metaphor for how much you can handle in a day.

• Stimming

  Stimming is short for self-stimulatory behaviour — things like fidgeting, rocking, or repeating words — and helps many neurodivergent people feel calmer, safer, or more focused.

• Support Needs vs Functioning Labels

  Support needs describe what someone might require in a given situation. Functioning labels like 'high-functioning' or 'low-functioning' often oversimplify and can be misleading or harmful.

• Task Paralysis

  Task paralysis is when you feel stuck and unable to start or continue a task, no matter how much you want or need to. It’s common in neurodivergent people, especially with ADHD.

• Time Blindness

  Time blindness is when your sense of time is unreliable — making it easy to lose track of hours, underestimate how long something takes, or struggle to plan your day.

• Tourette’s and Tic Disorders

  Tourette’s and other tic conditions involve involuntary movements or sounds called tics. These are neurodevelopmental in nature, and the term 'disorder' is clinical, not a judgement.

• Transitions

  Transitions — even small ones — can cause stress or overwhelm for neurodivergent people. Understanding why helps make change feel safer.

• Twice-Exceptional (2e)

  Twice-exceptional (2e) means someone is both gifted in one or more areas and also has a learning difference or disability. It’s common among neurodivergent people with spiky profiles.

• Unmasking

  Unmasking is when a neurodivergent person begins to drop or reduce the behaviours they’ve used to appear ‘neurotypical’ — often as a step toward self-acceptance.

• Visual Schedules and Timers

  Visual schedules and timers provide structure, predictability, and time awareness — reducing stress for many neurodivergent people.

• What does 'spectrum' actually mean?

  ‘Spectrum’ doesn’t mean a line from less autistic to more autistic — it means a wide and varied mix of traits, intensities, and needs that differ from person to person.

• Why It’s Not About 'Brokenness'

  Neurodivergence isn’t about being broken — it’s about having a brain that works differently, not wrongly. The brokenness myth is rooted in misunderstanding, not reality.

• Workplace Accommodations

  Workplace accommodations are thoughtful adjustments or modifications in a work environment that empower employees with disabilities to excel in their roles.