To me, my idea of neurodivergence is that it's a more neutral term what we'd typically call neurodevelopmental disorders, and could potentially be extended to personality disorders. Neurodivergent people are those with (typically) lifelong differences in brain function. I think it's a helpful concept at times but I also think it's far too vague and more specific diagnoses exist for a reason.

I'm torn on including personality disorders because on one hand, they feel more squarely problematic (particularly as someone whose mother is Borderline), but on the other, it's possible that "feeling squarely problematic" is influenced a whole lot by culture and personal opinion. I've experienced being judged by other people's shitty personal opinions too often to feel comfortable doing it with other people.

Interesting question. I actually had a conversation about this with friends recently, one of the group had just gotten an ASD diagnosis and we realised we were all neurodivergent--except, did I count? We quickly concluded that that didn't really matter, but now I'm curious what y'all think.

Due to a medical event years ago, I suffered brain damage. It didn't really "break" functions, but since then I've had trouble with concentration, energy, mental planning, and perhaps most importantly I get overstimulated really easily. I can't handle a conversation while the radio is on, I wear ear plugs when I need to go into a shop, I can't watch busy/flashy tv shows, if someone is fiddling with something in their hands I get an urge to run away, etc. It might not sound like much to some, but it's left me unable to work (there's more than I described).

I realise that neurodivergence is mostly used for differently developed brains. But mine also don't function "typically". What do you think?

(And just to reiterate, it really doesn't matter, I know how I am and how my brain works now and a label isn't important to me, I'm just wondering if the general public would find it strange if I said I'm neurodivergent).