When I struggled to finish my projects, when I jumped from one interest to the other, when I browsed for background music to keep me focused, I thought I was damaged. How could most of the people I meet be able to achieve more than I ever could? But looking back, I also see that I have achieved—though definitely not to my potential. Distractions and unmotivated days drown my efforts.
Determined to figure out ways to FIX myself, I stumbled upon ADHD. I followed the rabbit hole, and it became clear that I do have ADHD. Researching further also revealed that there were so many famous personalities with ADHD. That piqued my interest—how can they achieve such success despite having ADHD?
The rabbit hole was not going to end soon; that’s when I read about Neurodiversity. The simple fact that everyone’s brains are wired differently. You just need to figure out how yours is wired and how to make it work as it is intended to be used. Grok and GPT-4o directed me to a plethora of resources, and I chose The Power of Neurodiversity to start with.
The Power of Neurodiversity by Thomas Armstrong provides a solid primer on Neurodiversity and why it’s okay to be Neurodivergent. The second part is really important: you are not damaged, you are wired differently. The manual that came with all the Neurotypical brains isn’t going to work for the Neurodivergent ones. We’ve got to create our own manual by building upon the manuals of similarly wired individuals.
Let’s take a deeper look at the 8 principles of Neurodiversity as explained by Thomas Armstrong in his book.
1. The Human Brain Works More Like an Ecosystem Than a Machine
Machines are perfect and designed to work based on a specific manual or instruction. Nobel Prize-winning biologist Gerald Edelman compared our brains to a Darwinian jungle, where groups of neurons fight against each other to respond to environmental stimuli. Each individual’s brain is like a unique rainforest—growing, decaying, competing, diversifying.
2. Human Beings and Human Brains Exist Along Continuums of Competence
All brains are wired differently; there is no right or wrong way of wiring. Also, there are no set configurations of wirings. These wirings exist in a continuum. Individuals with a neurodivergent mind don’t exist separated from an individual with “normal” behavior. Being “normal” is just a stop in the continuum where the majority of the population resides.
3. Human Competence Is Defined by the Values of the Culture to Which You Belong
What science considers a “mental disorder” is largely based on the culture you live in. Until the early 1970s, homosexuality was considered a mental disorder by the American Psychiatric Association.
4. Whether You Are Regarded as Disabled or Gifted Depends Largely Upon When and Where You Live
This is related to the previous point of culture. In ancient cultures, specifically in the context of religious rituals, it was the schizophrenics (those who heard the voice of gods) or the obsessive-compulsives (those who performed precise rituals) who would have been considered the most gifted.
5. Success in Life Is Based Upon Adapting One’s Brain to the Needs of the Surrounding Environment
In short, fit in with the “neurotypicals” using various adaptive techniques since the world is mostly designed around them. What’s missing here is the approach to modify the environment for the neurodivergent, and that’s where the next principle comes in.
6. Success in Life Also Depends on Modifying Your Surrounding Environment to Fit the Needs of Your Unique Brain (Niche Construction)
Discovering and building your own niche where you perform well and can achieve success on your own terms is the cornerstone here. For this, it’s necessary to alter your environment to suit your own wiring. Journalist Harvey Blume, in his notes, mentioned that “cybernetics and computer culture… may favor a somewhat autistic cast-off mind.”
7. Niche Construction Includes Career and Lifestyle Choices and Assistive Technologies Tailored to the Needs of a Neurodiverse Individual
These are difficult choices. For instance, a nine-to-five job would be the worst career choice for an individual with ADHD. This principle also talks about surrounding yourself with a supportive group that could include coaches, therapists, aides, etc.
8. Positive Niche Construction Directly Modifies the Brain, Which in Turn Enhances Its Ability to Adapt to the Environment
Environmental experiences can directly impact brain structure. Psychiatrist Norman Doidge introduces the concept of “neuroplasticity,” which talks about the malleability of our brains to change through alternative learning strategies.
Well, this was all news to me. No one ever told me, and I never took it upon myself to study these things. The learnings were eye-opening; accepting the simple fact that my brain is wired differently made me more accepting of myself. I urge you to explore your own wiring and compile your own manual.
Keep learning and keep adapting!