Originally published as “Strengths and Challenges that Come with Neurodivergent Brains” on Aug 13, 2024
So You Think You Might Be Neurodivergent?
Maybe you’ve taken a few online quizzes, and they suggest you might have more than one condition. It can feel confusing—but you’re not alone.
The more I learn about neurodivergence, the more I realize that many conditions share overlapping challenges, traits, and strengths. Instead of getting lost in endless Google searches, start by exploring your own challenges and strengths. When you know both, you can speak up for what you need and feel more confident.
Common Challenge Areas
You can learn more about each topic in the Strengths & Challenges section:
- Thoughts & Feelings
Feeling Deeply, Making Connections, Knowing Yourself, Thinking Flexibly - Executive Functioning
Focusing on Priorities, Managing Time Wisely, Paying Attention, Remembering Clearly, Staying Organized, Staying Motivated, Handling Hyperactivity, Handling Impulsivity - Social Skills
Expressing Yourself Clearly, Managing Conversations, Understanding Other People, Building Healthy Relationships - Reading & Writing
Reading Words, Writing Clearly - Math
Working with Numbers - Sensory Signals
Liking Intense Sensory Stuff, Not Liking Intense Sensory Stuff, Noticing With Your Senses - Space Sense
Understanding Space, Navigating Space
How Being Neurodivergent Can Affect Mental Health
Mental health is how we think, feel, and act. It affects how we use our skills to respond to stress, sometimes in ways other people can’t see. Being neurodivergent can also shape how we think, feel, and act, so it makes sense that many neurodivergent girls and women experience mental health challenges.
Many neurodivergent girls and women experience more stress or negative emotions because school, home life, friendships, or relationships can require extra effort. That is one reason neurodivergent tweens and teens may also experience mental health challenges, including depression and anxiety.
Neurodivergent Strengths and How They Can Help
I’m not someone who likes to focus only on the negative. Yes, we need to be aware of our challenges and work on them. But we also need to celebrate our differences, because some traits that create challenges can also become strengths when we understand and support them.
Let’s go through some of those challenges again and think about how they can show up as strengths in the right situations. Here are a few examples.
Feeling Deeply Means You Care More
Those same strong emotions can make you deeply caring, passionate, and committed to what matters to you.
Thinking Differently Can Make You Bolder
- Trouble making connections can sometimes help you notice details other people might miss.
- Missing hidden clues about what others mean can sometimes make you more direct, original, or willing to try things in a new way.
Social Skills Challenges Can Make You More Creative
Trouble managing conversations might mean you communicate best in other ways, like writing, drawing, making, or using visuals.
Executive Functioning Challenges Can Lead to New Ideas
- Challenges paying attention can sometimes help you notice details, patterns, or ideas that other people might overlook.
- Challenges remembering clearly may also make you more open to reminders, routines, or tools that help you stay present and supported.
- Challenges managing time wisely can sometimes come with deep focus, curiosity, or the ability to spend a long time on something meaningful.
- Challenges handling hyperactivity can also come with high energy, enthusiasm, and a drive to take action.
- Challenges handling impulsivity can sometimes show up as spontaneity, quick thinking, or a willingness to explore new opportunities.
Putting It All Together
Your challenges don’t define you. They can help point you toward strategies, supports, and environments that work better for your brain. Knowing your challenges and strengths helps you explain what you need and build confidence.
References
Neurodivergent Conditions (General)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Developmental disabilities. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/developmentaldisabilities/index.html
Frolov, L., & Schaepper, M. A. (2021). What is specific learning disorder? American Psychiatric Association. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/specific-learning-disorder/what-is-specific-learning-disorder
Resnick, A. (2023, November 2). What does it mean to be neurodivergent? Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-neurodivergence-and-what-does-it-mean-to-be-neurodivergent-5196627
Specific Learning Disabilities: Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Specific learning disability. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.).
Khan, K., & Lal, P. (2023). Executive dysfunctions in different learning disabilities: A review. Journal of Indian Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 19(2), 126–142. https://doi.org/10.1177/09731342231179614
ASD
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Autism Spectrum Disorder. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.).
Association for Autism and Neurodiversity (AANE). (n.d.). Asperger and autism spectrum: Women and girls. https://www.aane.org/women-asperger-profiles/
Autism Research Institute. (2022). Executive function and autism. https://autism.org/exeuctive-function-autism/
Engelbrecht, N. (2023, October 25). Decoding autism in the DSM-5. Embrace Autism. https://embrace-autism.com/decoding-autism-in-the-dsm-5/
Guy-Evans, O. (2024, July 31). Understanding emotional dysregulation in autism. SimplyPsychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/emotional-dysregulation-autism.html
ADHD
ADDA Editorial Team. (2024, July 29). ADHD emotional dysregulation: Managing intense emotions. ADD.org. https://add.org/emotional-dysregulation-adhd/
ADDitude Editors. (2025, February 14). ADHD symptoms you won’t find in the DSM. ADDitude. https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-symptoms-not-in-dsm-5/
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.).
Barkley, R. A. (2019, October 3). What is executive function: 7 deficits tied to ADHD. ADDitude. https://www.additudemag.com/7-executive-function-deficits-linked-to-adhd/
Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). (n.d.). Symptoms of ADHD in women and girls. https://chadd.org/for-adults/symptoms-of-adhd-in-women-and-girls/
Green, R. (2022, December 8). Impulsivity in ADHD. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/adhd-symptom-spotlight-impulsivity-5443083
Neurolaunch Editorial Team. (2024, August 4). VAST vs. ADHD: Understanding variable attention stimulation trait and its relationship to ADHD. Neurolaunch. https://neurolaunch.com/vast-adhd/
Hallowell, E. M., & Ratey, J. J. (2021). ADHD 2.0: New science and essential strategies for thriving with distraction—from childhood through adulthood. Ballantine Books.
Castellanos, F. X., & Aoki, Y. (2016). Intrinsic functional connectivity in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A science in development. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, 1(3), 253–261.
NVLD
ADDitude Editors. (2025, January 13). Free guide: What is NVLD (Nonverbal Learning Disorder)? ADDitude. https://www.additudemag.com/download/nvld-nonverbal-learning-disorder-adhd/
Currie, A. (2019). What is a nonverbal learning disability? NESCA. https://nesca-newton.com/nonverbal-learning-disability/
Fisher, P. W., Litwin, H. D., Riddle, M. A., & Margolis, A. E. (2025). Report of a work group on nonverbal learning disability: Consensus criteria for developmental visual–spatial disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. [Manuscript].
The NVLD Project. (n.d.). What is Nonverbal Learning Disability? https://nvld.org/non-verbal-learning-disability/
The NVLD Project. (n.d.). For Clinicians and Scientists. https://nvld.org/for-clinicians-and-scientists/
The NVLD Project. (n.d.). Frequently Asked Questions. https://nvld.org/faqs/
Gabriela. (2019, July 26). Mental health: The other side of having NVLD. NVLD Project. https://nvld.org/mental-health-other-side-nvld/
Learning Disabilities Association of America. (n.d.). Nonverbal learning disabilities. https://ldaamerica.org/disabilities/non-verbal-learning-disabilities/
Dyscalculia
Frye, D. (2020, August 3). What is dyscalculia? Math learning disability overview. ADDitude. https://www.additudemag.com/what-is-dyscalculia-overview-and-symptom-breakdown/
Szűcs, D., Devine, A., Soltész, F., Nobes, A., & Gabriel, F. (2013). Developmental dyscalculia is related to visuo-spatial memory and inhibition impairment. Cortex, 49(10), 2674–2688. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2013.06.007
Dyslexia
Frye, D. (2021, March 5). What is dyslexia? Symptoms, causes, treatments. ADDitude. https://www.additudemag.com/what-is-dyslexia-symptom-overview-and-diagnosis-tips/
Neuhaus Education Center. (n.d.). The connection between dyslexia and executive functioning. https://www.neuhaus.org/blog/the-connection-between-dyslexia-and-executive-functioning/
International Dyslexia Association. (n.d.). What is the role of the visual system in reading and dyslexia? https://dyslexiaida.org/what-is-the-role-of-the-visual-system-in-reading-and-dyslexia/
Dysgraphia
Frye, D. (2024, July 10). What is dysgraphia? ADDitude. https://www.additudemag.com/what-is-dysgraphia-understanding-common-symptoms/
Rosenblum, S. (2018). Inter-relationships between objective handwriting features and executive control among children with developmental dysgraphia. PLoS ONE, 13(4), e0196098. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0196098
Tourette Syndrome
Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Tourette syndrome. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tourette-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20350465
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Tourette’s disorder. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.).
Focused on Neurodivergent Strengths
BPS – British Psychological Society. (n.d.). Chapter 2: Focus on strengths: Supporting people who experience difficulties at work. In Psychology at Work: Improving wellbeing and productivity in the workplace.https://explore.bps.org.uk/content/report-guideline/bpsrep.2017.inf287/chapter/bpsrep.2017.inf287.6
Otsuka, T. (2023). ADHD for smart ass women: How to fall in love with your neurodivergent brain. Tracy Otsuka, LLC.
Note: I created most of this information with Turner Syndrome of the United States in consultation with Dr. Knickmeyer and Dr. Mooney. You can find it on the TSSUS website here. I expanded it to include symptoms of other conditions.