Seeing the World Differently: A Guide to Understanding Neurodiversity

Hi, I’m so glad you’re here. This piece I’ve written is to explore the topic of neurodiversity, one I hope will help bring a little softness, clarity, and connection into a topic that touches so many of us in quiet ways. Whether you’re here because of your own experience, or for someone you love, I hope you find comfort in these words.

Have you ever felt like your brain works a little differently from others? Or perhaps you know someone, a friend, a child, or colleague who seems to experience the world in their own beautifully unique way. This blog post is for you.

Today, I want to explore neurodiversity. It’s a word that’s becoming more common (which is wonderful), but it can still feel a little unfamiliar or clinical. I’d love to help soften and humanise it to give you a clearer, kinder picture of what it really means, and why it matters so much.

We’ll walk through what neurodiversity is, how neurodivergent people might experience life differently, and why understanding these differences can make our world a more compassionate, creative, and inclusive place.

So… what exactly is neurodiversity?

At its heart, neurodiversity simply means this: not all brains work the same way and that’s not just okay, it’s natural. Just as we all have different eye colours, personalities, or tastes in music, we also have different ways of thinking, feeling, learning, and responding to the world. Neurodiversity recognises this beautiful variety as something to be valued, not “fixed”.

The word itself was first used by Judy Singer, an Australian sociologist who is also autistic. She wanted to challenge the idea that there’s only one “right” way for a brain to work and to highlight that many people who are seen as having a “disorder” (like autism and dyslexia) are simply wired a little differently. They’re not broken, just different.

It’s a reminder that diversity isn’t just something we see on the outside. It’s something that lives quietly within us too in our thoughts, our senses, our responses to the world.

Who is considered neurodivergent?

Neurodivergent people are those whose brains work in ways that differ from the so-called “norm”. This can include those with: Autism, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Tourette Syndrome and others

Each of these brings its own mix of challenges, yes but also strengths, talents, and perspectives that can enrich the world in countless ways. Neurotypical, by contrast, is just a term for people whose brains work in the way society tends to expect those who aren’t considered neurodivergent.

But remember this isn’t about labels or putting people in boxes. It’s about recognising difference and finding understanding, rather than judgment. It’s also worth mentioning that many neurodivergent people don’t know they’re neurodivergent until later in life. Diagnosis or self-discovery can be a journey. Often, a very emotional one. There’s beauty and healing in finally having language for how you’ve always felt.

Do neurodivergent people really experience the world differently?

Yes, often in ways that are deep, meaningful, and sometimes hard to describe.

Here are just a few examples of how things can feel different:

Senses can feel louder or softer:

Many neurodivergent people have a unique relationship with their senses.

Lights might seem brighter, fabrics scratchier, sounds sharper or more overwhelming. A humming fridge might go unnoticed by most, but for someone with sensory sensitivity, it could feel like a small storm.

On the flip side, this sensitivity can also bring intense joy: the soft texture of a favourite blanket, the feeling of rain on skin, the beauty of music that feels like it lives inside your bones. It’s not always discomfort. Sometimes, it’s magic.

Time and focus can flow differently:

Someone with ADHD might experience time like a rushing river, hard to catch, hard to measure. Focus might flicker between things rapidly, or lock onto something with incredible intensity ( hyperfocus). It’s not about laziness or carelessness; it is a different rhythm.

Things like planning, switching tasks, or staying on track might be harder, not because the person does not care, but because their brain is wired to wander, not march. That wandering can lead to incredible creativity and spontaneity, but it also needs support and understanding.

Social cues may land differently:

Body language, eye contact, tone, these things can feel like a second language.

For someone with autism, for example, small talk might feel confusing or exhausting, while deep, focused conversations can feel far more natural. Neurodivergent people might communicate more directly, more honestly, or with less filtering, which can be refreshing and real, but sometimes

misinterpreted. Learning to meet people where they are, rather than expecting one “standard” way to relate, opens up space for connection.

Creativity, empathy, and detail can shine brightly:

Many neurodivergent individuals have extraordinary abilities, whether it is pattern recognition, emotional sensitivity, artistic expression, or a deep passion for certain topics. These strengths often come from the same places as their challenges. It is all interconnected.

An autistic person’s focus might lead them to become an expert in a subject they love. Someone with dyslexia might struggle with reading but see the world in rich, visual ways. A person with ADHD might struggle to sit still but light up a room with ideas no one else would have thought of. There is a phrase I love: different, not less. I think that sums it up beautifully.

So why is this understanding important?

Because for a long time, our society has tried to squeeze people into one narrow idea of “normal”. And when someone doesn’t fit that mould, they’re often misunderstood, judged, or even made to feel broken. But difference isn’t dangerous. It’s essential.

When we embrace neurodiversity, we open the door to:

• Kinder classrooms, where children don’t have to mask who they are to succeed.

• More inclusive workplaces, where diverse minds are recognised as assets, not problems.

• Deeper relationships, where we stop trying to “fix” people and instead learn to listen to them.

• Mental health support that makes space for uniqueness, rather than trying to squeeze people into rigid boxes.

Understanding neurodivergence helps us create a world where everyone is welcome, not just those who blend in easily. It’s about honouring how someone’s brain is meant to be, not how we wish it would behave.

A final thought…

Neurodivergent people aren’t a puzzle to solve or a problem to manage. They’re people, full of insight, feeling, and potential.

If you are neurodivergent yourself, I hope this has felt comforting and affirming. If you’re learning about it for the first time, thank you for being here with an open heart. If you are looking for professional support there are assessments available.

Let us keep choosing curiosity over judgment, compassion over assumptions, and celebration over stigma. There is no one “right” way to be, only many different ways to be beautifully human.

Written By Berra Meral