This month I would like to talk briefly about a conference I recently attended on the topic of neurodiversity. For those who are unsure of the term it refers to those of us who have different mental processing skills to the accepted average or neuro-typical. Examples of neurodiversity are Autism, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), dyspraxia, dyslexia, and dyscalculia.

I want to share the website https://www.adhdfoundation.org.uk/ that was shared with us on the day, I found it full of useful resources https://www.adhdfoundation.org.uk/resources/ which are presented in various accessible ways. It is the

Additionally I’d just like to leave you with some facts shared that day for you to muse over. It is estimated that:
1 in 10 people could have dyslexia
1 in 20 people could have ADHD
1 in 67 people could have Autism
1 in 20 people could have dyscalculia
1 in 10 people could have dyspraxia

Up to 80% of those with a neuro-diverse trait report having experiences of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, OCD, eating disorders or self-medicating.

And while there are various causes for these conditions (including possibility of hereditary, birth trauma, brain injury, adverse childhood experiences and neurotransmitter deficiencies) it is important to remember that recognition and diagnosis isn’t always straight forward as it could be. If you think that you exhibit neurodiversity traits please do go to your GP to start the assessment process.

If you have a neurodiversity and you have your own unique way of looking at the world, I hope you can try to focus on how amazingly you can apply that as opposed to how different or isolated it may make you feel.

If you’d like video, telephone or face to face counselling in the Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme or Staffordshire area please do contact Wright Minds at laura@wrightminds.co.uk or on 07598810304