I’ve had this question in my brain for weeks and I don’t know where to put it. I guess I chose here because maybe someone else has had this same question and found answers. Maybe it’s a stupid question actually.
But what is it like to be Neurotypical?
I am not confident I have known a single Neurotypical person, at least not well. They are apparently the vast majority of people, but I think everyone I’ve ever been close to was ND. As a late diagnosed AuDHD person, I find myself now analyzing every human I interact with trying to figure out how they are different than me, or how they are similar. I feel like I see the ghost of Neurodivergence in everyone and can’t recognize neurotypicality when I see it.
What are the signs and symptoms of neurotypicality?
Neurotypicals are people with traits, likes, dislikes, phobias and strengths like you, but less extreme. The differences can be small if looked at one by one, but added up it causes a completely different lifestyle.
They may really hate the sound of styrofoam on glass, but they don’t literally black out from the sound.
They can find it very uncomfortable and anxiety-inducing to socialize in a new environment, too, e.g. a social event at a new job. However, they adapt faster and don’t have to go to the dentist the next week because they clamped their teeth so hard they chipped a tooth.
They may be good at and enjoy [activity/skill] like you, but not find it relaxing and mentally healing to spend 6 straight hours on a Saturday evening practicing [activity/skill] home alone while forgetting to eat, so they have to put in conscious effort where you don’t.