A thought I had this morning about neurodivergence and the modern world - opinions appreciated!

I hope this comes across the right way - I’m asking this out of curiosity and reflection, not to minimise anyone’s struggles.

I was thinking this morning about how the world today isn’t very accessible for a lot of people, especially those of us who are neurodivergent. The pace, noise, pressure, constant changes… it all feels designed for a certain type of brain, the "neurotypical" brain.

It made me wonder:

If we lived in a much earlier, slower world — before all the hustle and bustle — would traits linked to ASD or ADHD actually have been less of a difficulty? Or maybe even strengths?

I’m not questioning whether the struggles are real (they absolutely are). I’m more thinking about how different environments can either support or clash with certain traits, and how our modern world often makes things harder than they need to be.

I’d love to hear other people’s thoughts on this idea and I hope I am clear in expressing myself.

Parents
  • There are some improvements today and a better understanding of mental health difficulties. 

    However, I do think one reason I had less issues when I was younger was due to the slower pace of life. Many things allowed me time to work things out at my speed. Paperwork suited my organised mind and was much easier than logging onto websites.

    Although I didn't realise why I had issues with labels and thought everyone had a strong sense of smell, I did find quieter manual tools and gadgets more pleasant. 

Reply
  • There are some improvements today and a better understanding of mental health difficulties. 

    However, I do think one reason I had less issues when I was younger was due to the slower pace of life. Many things allowed me time to work things out at my speed. Paperwork suited my organised mind and was much easier than logging onto websites.

    Although I didn't realise why I had issues with labels and thought everyone had a strong sense of smell, I did find quieter manual tools and gadgets more pleasant. 

Children
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