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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Any Jewelry, post: 9601243, member: 2844&quot;]I am neurodivergent in another way.</p><p>Born with ADD (definitely not just a type of ADHD, no matter what current experts say) and am &quot;intellectually gifted&quot;.</p><p>So like people on the spectrum I see things differently, and can have trouble understanding what normal (neurotypical) people mean.</p><p>I also perceive more than neurtypicals and am very sensitive, which means I have always had to take regular breaks from the demands of the outside world (which I can&#039;t live up to anyway<img src="styles/default/xenforo/smilies/rolleyes.png" class="mceSmilie" alt=":rolleyes:" unselectable="on" />).</p><p>ADD comes with hyperfocus, which is nice. The rest is not so nice.</p><p><br /></p><p>Cherry on the cake of these genetic gifts is my acquired brain damage, which, combined with post-viral fatigue, messes with just about everything.</p><p><br /></p><p>Most neurotypical people confuse me with their endless interruptions, and I end up not knowing what either I or the other one is talking about. After about 15 minutes I am exhausted.</p><p><br /></p><p>Since my last brain damage I also can&#039;t organize visits anymore, which was always a bit of a challenge anyway.</p><p>Things like what kind of food and drink should I get for visitors, how much of anything, where do I store it, how do I serve it, etc. I end up forgetting it all when people arrive, especially if they confuse me with their interruptions.</p><p>I remember one visit where we sat in near dark for about an hour because I didn&#039;t think to switch on the lights.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie51" alt=":hilarious:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>My brother and his family are fun to be with, because they all know what it is like, but don&#039;t fuss about anything either. My brother has ADD and one of my nieces has pretty severe ADHD.</p><p>Unfortunately they all live abroad, so I don&#039;t see them very often.</p><p><br /></p><p>My brain can&#039;t handle any sensory overload. It starts to tune out, which translates itself to diverse things like walking difficulties or inability to speak.</p><p><br /></p><p>I now have a &#039;buddy&#039; through a program for people with disabilities. That took them about 20 years, because no one ever knew in which box to place &quot;my case&quot;, because I am neither autistic nor a psychiatric patient.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/smilies/rolleyes.png" class="mceSmilie" alt=":rolleyes:" unselectable="on" /></p><p>But the penny finally dropped<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie56" alt=":jawdrop:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />, and they agreed that I need help anyway. I am still waiting for help with administrative things though, so that&#039;s a mess.</p><p><br /></p><p>My buddy also has ADD, and he keeps an eye on my energy and coping levels. We have the same quirky sense of humour, so we have a lot of fun.</p><p>So after years of having to stay at home, I now go out occasionally.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie99" alt=":woot:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie99" alt=":woot:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie49" alt=":happy:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p>He has been over for coffee a couple of times, but he reminds me of what I should do, or makes the coffee himself.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie75" alt=":playful:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p>It is nice to just relax with someone without feeling insufficient and nervous all the time.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/smilies/smile.png" class="mceSmilie" alt=":)" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>Wow, that was a long post, sorry about that.<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie79" alt=":shame:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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