 A look at the challenging health impacts that often accompany neurodivergence , as well as the most impactful interventions.
There tends to be a lot of focus on the social or executive functioning challenges associated with neurodivergence, but less discussion on other health co-morbidities so many of us live with (especially those with autism). That’s surprising given that the vast majority of people on the spectrum have problems relating to sleep (a huge factor for good health) and GI issues, not to mention things like migraines, anxiety, allergies and having co-occurring ADHD, dyslexia, etc. For those who mask (more often associated with women but it’s not always binary), the health issues tend to be more pronounced. While a male is said to be more likely to externalize their distress (perhaps with a violent outburst), women are thought to be more likely to internalize it and have it show up (sometimes much later), as an upset stomach, migraine, anxiety, etc. While it doesn’t always play out that way, I have certainly found it to be true in my own life. Personally, the health challenges associated with my autism have been the most challenging and debilitating aspects of being autistic. I mostly think of my autistic brain as an advantage (except when my thinking gets too rigid/inflexible), but there is no clear advantage to having migraines that completely derail my day, allergies that have kept me indoors for months at a time (thankfully those days are over), or getting an injury from EDS that can have me limping for weeks and interfering with my sleep. The severity of my health issues is what initially motivated me to take classes in holistic herbalism. My sensitivity to pharmaceuticals led to some truly nightmare scenarios, but the upside was that this pushed me towards experimenting with herbs, and that was a real turning point for me. I finally began making some headway with my health, and over time my capacity to take on more began to grow. I don’t have it all figured out. And now that I am going through perimenopause, there are new wrenches thrown into the mix that at times leave me floundering and clueless (and sometimes howling in pain). But I have been so encouraged by the tangible changes in my health that I eventually decided to formalize my training as an herbalist so that I could offer more meaningful support to others. Not everyone is going to have the same symptoms that I have, so I wanted to get broader training. While this training is ongoing (and for an herbalist it is a lifelong journey), I have now completed my training as a Family Herbalist and am partially through the Community Herbalist program with Commonwealth Holistic Herbalism. I love this school so much. In this age of misinformation, it has been so empowering to connect with a system that is genuinely helpful and it has changed my life. I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that my healthcare costs are exorbitant compared to my income for the last 10 years, but at least by going to herb school it doesn’t feel like money down the drain. It is an investment in my health and a future where I can offer support to others who are struggling in similar ways. Because the healthcare system in the US has become so incredibly dysfunctional, I am also motivated to do whatever I possibly can to have as little to do with that system as possible and to be able to assist others with the same goal. It’s not just the costs. Sure, you pay an arm and a leg for healthcare (especially if you are self-employed), but it’s becoming more and more the norm for insurance companies to simply deny any claim that is sent to them the first time around. You spend hours on hold, trying to get through to a real human, only to then be told you have to call this other number instead, and on and on and on. This kind of crap is one of my very worst triggers. As if the health issues you are dealing with aren’t enough on their own, you then have to commit hours of whatever time you have left sorting through these hassles. It becomes a job in itself, except they take your money rather than paying you. And you can’t quit unless you just want to pay all of bills yourself. So it is incredibly meaningful to me to have some tools now that help me to minimize my involvement with that kind of hell. Initially this article was going to be a nutshell of some of the most important interventions I’ve learned for neurodivergent folks to navigate their health challenges, but I’m realizing I will need to break this up into many smaller articles in the coming months to give each area the attention it deserves. For now, let’s just say that there are some key areas to look at in your life before you even turn to herbs that are having major impacts on your health, and that doing an inventory of where you are at and what you have some control over changing is time well spent. The main things to be looking at are:
Neurodivergent people may be more likely to be facing challenges with their health, but that doesn’t mean we have to be victims and are just stuck with it. We can’t change everything, but there are a number of issues that can be greatly improved with some lifestyle tweaks. If you are autistic, you may do best by incorporating small changes gradually over time so as not to get overwhelmed. If you have ADHD (or are more ADHD than autistic), you might find it easier to make changes but harder to stick with them. It’s a process. Being neurodivergent, you are likely going to do best when you go your own way and focus on what works for you, rather than trying to adhere to a system that’s been designed for the masses. You can get started right now by looking at those four areas in your life, doing an inventory of where you have deficits, and figuring out where you can realistically make adjustments. Lean into your strengths! If you are sedentary in nature, you might be a rock star at meditating for long periods of time. If you love to cook and your baked goods have you in over your head in calories, use those baking skills to figure out the yummiest alternatives with healthier ingredients! If you can’t sit still for long periods of time, lean into sports/exercise that you enjoy. Each weakness you think you have can be turned into a strength. The point is that lifestyle changes need to be realistic and sustainable. If the changes feel like torture, then you might as well just stick with your health problems. But if your health is making you miserable and interfering with your goals, it’s time to consider some changes. Start with something that feels easy, and then you can build on your successes. Believe me, there is nothing more motivating than having less pain and more bandwidth to do what you love! DISCLAIMER: This is not medical advice. As a neurodivergent coach, Family Herbalist and autistic woman, I write for educational purposes only and to share my own experiences with neurodivergence. Would you like these posts delivered directly to your inbox each week? Subscribe for free on Substack: arikarapson.substack.com
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