glossary

NEURODIVERGENCE - My brain just works differently from what’s considered “typical.” It’s not an illness, so I don’t need to be “cured.” I was born this way. In my case, I’m autistic (support needs level 1) and ADHD too.

STIMMING - Repetitive behaviors I do: scratching my head, tapping out rhythms, repeating sounds. The world can be overwhelming, so stimming helps me cope. But I also use it to focus, imagine, or create.

MASKING - Trying to act “typical” so I can blend in socially. I’m not a superhero, I’m more like a chameleon. Since my diagnosis, I’ve been working hard to drop masking altogether.

AUTISTIC OVERLOAD - Like the drop that makes the vase overflow. When it hits, it crushes my system: stress, anxiety, complete shutdown. Sometimes it looks like an angry outburst (meltdown), sometimes like retreating inside myself (shutdown).

HYPERFOCUS - If you see me completely absorbed in something and totally oblivious to the outside world, that’s hyperfocus. It’s amazing when I’m writing or composing, but less great when my family needs my attention. It really is like a superpower I can’t switch on or off.

Got more terms you’re curious about? Go ahead and ask! Honestly, I love explaining what neurodivergence is all about.

daysof.it

A personal journal about neurodivergence,
music, and the courage to be understood.