To begin with, neurodivergent, neurodivergence, neurodiversity are not scientific, psychological or medical terms officially. I’m tired of seeing these labels being worn as a badge of honor, hyperbolic, over-the-top or “seemingly impressive” terms people use to describe themselves as something better than they are. In reality their friends, family, parents, kids etc, have to deal with these problems that the person has. I am not doubting that people with these syndromes, terms, (other words) may have some amazing skills but there is still a dark side to it. As an illustrative example I went on a date with a woman who told me she was ADHD. Now with my background I naturally asked which type, inattentive, hyperactive or combined. You have to be 1 of the 3. Then if you are a good clinician, you wonder whether it is mild, moderate or severe on top of it. However, when on the date at the coffee shop she kept getting distracted in conversation (inattention) and was constantly fidgeting and putting things in and out of her purse for no reason and shifting in her seat (hyperactive). It was admittingly very distracting, so combined type. Eventually not to get out of the date (as we had a second), she said I have to get up and walk around. 

If you like to break down words and see what they mean. “Neuro” in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is referring to nerve or neural which yes does mean brain stuff.

Then “Divergent” merely means something to the effect of moving away from a common point.

This being said, we do have the category of Neurodevelopmental Disorders in the DSM-5-TR published in March of 2022. They are listed below. I am sorry to report these are not disorders for the most part you are wanting to brag to friends about or even think of as praiseworthy. Many people hide them or avoid discussion about them. Think of the list below:

Intellectual Developmental Disorders

       Intellectual Developmental Disorder (FORMERLY MENTAL RETARDATION)

Global Developmental Delay

Communication Disorders

       Language Disorder

       Speech Sound Disorder

       Childhood-Onset Fluency Disorder (Stuttering)

       Social (Pragmatic) Communication Disorder 

Autism Spectrum Disorder (Generally not good, think of Sheldon big bang, Dustin Hoffman Rainman)

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (Hyperactive, Impulsive, Can’t pay attention) have trouble in work, school, problems with friends and family.

Specific Learning Disorder (Dyslexia, etc. here) clear problems in certain jobs or again switching times to meet etc.

Motor Disorders  (Tourettes, Tics, etc.) Funny movies showing how people blurt out bad words or weird behaviors.

Developmental Coordination Disorder

Stereotypic Movement Disorder

Tic Disorders

When you really think about these concepts we normally don’t think of these as positive descriptors of people or brag how our partner was in special ED. growing up. Many times, it is something we poke fun at the person about. Almost always when the person we are describing is NOT around and its being said without their knowledge they are being described with warning to the people listening. We may be describing the “Neurodivergent” person so that people are not too surprised when the labeled person acts “odd” or “off the wall” or “strange”. We are describing them in a way to decrease negativity due to their problems with any of these concepts above.

Just think of people in your own personal history who were dyslexic and had trouble mixing phone numbers up or addresses. Or the friend who was impulsive when doing things whether positive or negative. Think of the stutterer that you genuinely feel bad for and you (being a good person) are patient going through a checkout line.

Then on top of this when you do the math statistically there are only a few of the above that are referred to in a positive light. Sure John Doe is hyperactive but you should see after a day of painting, writing music, or whatever. It is true high IQ people are in the positive category.

Now of course I can go into the other really not good neurodivergent people again keeping in mind divergent people with neuro issues that are deviating from the norm.

Mild or Mild Neurocognitive Disorders due to:

Alzheimer’s disease

Frontotemporal degeneration

Lewy body disease

Vascular disease

Traumatic brain injury

Substance/medication use

HIV infection

Prion disease

Parkinson’s disease

Huntington’s disease

Another medical condition

Multiple etiologies

Unspecified etiology

At the end of the day if you indicate on your Facebook, Instagram, X (twitter), Pinterest, Snapchat etc, Hinge, Tinder, Bumble that you are neurodivergent, there is literally only a few that really genuinely have positive associations.