From "I'm Broken" to "I'm Beautifully Neurodivergent": My Journey to Self-Acceptance

Looking back I can't believe I used to think I was broken because I needed both stimulation AND rest, connection AND solitude.

For years, I blamed myself for being "too complicated" when really, I was just neurodivergent.

The Shame Spiral

As a neurodivergent person, I spent decades:

• Apologising for needing to leave social events early

• Pushing through sensory overwhelm to "fit in"

• Feeling guilty about needing quiet recovery time

• Thinking my sensitivity was a weakness

• Masking my true needs to appear "normal"

• Believing I was "too much" or "not enough"

The constant internal contradiction felt exhausting. How could I need so much social connection yet crave solitude so deeply? Why did I seek intense stimulation but then need complete calm?

The Turning Point

Learning about neurodivergence changed everything.

I discovered my brain simply works differently.

My needs aren't contradictions:

• Stimulation AND decompression

Connection AND solitude

These aren't character flaws – they're how my nervous system functions.

The Liberation of Understanding

Now I understand:

• My social battery charges differently

• My sensory needs are real and valid

• Setting boundaries isn't selfish – it's necessary

• My rhythms don't need to match neurotypical patterns

• My sensitivity is actually my superpower

From Shame to Self-Compassion

Instead of shame, I now feel:

• Compassion for my neurodivergent brain

• Permission to honour my actual needs

• Pride in my unique perspective

• Power in setting clear boundaries

• Freedom from neurotypical expectations

I'm not broken – I'm beautifully neurodivergent.

Your Journey to Self-Acceptance

Where are you on this journey from shame to self-understanding?

What aspects of your neurodivergent experience do you still struggle to accept?