Insight into various neurodivergent related terms.
Definition
Hyperawareness In Everyday Terms: Hyperawareness is when your brain gets stuck focusing on something you normally wouldn’t notice—like how you’re breathing, the sound of a clock ticking, or the way your clothes feel. Once you notice it, it’s hard to stop noticing, and it can feel
Definition
Unmasking In Everyday Terms: Unmasking is when you stop trying to hide your true self and let your authentic personality shine, especially as a neurodivergent person. It’s about dropping the “mask” you wear to fit in with neurotypical expectations—like forcing eye contact, suppressing stimming, or pretending you’re
Definition
Working Memory Bottleneck In Everyday Terms: The working memory bottleneck is when your brain feels like it’s running out of mental space. You’re trying to keep track of several things at once—like a to-do list, an idea you just had, and what someone just told you—but
Definition
Autistic Burnout In Everyday Terms: Autistic burnout is when life just becomes too much—too many demands, too much masking, too much sensory overload—and your body and brain feel like they’ve hit a wall. It’s not the same as being tired; it’s a deep mental and
Definition
Repetitive Behaviors (RBBs) In Everyday Terms: Repetitive behaviors (RBBs) are actions you do over and over, like tapping your fingers, rocking back and forth, saying the same phrase, or organizing objects in a particular way. Sometimes they’re soothing or help you focus, and other times they’re just automatic.
Definition
Information Processing Lag In Everyday Terms: Information processing lag is when it feels like your brain is running a bit behind. Someone might ask you a question, and while you understand the words, it takes a moment—or several—to fully process what they said and figure out how to
Definition
Energy Budgeting In Everyday Terms: Energy budgeting is like managing a daily bank account for your energy. Just like money, you only have so much to spend in a day, and if you use too much too quickly, you’re left drained or in “energy debt.” It’s about figuring
Definition
Interest-Based Nervous System In Everyday Terms: An interest-based nervous system means your brain thrives on things that excite or engage you—but struggles to focus on anything that feels boring, routine, or irrelevant. It’s like your brain has a built-in "priority filter" that only turns on for
Definition
Microtasking In Everyday Terms: Microtasking is breaking big, overwhelming tasks into tiny, bite-sized pieces that feel more doable. Instead of cleaning the entire house, you start with just wiping the counter. It’s like taking things one small step at a time to avoid feeling stuck or overwhelmed. Microtasking helps
Definition
Nonverbal Episodes In Everyday Terms: Nonverbal episodes are times when talking just isn’t an option—even if you want to speak, the words just won’t come out. It’s like your brain hits pause on verbal communication, leaving you stuck with thoughts but no way to express them
Definition
Executive Overload In Everyday Terms: Executive overload is when your brain has too much to juggle, and it starts to feel like everything is crashing down at once. It’s like having too many tabs open on your mental browser, all demanding attention, until you freeze up or shut down.
Definition
Double Empathy Problem In Everyday Terms: The double empathy problem is when communication struggles happen both ways—not just because one person doesn’t understand, but because both people see the world differently. It’s like speaking two different languages and expecting the other person to “just get it.” Neurodivergent