I’ve had this question in my brain for weeks and I don’t know where to put it. I guess I chose here because maybe someone else has had this same question and found answers. Maybe it’s a stupid question actually.
But what is it like to be Neurotypical?
I am not confident I have known a single Neurotypical person, at least not well. They are apparently the vast majority of people, but I think everyone I’ve ever been close to was ND. As a late diagnosed AuDHD person, I find myself now analyzing every human I interact with trying to figure out how they are different than me, or how they are similar. I feel like I see the ghost of Neurodivergence in everyone and can’t recognize neurotypicality when I see it.
What are the signs and symptoms of neurotypicality?
I suppose I fall into this category. It’s not that I never have any problems in my life or that I’m perfect. I have just never felt like my mental or emotional issues were ever outside of my control.
My older sister was diagnosed as autistic in her 30’s. I looked up to her a lot growing up and I tried to be like her. I picked up a lot of her habits, and I do occasionally wonder whether I might be somewhere on the spectrum or if it’s just the influence from her when I was growing up. The difference is that she had breakdowns where she had to be institutionalized, where I have never encountered that. Maybe I will someday, maybe I won’t.
I don’t think anyone else I know would describe themselves as neurotypical. It’s kind of similar to the old adage that the average American household has 2.5 kids, but you never see anyone with exactly 2.5 kids. Everyone has their own problems. There were a few years of my life when I might have been diagnosed with germaphobia if I was so inclined. A lot of people are only minority afflicted, or are good at hiding it. The same applies for physical problems too.