# The forms of neurodivergence This is an informal list of the varieties of neurodivergence. - It's essential to note that deviations from [social standards](people-rules.md) end up forming even more deviations through uniquely different [cultural experiences](people-culture.md), which means these diagnoses rarely exist alone. - It's also worth noting that awareness of the neurodivergence doesn't necessitate any necessary action: many [personalities](people-personality.md) have lived amazing lives as extreme neurodivergent minds. The only requirement is to take action when the behavior *from* the mental framework creates severe adverse [consequences](results.md). Everyone likely possesses at least a *little* of each of these as well, so the classification really has no place for [prejudice](hardship-discrimination.md). - Most people see [aberrant behavior](people-rules-list.md) as something dangerous. - Most of the time, there is a very specific place for neurodivergence, and an utterly *terrible* place for it as well. - Often, the needs of a neurodivergent are the same as everyone else's, but in differing quantities. ## Attention deficit disorder (ADD) A hyperactive focus on many things, often with many connections and associations, but with very little refinement of the thoughts. - When it's a severe case, it becomes attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). - Their mind is generally experiencing racing thoughts, but as a typical part of their daily lives. - Every symptom of their diagnosis is linked to [dysregulation](mind-awareness-dysregulation.md). Indicators: 1. Hyperactive - Trouble with patiently waiting their turn - Excessively talking - Speaks very quickly - Has no internal language "filter" and over-shares information 2. Impulsive - Interjects rapid, emotional answers - Rambles or veers off-topic - Easily shifts subjects without provocation - Fidgets when others are speaking - Difficulty staying focused on one task 3. Inattentive - Easily bored and distracted by external stimuli or background information - Unintentionally loud - May unintentionally dominate conversations - Forgets details and needs to have information repeated - Appears to ignore others ADD often mixes with [autism](mind-neurodivergence-autism.md). - The dominant different is the lack of autistic hyperfocus, which draws in associations from *everything* toward a singular task (e.g., everything is about Star Wars). How to behave with them: - Give them room to run their mind all over the place. - Don't expect them to be reliable. - If you're patient, you can often train them to be more socially acceptable: - Openly state when they've interrupted you. - If they ever indicate two unrelated domains, ask them how they are related. The cure for it: - They need an outlet to run out their mind on an activity, which is typically a [creative endeavor](mind-creativity-how.md) but can sometimes be through physical exertion. ## Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) Autism is unique enough that [it merits a separate section](mind-neurodivergence-autism.md). ## Bipolar personality disorder (BPD) A fractured emotional state, represented by a hyperactive mode ("mania") and a low-energy mode ("depressive"). - The vacillations alternate at different points, and there's not always a reason for the shift. - In some ways, it's the representation of two [personalities](people-personality.md). Indicators: - When in the depressive state, a tendency to over-dramatize or be extremely depressed. - General emotional unawareness of their alternate emotional persona. How to behave with them: - Respect their inconsistency as a part of them, and avoid giving them anything that requires them to be evenly reliable. - If you want, you can often find a baseline by tracking their initiative in their depressive state, and their accuracy in their manic state. The cure for it: - There really is no cure for it except behavior modification for inappropriate actions. ## Cluster A/B/C personality disorders The personality clusters are aligned with how we can specifically fail at working with information: - [Cluster A](mind-neurodivergence-clustera.md) personality disorders are a processing problem (i.e., bad incoming information). - [Cluster B](mind-neurodivergence-clusterb.md) personality disorders have a [memory retention](mind-memory.md) problem (i.e., bad memory management). - [Cluster C](mind-neurodivergence-clusterc.md) personality disorders breaks into several domains based on an issue with [imagining things](mind-imagination.md) (i.e., managing expectations). ## High intelligence A capacity to think far faster than most people. - May be localized to a [specialization](jobs-specialization.md), or may be near-universal. - Can be measured reliably with IQ tests, but high IQ doesn't guarantee wisdom or effectiveness with that intelligence. Indicators: - Quicker ability to come to large conclusions, slower ability to react to baser triggers. - At the far end, this can make them severely overthink [basic life decisions](mind-decisions.md). - An unusually strong understanding of complex things. How to behave with them: - Avoid [small talk](language-speaking-smalltalk.md), since they find it boring. - If they exhaust you, politely limit your time with them. - They have more interest and patience with complexity, so they will make "dumb" things complex. - They generally have less patience with most social systems than average. - All of society's systems run at a speed that's much slower than their mind runs, so they are forced to slow down just to stay on the same wavelength as everyone else. - The greatest sense of [meaning](meaning.md) they'll receive will come through your acknowledgment of something new you hadn't learned from them. - However, don't take offense if they find your discovery annoying, since they often build cumulative information over concepts that often aren't part of the public dialogue. The cure for it: - [Socialization](people-friends.md) is still a requirement, but becomes progressively more difficult in proportion to their intelligence (since most people simply can't think on that level of depth). - Without socialization, they will often descend into other forms of neurodivergence. - It's also a scientific possibility that intelligence itself *is* a composite of other neurodivergence. ## Low intelligence The tendency to think slower than most people. - May be a specific disability, or may be near-universal (e.g., Down's Syndrome). - Can be measured reliably with IQ tests, but low IQ doesn't dictate any [moral](morality.md) standing (though it may affect patience). Indicators: - Difficulty coming to large conclusions, rapid ability to react to baser triggers. - At the far end, this can make them react wrongly to [basic life decisions](mind-decisions.md). How to behave with them: - Only speak with [small talk](language-speaking-smalltalk.md), since they often have the mind of [a child](language-speaking-children.md). - They are often easily entertained if you keep things lightweight, but they'll also become frustrated more quickly. - Impulse control is much more difficult for them, and [addiction](addiction.md) is a much greater risk. - The endless [specializations](jobs-specialization.md) of society have marginalized them more than any other people group. - As tasks become more technical (e.g., excavator replaces shoveling dirt), [technology](technology.md) slowly drives them out of many [jobs](jobs-1_why.md). - If you're [managing them](mgmt-3_teams.md) give them simple, physical tasks. The cure for it: - They're still capable of you're willing to [teach them](education-how.md), but will simply require much more patience. - Focus as much as possible on *only* the details that matter (i.e., "what" more than "why" or "how"). ## Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) An antagonism against any authority figures. - Tends to oppose anything [standardized](standards.md) or "institutionalized". - Often participates in anti-institution institutions (e.g., punk culture, hippies, hacker culture). - Often simply a product of lower-than-average agreeableness. How to behave with them: - Even when hypocritical, respect their views. - Avoid behaving like an institutional or authority figure. The cure for it: - It typically expresses in adolescence and represents as a [phase of maturation](maturity.md). - However, if the anti-establishment mindset is still present into their 30s, it likely represents their [personality](people-personality.md). ## Psychopathy spectrum The domain of psychopathy has enough information that [it merits its own section](mind-neurodivergence-psychopath.md). ## Synesthesia and altered perceptual states An altered state of incoming perception, where information doesn't align with typical associations. - It can be through crossed perceptual states ("synesthesia") or the absence of perceptual states from an early enough developmental age that frames the world in a different context (e.g., blindness from birth) Indicators: - A clear absence of direct associations that others may possess. How to behave with them: - Give credit to their views, since the atypical nature of their perception can provide tremendous [meaning](meaning.md) to humanity (e.g., Helen Keller). The cure for it: - Beyond assisting them to exist in society (e.g., ADA accommodations), there is no need to do anything. ## Tourette's syndrome A mental state of deriving tremendous [meaning](meaning.md) out of information that has not been connected with [language](language.md). Indicators: - A buildup of sentiment that eventually represents as severe and inaccurate expression to their intended purpose (e.g., profanity, screaming). - One natural side effect is that they always have some amount of ADHD. How to behave with them: - Permit them to speak, and try [actively listening](language-speaking.md) to them. The cure for it: - They need to find healthier connections, which requires more thoughtfulness, often through [meditation](mind-awareness-meditation.md).