u/ketchup_bro23

Often, these labels help us a lot. Especially when you can share them out loud. But when you see it having a narrative as an "disability", the game changes. You are taken as someone less over being different no matter how much goodness you have or even say talent.

Now, my biggest concern is the narrative we hold. I mean, I am a very optimistic person and talking about life from deficit point of view, by deficit i mean where we are a victim. ( and yes we often are in this neurotypical world).. what happens is that it can get very lonely.

As a middle class person, you first of all have very few who have access to this label. Or else, you are asked to just grind in, on and on. Even if you know about this, you are to fit in in the corporates, even if you possess genuine talent and a successful history..

So yes, it gets lonely, where you cant really voice yourself, and even if you voice, it becomes very hard to find your kind, especially for relationships. This is because all the general people from this class are trying to find their way out through the corporate jungle. Here, you have to shut and show your work. This is very very draining especially in this time of AI where most hiring is paused and people are looking for someone of a huge experience.

How as a person coming from such a background have you navigated around this? Relationships and friendships.. how do you do it?

While a lot of people coming from higher-class families, and also developed countries, are easily able to talk about this as a neurodivergent label, most of the people who come from developing countries...and also from middle-class and lower-class familie s do not have the option to mingle around with the ones advocating for mental health. This, therefore, comes forward as a basic necessity that the neurodivergent need: financial stability and like-minded people.

And what do they do then? They find an obsession that is famous around them...art, crafts, a talent, or even a corporate job. They go through the thick and thin rather than talking about their issues, focusing instead on what they can bring to the table.

That's why it's often very lonesome to find AuDHD support in India under that label. Most are busy working and grinding.

I too have struggled with the same, and the best option I have is to contribute with a special interest. What are you focusing on?

Many who don't even know they are neurodivergent are focused on this! That's how the world works here, unlike a lot of open, face-reveal advocacy happening in other situations.

I have come from a support system that is based on a lot of not fluff but legit Vedantic philosophy. This was coupled with bhakti, and mindset to say the least.

While this serves as a really good mindset to be over the worst, I think I also want to share about the lonliness. While bhakti offers communion with the divine, I am not fully there yet.

There are a lot of people on the spectrum but who have been exposed to spirituality, find it extremely hard to talk or even be resonant with these neurodivergent labels. For them, it feels like looking at the world from a deficit lense; which itself is a huge problem even if we are neurodivergent or not.

TO be honest, I too feel the same, not because all neurodivergents are negative or most of them, rather, our experiences in this neurotypical world have been not good.

The current world we live in, is far from ideal. We all know that. It commands us to be in a very certain way to be employed and be tolerable in this economy. Spiritual groups, especially legit ones offer great support and insight and expression here, but, neurodivergence and its labels are generally set far aside.

I have known so many spiritual people, working in the ashrams, or even working as a teacher in such good schools with basic salary. A lot of them are very happy.

Seeing all this happen, as a lower middle class family person, I am drawn to think of my duties and my nature. To earn and provide. Luckily I have a sibling who is earning fairly well, but it feels unfair to put this pressure on them and me trying to find my light or passion.

The biggest challenge is that, you hardly find any on your spiritual wavelength as a neurodivergent. That is a major factor because it makes us look at our life, no matter how and what colors it has, in a certain way. To be able to say " its for my own good" in the worst of the times with faith and see what can you learn from it. At the same time, also seek support being human on this journey when it feels too much.

I have tried joining the groups of neurodivergence, and have failed to really feel at home. I see people with so much of thinking/ perspective difference.

One thing which is totally off spiritual side is the comparision that sets in. Comparing myself with the other spiritual neurodivergents who have made it well in their life. Only to realise that we are never sure of the accomodation they have or had.

I am someone who is driven by meaning, passion and have lots of raw talent. I work in a job, and job suffocates me especially if it doesnt utilise my ablities. Switiching jobs feels so so dumb and dull, not knowing how much RSD part affects. As a spiritual, all I can do is I have done my best trying to apply in bursts of motivation, and also take time off this rat race.

The interviews, the social interaction, I am like a battery that drains from 100 to 20 in no time. I am really still dreaming to find the same passion and vision that I had with like minded at school.

Many of us neurodivergents are not meant to just be employed at the lower levels of career. We have really good pattern thinking and lateral thinking which gives us great insight to big picture. We are often able to guide the typical really well in harmony. I know it sounds like a dream, bit I have experienced it at school, creating stuff that was beyond what we see on internet today. But schools are a fantasy now. As an adult, the same friends then have so different mindset and lives that it takes super effort to get along.

Realtionships, well. Again a very hard find. Espicially being spiritual and neurodivergent. A lot of people on the spiritual side hate to be associated with these labels even if they are grounded coz of it. They want to keep trying, which is super good, but feels like dumb at times seeing them do their best but often unaware or with right support visiblity and encouragement.

Ultimately, we cannot control or compare with others. We have to see what is working for us or not. For me, I am learning to just slow down, surrender and reflect and journal. Maybe share my experiences anonymously, because the semi spiritual people around me, are too tabooed to the neurodivergent experience despite being there.

Thankyou for reading. sending love to all!