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Neurodivergency and trauma sensitivity

Db1New Contributor25 June 2025, 5:47 pm AEST

Neurodivergency and trauma sensitivity

Good afternoon,

Anyone else who is neurodivergent feel affected strongly by unrecognised childhood trauma/PTSD....

I feel only a milder trigger for trauma is needed compared to neurotypical people. Anyone else feel the same?

Thank you for any response.

5 replies

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In response to: Neurodivergency and trauma sensitivity

tymeModerator25 June 2025, 6:24 pm AEST

Re: Neurodivergency and trauma sensitivity

I'm sure there are others who can relate @Db1 .

I wonder if @avant-garde or @creative_writer have anything to add?

In response to: Neurodivergency and trauma sensitivity

creative_writerSenior Contributor25 June 2025, 6:48 pm AEST

Re: Neurodivergency and trauma sensitivity

@Db1 I believe many ND can experience significant trauma symptoms even though the event doesn’t meet criteria for PTSD. I think many people don’t realise smaller traumas can also add up. ND can come with difficulties with expressing emotions and ND are often misunderstood, I think that also can add layers

In response to: Neurodivergency and trauma sensitivity

Sad_TreeCasual Contributor26 June 2025, 10:20 am AEST

Re: Neurodivergency and trauma sensitivity

I'm ND and have PTSD from a DV relationship, which ended more than 5 years ago (although we have kids together, so there has been years of court and bs, him using the legal system to continue the abuse) and I have 5 ND kids. With the past trauma and the ongoing trauma it makes it hard for me to even function day to day and the pressures of living and society are SO bad!! I don't think neurotypical people know how deep our emotional pain can be, or how it can feel physically painful as well as emotionally. Does that happen to you?

In response to: Re: Neurodivergency and trauma sensitivity

rav3nSenior Contributor26 June 2025, 10:29 am AEST

Re: Neurodivergency and trauma sensitivity

hey @Sad_Tree welcome to the forums!

that sounds exhausting and overwhelming, i'm sure @Db1 @creative_writer can relate to some that heaviness too.

also wanted to give you a lil tip for posting - you can tag members using @ and then typing their username like this @Sad_Tree so that they get notified of your post/responses. hope that helps 😊

In response to: Neurodivergency and trauma sensitivity

avant-gardeSenior Contributor27 June 2025, 12:38 am AEST

Re: Neurodivergency and trauma sensitivity

@Db1

I wanted to give my full attention when I wrote a reply to this.

You're not alone in feeling this way

It's like something foreign, something you just can't quite figure out is reducing your capacity to cope with what many would think it's simple.

But even the simplest things can reduce your capacity.

The best explanation I've heard is that we all have a certain amount we can handle, I work well with percentages.

Let's say 35% is trauma

15% neurodivergent quirks, things having to be a certain way and can't be this or that because that leads to overwhelm and we avoid overwhelm

We're already at 50% before we even get to jobs, family, therapy... everything else...

So I'm classed as neurodivergent because when trauma starts so young, our minds don't develop normally and so our neural pathways can be shaped by trauma therefore causing neurodivergency. I'm not autistic, ADHD, bipolar, bpd, etc, but I am neurodivergent because my mind had to incorporate trauma coping strategies into my development.

So do I think our triggers are harder to manage because of neurodivergency? yes absolutely, because half our capacity is already gone before we even start.

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