What is Neurodivergent OCD?

OCD can affect the brain's circuitry, influencing social communication, judgment, planning, and body functioning. If “neurodivergent” simply means having a brain different from the most common brain type, then OCD would qualify.


What qualifies you as neurodivergent?

The term “neurodivergent” describes people whose brain differences affect how their brain works. That means they have different strengths and challenges from people whose brains don't have those differences. The possible differences include medical disorders, learning disabilities and other conditions.

Is OCD a Neurodivergency or a mental illness?

Most research suggests that OCD is often caused by genetics or the environment, as well as certain differences in the brain. This further proves that it's neurodivergent and not just a unique anxiety disorder alone.


What mental disorders make you neurodivergent?

Neurodivergence is a term used to describe differences in brain function. Classical definitions of neurodivergence include diagnoses of autism, ADHD and dyslexia. However, embracing neurodiversity means going beyond medical definitions by recognizing the whole person.

Is OCD a neurodevelopmental disorder?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) are complex neurodevelopmental disorders.


2-Minute Neuroscience: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)



Does OCD make you neurodivergent?

Some people would consider OCD to be a neurodivergent condition, while others would not. OCD can affect the brain's circuitry, influencing social communication, judgment, planning, and body functioning. If “neurodivergent” simply means having a brain different from the most common brain type, then OCD would qualify.

Is OCD a form of autism?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and OCD are two different conditions, however, it is true that some symptoms of autism overlap with those of other disorders, such as OCD, and can look similar (Højgaard et al. 2016).

How can I tell if I'm neurodivergent?

What characterizes neurodivergent people?
  • Struggling with reading and writing.
  • Clumsiness.
  • Finding it hard to cope with crowds, bright lights, loud, sudden noises, or social situations.
  • Difficulty with focusing or keeping still.
  • No smiling or social responsiveness.


Do people with anxiety count as neurodivergent?

But the definition has since expanded to include other conditions in advocacy movements and social justice circles. “With this definition, anxiety can be considered a form of neurodivergence, although it may not be as commonly recognized as ADHD, autism, or trauma,” she says.

What do all neurodivergent people have in common?

Someone who is neurodivergent behaves, thinks and learns differently compared to those who are neurotypical. This term can be used to describe an individual whose brain functions differently to what we consider “normal”.

Does OCD count as insanity?

These disorders share common biological markers, symptoms, and courses of treatment. Removing OCD from the umbrella of other anxiety disorders firmly identified it as a distinct mental illness. The DSM-5 now requires the following specific elements for an OCD diagnosis: Obsession.


Is OCD psychotic or non psychotic?

While OCD is considered a mental health condition, psychosis is not. Psychosis describes a mental state in many other conditions, including OCD. While someone with OCD can experience psychosis, this does not mean that OCD is a psychotic disorder. This distinction is important to make, especially when seeking treatment.

Is OCD a form of Aspergers?

Asperger's syndrome (AS) is one of subcategories of pervasive developmental disorder defined by behavioral symptoms. These symptoms include repetitive and stereotyped patterns similar to the behavior of obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD).

Can you be neurodivergent without knowing?

Neurodivergence is often first recognized as the result of a diagnosis, but, of course, neurodiversity exists before a diagnosis—and can exist with or without a diagnosis.


Can you be neurodivergent without ADHD?

Neurodivergent is a non-medical umbrella term that describes people with variation in their mental functions, and can include conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other neurological or developmental conditions such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Does depression count as neurodivergent?

Other types of neurodivergence include Tourette's, dyspraxia, synesthesia, dyscalculia, Down syndrome, epilepsy, and chronic mental health illnesses such as bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder, anxiety, and depression.

Can trauma cause neurodivergent?

Neurodivergence is the state of being neurodivergent and can be genetic and innate (such as autism) or produced by experiences (such as trauma).


What is a neurodivergent brain test?

Online Neurodiversity Tests. You can take these online tests to see if you have traits of neurodiversity, such as dyslexia or dyspraxia, or autism. Please note: the results are not a diagnosis, they can be used to indicate whether you may have traits of that neurodivergence.

Does PTSD count as neurodivergent?

PTSD and C-PTSD are now considered by many to be within the umbrella of neurodivergence, but fall under the category of acquired neurodivergence.

Is being neurodivergent rare?

Driven by both genetic and environmental factors, an estimated 15-20 percent of the world's population exhibits some form of neurodivergence.


Are neurodivergent people smart?

Many people who are neurodivergent have higher-than-average abilities—for example in pattern recognition, visual-spatial thinking, memory, or mathematics.

What are examples of neurodiversity?

ADHD, Autism, Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, and Tourette's syndrome are all examples of neurodiverse conditions. They're diagnostic labels used to explain the diverse ways of thinking, learning, processing and behaving. As with all people, we each have our talents and challenges.

Can I get disability for OCD?

You may be eligible for Social Security disability benefits based on obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) if you can provide good evidence to show it is severely debilitating. OCD is assessed by the Social Security Administration (SSA) as an anxiety disorder.


Are you born with OCD?

Experts aren't sure of the exact cause of OCD. Genetics, brain abnormalities, and the environment are thought to play a role. It often starts in the teens or early adulthood. But, it can also start in childhood.

Is OCD schizophrenia spectrum?

In conclusion, a high proportion of clinically diagnosed OCD patients fulfilled diagnostic criteria of a schizophrenia-spectrum disorder. The conspicuous obsessive-compulsive symptomatology may have resulted in a disregard of psychotic symptoms and other psychopathology.
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