Why You Should Find Your Community

"Your vibe attracts your tribe"

Introduction

    One of the purposes behind the Digital Summer Clinic having interns maintain a blog is to think about our audience and who it is we want to connect with. We have a progress report to present in our weekly meetings, and recently we've started including this audience. When I first presented with my internship partner, I was met with confused looks and questions from my mentors. 

    My goal is to connect with two audiences. The first, my peers and other professionals early in their careers. This made perfect sense to my mentors, it's my second audience that left some perplexed. I strongly feel that I would benefit and find wonderful connections with other neurodivergents and creatives, which are often one and the same.

    This word, neurodivergent, was unfamiliar. I was asked if it referred to someone who has Asperger's, or Asperger Syndrome. Autism does fall into the category of neurodiversity, as well as ADHD, Tourette's syndrome, and other developmental and learning disorders. 

    According to the article The Neurodivergent Brain: Everything You Need to Know by Lisa Jo Rudy, "The term "neurodivergent" refers to the idea that differences in the human brain are natural and normal and, in many cases, can lead to meaningful and positive insights and abilities. People are described as neurodiverse when their thought pattern, behaviors, or learning styles fall outside of what is considered "normal," or neurotypical."

    This article states that mental health disorders are not commonly encompassed under the umbrella term of neurodivergence; however, there is significant overlap between symptoms among developmental, learning, and mental health disorders. Additionally, "More than half of people diagnosed with one psychiatric disorder will be diagnosed with a second or third in their lifetime. About a third have four or more," according to Multiple diagnoses are the norm with mental illness; new genetic study explains why by Lisa Marshall. This study includes 11 disorders, including those which fall under neurodiversity.

    I'm generally transparent about my diagnoses. I have ADHD, anxiety, and depression. Oftentimes, in my experience, one disorder often sets off another, and the snowball can be disastrous.

-The Adaptive Creative