There comes a time in every person’s life when they are forced to reconcile the fact that, actually, what they think is entirely normal doesn’t represent how the average person operates. If one happens to not be neurologically typical, then this might be the list for you.
Someone made a post stating “Neurodivergent folks, what’s a symptom you thought was normal until you realized it absolutely wasn’t?” and people shared their best examples. Note, many of the things here can be attributed to neurodivergence, but are not exclusive to it. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to write down and obsess over your own examples in the comments below.
#1
When people tell me a story, I tell them a similar story to try to relate. Ppl don’t like that they think I’m trying to make it about myself when I’m trying to empathize.
Report
112points
#2
Constantly googling things when I don't know. It boggles my mind that people don't know something and then just keep moving through life not knowing.....
101points
#3
Not hating showering itself but hating the task initiation.
Report
100points
#4
Not actually “missing” many people or feeling the urge to talk to friends or anyone besides the people you’re around everyday. People are like out of sight out of mind.
93points
#5
Always needing to know “why” and doing extensive deep research about random things only to completely lose interest a month or two later.
89points
#6
I replay conversations I have with people in my head.. to try to determine if said the appropriate thing and I totally over analyze it. It can be exhausting...
Report
86points
#7
Brain radio! I thought everyone else was hearing music on repeat inside their head. 😭
Report
80points
#8
Hating obligations, they stress me out. Even fun ones.
Report
79points
#9
Clearing my ENTIRE day to get ready for an event at 7pm.
Report
78points
#10
Getting overwhelmed by environmental noise but always needing the right background noises.
Report
78points
#12
I don’t know if there’s a word for it but just thoughts ALL the time about seemingly everything. If I’m interacting with someone I’m thinking about the way I’m sitting or standing, what they think of me, if I’m responding normally, eye contact, that random thing that happened 10 yrs ago and made me feel bad, am I nodding too much?” It takes me out of the moment. Makes me wonder how ppl genuinely enjoy things for a prolonged amount of time.
Report
70points
#13
Constant overthinking, ruminating, worrying, intrusive, racing thoughts. Until my 30s I thought everyone had the same & were just sailing through life not bothered by it.
67points
#15
Object permanence, I don’t miss anyone or anything, is a struggle 😩
UnclFredstr:
Object permanence, especially with people. I can go months without communicating, and yet to me, when I do, it feels like just yesterday.
UnclFredstr:
Object permanence, especially with people. I can go months without communicating, and yet to me, when I do, it feels like just yesterday.
Report
60points
#16
Over explaining 😭😭 I need to keep everything short and sweet but then I feel like I’m not getting my point across good enough.
Report
58points
#17
Getting genuinely obsessed with something for a period of time only to then drop it and start the process all over again with something else that caught your interest.
Report
57points
#18
Wanting friends but unable to keep them bc I can’t ever seem to truly like a person once I get to know them.
Report
54points
#19
Time blindness. I zone out and look at my phone and 2 hours have gone by.
Report
53points
#20
Having to do two things at once in order to pay full attention to one of those things. Example: playing a game on my phone in order to be able to pay attention to a lecture or meeting.
52points