How Do I Know if I’m Neurodivergent?

If you are reading this, you’ve probably spent a lot of late nights Googling things like “why do I get angry when people chew loudly” or “why can’t I just sit still.”

Wondering if you are neurodivergent as an adult can feel confusing. You might think, “If I had Autism or ADHD, wouldn’t someone have noticed when I was a kid?”

Not necessarily. especially if you are female, grew up in a strict environment, or are highly intelligent. Many of us flew under the radar because we got good at hiding our struggles. We didn’t cause trouble; we just suffered in silence.

Here are three less-obvious signs that you might be part of the Spectrum Threadz family.

1. The “Wait, Not Everyone Does That?” Moment

You assumed everyone had to consciously force themselves to make eye contact. You thought everyone had a constant internal monologue screaming at them. You thought everyone cut the tags out of their shirts.

  • The Sign: Realizing that the things you struggle with—which you thought were universal human struggles—are actually unique to your neurology.

2. The “Lazy” Myth

You have spent your life beating yourself up for being “lazy.”

  • The Reality: If you were actually lazy, you would enjoy doing nothing. But you don’t enjoy it. You are sitting on the couch, desperate to do the laundry or start that project, but your body feels like it weighs a thousand pounds.
  • The Term: This is called Executive Dysfunction, a hallmark of ADHD and Autism. It’s not a character flaw; it’s a chemical disconnect in the brain.

3. The Intensity of Interests

When you get into something, you don’t just “like” it. You consume it. You research it for 12 hours straight. It becomes the lens through which you see the world.

  • The Sign: This is “Hyper-fixation” or “Special Interests.” While the world tells you to be “balanced,” your brain thrives on deep, specialized passion.

The Imposter Syndrome

It is normal to doubt yourself. You might think, “I’m just looking for attention” or “Everyone is a little bit ADHD.” (Spoiler: No, they aren’t).

If identifying as neurodivergent helps you understand yourself, be kinder to yourself, and find tools that actually work for you… then it is the right label for you. You don’t need a permission slip to start understanding your own mind.