Living in a world that’s not designed for you can take its toll. For many neurodivergent people, mental health challenges like anxiety, depression or burnout aren’t separate issues, they’re deeply linked to lived experience.

Whether you’re autistic, ADHD, dyspraxic, dyslexic, or experiencing any form of neurodiversity, it’s not unusual to also be navigating overwhelm, low self-worth, or emotional exhaustion. This may also be the case if you are simply questioning how your brain works.

As someone who is neurodivergent myself, I see it and I get it.

Let’s explore how neurodivergence can affect mental health, and what kind of support might actually help.

What Do We Mean by Neurodivergence?

Neurodivergence is an umbrella term that includes conditions like:
    •    Autism
    •    ADHD
    •    Dyspraxia
    •    Dyslexia
    •    Tourette’s Syndrome
    •    And more

It simply means your brain works differently from what’s considered “neurotypical”—not better or worse, just different. And yet, much of society is still set up for one kind of brain.

That mismatch? It can be exhausting.

The Mental Health Impact of Being Neurodivergent

You don’t struggle because you’re neurodivergent. You struggle because the world often isn’t built with neurodivergent needs in mind.

Here’s how that can show up:

1. Masking and Burnout

Many neurodivergent people learn to mask—hiding traits to fit in. Over time, this constant effort to appear “normal” can lead to intense burnout, fatigue, and feeling disconnected from your identity.

2. Social Anxiety and Rejection Sensitivity

Misunderstood social cues? Interrupted conversations? Past experiences of rejection or being told you’re “too much” or “not enough”? These can create lasting social anxiety or a deep fear of getting it wrong.

3. Struggles with Self-Esteem

From childhood, you might have been labelled lazy, dramatic, difficult, or sensitive—when in reality, your brain just worked differently. This can deeply affect self-worth and feed depression or feeling sad in adulthood.

4. Sensory Overload and Anxiety

Bright lights, loud noises, constant background chatter—it’s no wonder so many neurodivergent individuals experience chronic stress or high-functioning anxiety. Sensory overwhelm often goes unseen but impacts day-to-day wellbeing.

5. Delayed Diagnosis and Lack of Support

Being diagnosed as an adult (or never getting a diagnosis at all) can come with a wave of emotions: grief, confusion, relief, even anger. Lack of support during school, work or relationships adds to the mental load.

The Importance of Neurodiversity-Affirming Therapy

If you’re neurodivergent, therapy should never feel like a place where you need to mask or explain yourself constantly.

That’s why I take a person-centred approach that’s neurodiversity-affirming, LGBTQ+ inclusive, and tailored to what actually works for you.

There’s no pressure to present a polished version of yourself. You don’t need to justify your thinking style, your overwhelm, or why you’re fidgeting. You just get to be.

How Therapy Can Help

Whether you’re struggling with loneliness, anxiety, low self-esteem, or just need space to figure out who you are, therapy can support you by:

    •    Unpacking internalised ableism
    •    Validating your experiences without pathologising
    •    Exploring burnout and finding ways to reset
    •    Helping with identity exploration (especially after a late diagnosis)
    •    Creating strategies that actually fit how your brain works

Looking for a Therapist Who Gets It?

I offer online counselling for neurodivergent adults and young people, including those with autism, ADHD, dyspraxia or those who are self-identifying or exploring.

Whether you’ve been diagnosed, are in the process, or simply know that the typical mould doesn’t work for you—this space is for you.

🔗 Book your free 20-minute consultation
🔗 Read more about how I work
🔗 Check out my Mind Vista wellbeing journal

You’re Not Broken. You’re Burnt Out.

So many of my clients come to therapy wondering if they’re doing life wrong. You’re not.

Your brain wasn’t built for a world that’s so rigid, noisy, and fast-paced. Therapy can help you reconnect to who you are underneath the overwhelm.

And remind you: you’re not too much. You’ve just been holding too much, for too long.

Further Support & Reading

    •    What to Expect in Your First Therapy Session
    •    Autistic Girls Network – Support & Info
    •    ADHD Foundation
    •    Neurodiversity Celebration Week