Navigating ADHD, ASD, and Neurodivergence: Strategies to Reduce Stress and Thrive

I have been helping a few folks with diagnosed ADHD/ASD/neuroatypical/neurodivergent recently and used the analogy of a “Mac operating system” in a “Microsoft world” or vice versa. Some patients have told me that they are a “Linux” in a “Microsoft world”.

The problem is not the Mac or the Microsoft.

It’s the mismatch between the two that create adjustment issue and the chronic stress leading to biopsychosocial dysfunction.

Strategies to help….

1. Avoid blaming the “Mac” or the “Microsoft”.  This will only create poor self esteem and ongoing frustration. 

2. Gain the emotional literacy to understand one’s own “operating system/cognition” and fully accept/hold space for oneself and for others.

3. Find or create the right environment or context for oneself that suits our “operating system”.

4. Partnering up with trusted people who are better with other “operating systems” so that we can scaffold for each other or work in synergy.

5. Train our “operating system” to adapt or use various pharmacotherapy to assist with this adaptation.

6. A combination of all of the above depending on context.

This is not easy of course but the pivoting point is to self understand and to have full self acceptance.