NVC & Neurodivergence Session 1

Neurodiversity and Brain regulatory needs.

Neurodiversity includes the neurotypical brain and the neurodivergent brains, conditions like ADHD, autism, and dyslexia fall under neurodivergence. The process of observing, naming, identifying needs, and making requests is based on a neurotypical brain and that’s why it doesn’t always work for neurodivergent persons. 

Starting with the Needs to emphasise the brains regulatory needs, it is important to mention that relational needs are crucial for maintaining a healthy nervous system. 

The bain´s needs include: physiological, sensorial, emotional, psychological and cognitive regulation

Stress Simulation and Emotional Response

The know-how about overstimulation does not give the same understanding as the know-being of it so the exercise was planed to be overstimulating to have the experience of Neurodivergent people living in the world. The exercise was meant to simulate the lack of coherence, unpredictability and stress of unannounced changes. 
The group discussed a the impact of the exercise with participants sharing their experiences of sensory overload and the challenges of maintaining self-awareness while being bombarded with external stimuli. It was explored how the exercise mirrored the neurodivergent experience of constantly processing overwhelming sensory input. It was shared how the exercise highlighted the struggle to maintain self-connection when distracted by external experiences. The rupture on trust was also an experience when the own needs are not being met in a unsafe environment. The discussion concluded with the reflecting on the experiences of sensory processing, the importance of physical distance from people to maintain self-awareness and the opportunity to connect with nature animals and plans as a strategy to co-regulate.  

Managing Sensory Overload Strategies

I shared personal strategies for managing overstimulation, including the use of a checklist to track the factors that I know are triggering for me. Once I was more aware of the common situations for those triggers to appear it was more an intuitive dance than a checklist. It’s important to remember that every person is different and strategies can vary from one to other person. The intention is to connect with each other.

Creating Safety and Connection Strategies

My experience of feeling safe for the first time in my life was with my service dog Bruno, which led me to explore strategies for creating safety and connection with others. 

Sometime connecting with neurodivergent individuals, might need a different tempo to give space for energy matching before attempting to connect nevertheless we will be exploring some strategies along the next 3 sessions.

This summary is made to honor delayed processing and give everyone the opportunity to have asynchronous interactions.

Is there something you would like to share o ask?

With love,
Karla