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
curious about a family system that has a parent bi-polar along with a child that is dyslexia?
Gratitude to you for your wonderful presence
Hi, I want to make sure I understood the question, do you want to know about communication strategies for a family system with a parent bi-polar and a child that is dyslexic? If so… I am wondering about the current pattern of communication the needs that not meet right now…
Hi Karla,
My question is about medication. What do you think of the regular use of medication to facilitate the sensorial regulation?
Thank you.
I am totally in favor to help our nervous system to regulate. The big questions is: how?. My doctor has a degree in medicine and a degree in homeopathy plus deep knowledge on the levels of energy of the body. Every time we have a session she goes not only into the physical symptoms but the different levels of dis-balance I have. As a Mexican autistic woman I know the medications made by pharmaceutical companies were not design or tested for women, not even to mention Mexican or autistic… but my doctor does take into consideration all of that and more. For a year I would take daily medications and had monthly sessions but her aim (my doctor´s) was not to keep me on meds but to reclaim the balance I have lost. I was also getting psychological accompaniment, trans-generational trauma work and physical/somatic recovery. I don’t need the meds daily today, I do still have some medications as an emergency kit for those situations I choose to be in but they are overwhelming for my system (like family gatherings) and to be honest I choose those situations less every time… Does my answer help you?
yes thank you so much!