What is neurodiversity — really? And why were so many women missed?
In this episode of It’s Not Just You, we break down what neurodiversity actually means, how our understanding has shifted from the medical model to the neurodiversity paradigm, and why autism and ADHD in women have historically been overlooked.
We explore the difference between neurodiversity vs neurodivergence, and what living in a neurodivergent brain can actually feel like — from sensory overwhelm and executive dysfunction to masking, burnout, and social exhaustion.
We also unpack:
• Why early autism research was based on male presentations
• How this led to missed and misdiagnosed women
• The concept of masking and camouflaging (and its psychological cost)
• Common misdiagnoses including anxiety, depression, and personality disorders
• Why many women are only now being diagnosed in their 30s and 40s
• The shift toward a social model of disability
• How diagnosis can be reframed as understanding — not deficit
This episode is for anyone who has ever felt:
“Why does everything feel harder for me?”
“Why do I burn out when others don’t?”
“Why do I feel like I’m performing just to keep up?”
If that’s you — this conversation may change how you see yourself.
Because as always: it’s not just you.
