Neurodivergence and Anxiety – Beyond Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

Anxiety is a common experience amongst humans and plays an important role in keeping us safe and navigating life’s ups and downs. Anxiety can also be a debilitating or distressing experience for those who need extra help quieting and regulating it. Anxiety disorders are one of the most common problems therapists help clients navigate.

Neurodivergent and Neurotypical Brain Styles

Quick recap on the terminology:

Neurodivergence: such as an autistic person, an ADHDer, or someone who is both or has other brain differences– you can read more about neurodivergence in our “Neurodiversity Explained” blog

Neurotypical: a person who is not autistic, ADHDer, or other, who processes their surroundings and has thinking styles like most people

Managing Anxiety as a Neurodivergent Person

Managing anxiety is not always a “one size fits all” treatment plan. At Better Together Therapy, we understand the complexity of when neurodivergence plays a role in an anxiety presentation.

Whilst neurotypical anxiety often includes an interplay of past experiences, genetics, and current life habits, neurodivergent anxiety often includes other layers of complexity such as:

• overwhelming sensory experiences

• naturally different thinking styles (such as rigid or literal thinking)

• more challenges understanding and interpreting their own emotions (i.e. interoception)

• communication differences

And to add to the complexity, these experiences may be vastly different across every neurodivergent person! That is why at Better Together Therapy, we believe it is important to understand every individual and design a treatment plan that is catered to their own needs. Neurodivergent traits such as the ones listed above (and many more) are part of a person and can be used as strengths when managing anxiety, rather than trying to change them.

Strength-based Approach

Some strategies that use neurodivergent strengths to manage anxiety may include (but are certainly not limited to):

• following a routine

• regulating sensory input

• communicating through visuals

• identifying a need through visuals (like an emotional check-in)

• explicit communication

These strength-based strategies could be used for anyone (neurodivergent or not) and may be used in combination with other therapies to find what suits you best.

If you or a family member are looking for support managing anxiety, even anxiety that might have more to it, get in touch with the team at Better Together Therapy. We would love to get to know you more and we are here to help.