Latest / Wellbeing Solutions - Ask A Counsellor / How can I address stigma and misunderstanding?

Transcript

How can I address stigma and misunderstanding? · Wellbeing Solutions - Ask A Counsellor

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: So, for people that are neurodivergent, stigma and misunderstanding is often something that is very impactful.
• 0:07
  SPEAKER_00: A lot of us can struggle with a sense of injustice and the fatigue of having neurodivergency discussed through the lens of what people can and can't do, or how we might appear different from what society considers inverted COM as normal, or even that we are able to a high mask and therefore our needs are often disputed.
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_00: A counselling skills approach asks us to look beyond assumptions and really listen to the person, and that can help us to navigate stigma.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_00: An important starting point for that is empathy.
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_00: So instead of asking, why can't we just do this?
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_00: we can reframe it slightly as what is this experience like for you?
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_00: That small change can create space for understanding rather than judgment as we get a sense of different types of perception.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER_00: It's also important to recognise that as neurodivergent people, we are often navigating environments that were not necessarily designed for our needs in mind.
• 1:06
  SPEAKER_00: What might look like avoidance, lack of motivation, overreaction, or inconsistency from the outside might actually be somebody managing sensory import, social expectations, executive functioning, emotional regulation, or simply limited capacity.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_00: Capacity is a really important point, I find, because capacity isn't fixed.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_00: I find that most of us can relate to limited capacity because most of us have had things impacting our capacity, but when it isn't fixed, when it changes from day to day or even hour to hour, that can be a little bit more difficult to comprehend.
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_00: Someone may be able to manage something perfectly fine one day and struggle with exactly the same thing the next.
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_00: That doesn't mean they're lazy, difficult, unreliable, or not trying.
• 1:53
  SPEAKER_00: It means that they are possibly low in resource.
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_00: Managing capacity is about recognising your available resources and responding to them with compassion and in line with them.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_00: For someone living with neurodivergence, we are fundamentally the person navigating our own lives.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_00: Other people might offer advice, support, professional guidance or understanding, but you are the person who experiences your mind, your body, your environment, and your limits.
• 2:20
  SPEAKER_00: This can be difficult, but it can also be incredibly empowering.
• 2:24
  SPEAKER_00: It means that you don't have to constantly prove your needs to other people before you're allowed to acknowledge them yourself.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_00: You can begin with asking yourself, what do I need?
• 2:33
  SPEAKER_00: Is this within my capacity right now?
• 2:35
  SPEAKER_00: What helps me recover and what boundaries would support me?
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_00: Empowerment is not about forcing yourself to function in a way that makes other people comfortable or even necessarily that they understand.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_00: As long as it's in line with the responsibilities that you have to manage, it's about developing self-awareness and making informed choices that support your well-being.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_00: As counsellors, supporters, friends, and family members, we can reinforce that empowerment by listening without judgment, avoiding assumptions, and allowing the neurodivergent person to just be the expert on their own experience.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_00: We can also challenge stigma and internalize stigma by remembering that difference does not automatically mean deficit, it means a different set of resources is needed.
• 3:20
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes the most helpful thing we can offer isn't another strategy or a solution, it's genuine curiosity and validation.
• 3:29
  SPEAKER_00: Ultimately, addressing stigma starts with challenging the question.
• 3:36
  SPEAKER_00: or how do I make myself fit, we can ask how we can create the understanding, flexibility, and support that allows this person to live authentically, meet expectations, and thrive.