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Divergent Mind

Thriving in a World That Wasn't Designed for You

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

AUDIBLE EDITOR'S PICK

The bestselling, paradigm-shifting study of neurodivergent women—those with ADHD, autism, synesthesia, high sensitivity, and sensory processing disorder—exploring why these traits are overlooked in women and how society benefits from allowing their unique strengths to flourish.

As a successful Harvard and Berkeley-educated writer, entrepreneur, and devoted mother, Jenara Nerenberg was shocked to discover that her "symptoms"—only ever labeled as anxiety— were considered autistic and ADHD. Being a journalist, she dove into the research and uncovered neurodiversity—a framework that moves away from pathologizing "abnormal" versus "normal" brains and instead recognizes the vast diversity of our mental makeups. When it comes to women, sensory processing differences are often overlooked, masked, or mistaken for something else entirely. Nerenberg explores these topics in depth, delving into:

  • Flawed systems that focus on diagnosing younger, male populations.
  • How people assigned female at birth are conditioned to blend in and conform to gender expectations, and how women often don't learn about their neurological differences until they are adults, if at all.
  • The impact of millions living with undiagnosed or misdiagnosed neurodivergences, and how the misidentification leads to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and shame.
  • Practical solutions for neurodivergent people to thrive, not just survive.
  • Divergent Mind is the much-needed answer for women who have a deep sense that they are "different." Sharing real stories from women with high sensitivity, ADHD, autism, misophonia, dyslexia, SPD, and more, Nerenberg explores how these brain variances present differently in women and dispels widely-held misconceptions (for example, it's not that autistic people lack sensitivity and empathy, they have an overwhelming excess of it). Nerenberg offers us a path forward, describing changes in how we communicate, how we design our surroundings, and how we can better support divergent minds. When we allow our wide variety of brain makeups to flourish, we create a better tomorrow for us all.

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    • Reviews

      • Library Journal

        Starred review from December 1, 2019

        Aimed specifically at women who feel "different," this accomplished first book from Nerenberg (founder, the Neurodiversity Project) defines and investigates HSP, or the highly sensitive person, delving into the subject of sensory overload in order to reconstruct sensitivity within the framework of neurodiversity. The author argues that women with neurological conditions have been widely overlooked, misdiagnosed, and undertreated, as studies of autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and sensory processing disorder have been predominantly conducted with male participants. In accessible, incisively written chapters, Nerenberg explores the HSP personality and draws on its positive traits both at home and at work, welcoming women with these differences to a community they never knew existed, while designating a roadmap for designing one's life in ways that support and enhance the strengths of the "divergent" mind. VERDICT An extraordinary, jaw-dropping take on a topic with which many women will identify. Of special interest to those in the human resources, counseling, and education fields.--Virginia Johnson, John Curtis P.L., Hanover, MA

        Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

      • Booklist

        February 15, 2020
        Public health expert and founder of the Neurodiversity Project, Nerenberg reframes how we think about mental differences in this empowering book of discovery and self-acceptance. For too long, women have silently coped with undiagnosed neurodivergence, including ADHD, autism, high sensitivity, and sensory processing disorder. Due to male-centric research and societal expectations placed on women and girls, entire generations of women have struggled to understand their divergent minds. Nerenberg describes her journey after learning that she had symptoms of ADHD and autism. Through her experience, readers learn about neurological differences that are common among women and how to embrace and embody divergence in everyday life. Nerenberg does not simply present symptoms and treatments. Rather, she depathologizes these diagnoses and emphasizes the importance of working to raise awareness and to change medical and cultural perspectives on how we view and treat those who experience the world differently. This important book not only advocates for research and innovation; it also demonstrates the power of acceptance, kindness, and the celebration of differences.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

    Formats

    • OverDrive Read
    • EPUB ebook

    Languages

    • English

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