Neurodiversity Awareness Week

Growing up, I always knew I was different, but I didn’t have the words to explain it. My “awakening” came when my girlfriend, whom I had been living with for a couple of years, was diagnosed with Autism. She immediately started telling me, “You definitely have something too.” That’s when I started researching and suddenly, things began to make sense.

For instance, I used to think that struggling to finish exams on time was normal, that they were just designed to be impossible. Turns out, most people actually do finish them. I also noticed that I had a tendency to forget things, get restless, and lose focus unless I was engaged in something entirely new. My great-grandmother always said it was like I had ants running through me (which sounds a lot better in Spanish), and she wasn’t wrong.

One of the most striking realisations was how obsessive I could get over specific topics. If something caught my attention, I would research it endlessly until I was completely sick of it. And then there was the odd skill I had as a kid - I could speak backwards fluently! Every sign I read on the street would automatically translate into its reverse form in my head. I found it strange that others couldn’t do this, just like how I found it bizarre that people didn’t see words written in their minds in white text, instantly mirrored. This skill worked in both English and Spanish, but eventually, I had to ask people to stop testing me because I became stuck thinking backwards all the time, to the point of stress.

Looking back, all of these were signs. But because I coasted through school without major academic struggles, no one ever noticed. It wasn’t until I pushed myself through a Physics degree at Imperial that I hit my limits and sought a diagnosis. Now, I know I have ADHD and Dyslexia.

Everything makes a lot more sense now. Interestingly, most of my close friends also have ADHD or similar conditions—it’s almost funny how often that happens. But with this awareness, I’ve learned to be more proactive. I now know that if I don’t write things down, they simply won’t happen. So, I carry a mini notebook and make daily to-do lists. I also know that I tend to forget household chores after pouring all my focus into work, so I have a weekly schedule (which I struggle to follow, but it still helps).

I’ve also realised that dyslexia isn’t just about letters moving around on a page. That’s never been my experience. It’s often framed as a learning disability, but no one talks about the strengths that come with it. Dyslexic brains tend to be great at seeing the bigger picture, solving problems, and thinking in 3D or visual patterns. We often struggle with details, but our ability to grasp overarching concepts is something to be valued.

Neurodiversity isn’t a weakness; it’s just a different way of thinking. Understanding my own brain has helped me work with it instead of against it.

This Neurodiversity Week, I hope more people take the time to learn about themselves and others, to appreciate the cool and unique ways we all experience the world.