If you are neurodivergent, then you likely have experienced stigma.

Perhaps you've heard your friends or coworkers use neurodiversity as a metaphor to describe undesirable behavior. For example, "My boss is totally bipolar. I never know what she's going to say."

These words cause stigma by feeding negative stereotypes about neurodiversity and by creating a hostile environment for neurodivergent people.

In turn, these stereotypes and hostile environments can make neurodivergent people afraid to disclose neurodiversity at work, with family, or with friends. This fear can make a person feel isolated and lonely.

I define stigma against neurodivergent people as a process that creates negative stereotyping and isolation. It is typically based on the irrational fear of undesirable behavior such as irresponsibility, instability, or violence.

Stigma also works internally on disabled people, creating feelings of isolation and shame.

As stigmatized people, neurodivergent people can feel alone, ostracized, and afraid, even among family. Research shows that these feelings create greater problems, such as a fear of seeking help and a fear of disclosing one's neurodivergence.

Fear of disclosure, in turn, can lead to masking and can cause serious psychological harm.

Stigma also harms neurodivergent people by affecting their ability to get jobs, housing, healthcare, and........

© Psychology Today