In a recent podcast interview with trauma expert Lisa Cooper Ellison, Ellison asked me whether trauma conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), are neurodivergences.

I answered with a resounding yes.

I define neurodiversity as normal variations in human neurological function, with an emphasis on normal.

For ease of understanding, I break neurodivergences into three categories: developmental disorders like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism; mental illnesses like bipolar disorder and anxiety disorders; and acquired mental disabilities like post-concussion syndrome as well as trauma disorders like PTSD.

Acquired mental disabilities aren’t genetic; we aren’t born with them. They can come from injuries (in the case of post-concussion syndrome), illnesses (in the case of brain fog), or psychological trauma (in the case of PTSD).

PTSD and other trauma-related neurological conditions are neurodivergences. But you do not have to have an official diagnosis of PTSD to be neurodivergent. Remember, neurodiversity is about neurological function variations, not medical labels.

Neurodiversity is about how our brains........

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