563: Neurodivergence in the Workplace (w/Natalie Diggins)

Mm.

... which is kind of space a little bit in the center, and that some of us are just complex, and so we need-

Absolutely

... different scaffolding.

And I think that maybe it's situational.

Maybe in this situation you are struggling more, so you need more scaffolding, or this or that.

But I think there really is this idea that we are all complex creatures, and many of us have these parts of our personality that need more scaffolding, and talking about it and exploring these different options can just be so powerful for all of us.

And it could be situational, but it could be across the board.

But you somewhat have to experiment.

Absolutely.

And no one was talking about this stuff that many years ago.

[laughs] I feel like the openness around this dialogue has really shifted.

And I have a friend who's an introvert, and he read my book, and actually chapters ahead of time, and he said, "You know, I'm an introvert, and I read what you wrote about going to social events, and that sounds a lot like what I am.

So if I have anxiety about going to a social event, uh, what's the difference between you and me?" And I said, "One difference is that your anxiety may be just a result of your experience," and to your point, in that moment.

And I said, "Mine is the way my brain is wired."

Mm-hmm.

And I said, "It's also about recovery." I said, "You may go to a party and really put yourself out there and be tired.

I may go to a party and come home and crawl up in the fetal position and not be able to talk for a few hours." And so I said, "It's the degree, it's the severity, it's the frequency.

It's also the recovery." And you mentioned the word about neurocomplex.

The one I really like, the term, is neurospicy.

[laughs]

Ooh, neurospicy.

I know.

I like that one.

I'm neurospicy.