E42 Understanding Neurodivergence: Beyond the Buzzword

Mental Filter

Episode Notes

Understanding Neurodivergence: Beyond the Buzzword

Join us for a powerful conversation with Sierra Grandy—attorney, speaker, and advocate—as we dive deep into what neurodivergence really means beyond the popular buzzword. Sierra brings both professional expertise and lived experience to this essential discussion, sharing her journey from childhood mental health struggles through electroconvulsive therapy to eventual diagnosis with autism and ADHD as an adult.

In this episode, we explore:

• What neurodivergence actually means (and why it's more than just a trendy term)
• The difference between neurodivergent and neurotypical experiences
• How masking works and why it's both protective and exhausting
• The intersection of mental health, chronic pain, and neurodivergence
• Why accommodations benefit everyone, not just neurodivergent individuals
• Practical advocacy and the importance of "nothing about us without us"

Sierra candidly discusses her path from surviving multiple hospitalizations to becoming a thriving advocate, revealing how proper diagnosis transformed her understanding of decades of struggles. This conversation challenges assumptions about disability, accommodation, and what it means to create truly inclusive systems. Whether you're neurodivergent yourself, support someone who is, or simply want to better understand the diverse ways brains work, this episode offers invaluable insights into building a more accessible world for everyone.

Hosted by: Shmuel Fischler LCSW-C long time therapist, trainer, and consultant. Learn more about him at www.cbtbaltimore.com

Resources mentioned: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), questifyyourlife.com, sierragrande.com Support the show by rating, sharing, and helping us reach more listeners who need these conversations.

Find out more at https://mental-filter.pinecast.co