Neurodivergent Teens and Depression

Neurodivergence has been shown to have a significant connection to depression. The question is often what this connection is and why it exists. When it comes to being neurodivergent, there are a lot of different qualifiers, but primarily it is noted that neurodivergent applies to anyone who has a clinical diagnosis of a mental illness, in particular if this diagnosis is developmental or intrinsic and biological in nature. When it comes to depression, however, it is quite frequent that depression is a comorbidity with other diagnoses and experiences and not solely and experience on its own. This comorbidity is often the connection that exists between neurodivergence and depression. The question, however, still remains: Why does this comorbidity exist? 

One of the significant reasons for this connection lies in the fact that many people with neurodivergence are neurodivergent because their brain is simply built differently. This difference can have to do with processes and cognitive functioning, hormones and mood regulation, or any number of other factors that significantly impact both personality and their experience as people. Because of these differences, and the fact that these are physical changes within the brain, it is more likely for people to experience depression. They may have a more delicate hormonal balance, a more difficult process for a motion regulation, or any number of other factors that could contribute to developing significant depression. 

Another common reason for depression in neurodivergent people has to do with the actual experience of being neurodivergent. A large portion of neurodivergent people do not necessarily find out that they are neurodivergent right away. There is often a. of time up to any significant diagnosis that includes struggle and difficulty and functioning. In fact, one of the requirements for most diagnoses is that there is an element of struggle or suffering or difficulty functioning. If this. Dysfunction or struggle is particularly long, or particularly difficult and trying, that experience can bring about situational, depression that is in fact a direct result of the experience of being neurodivergent. We often see this in people who have struggled with things like ADHD, borderline personality disorder, anxiety, autism, and any number of other disorders that can have a significant impact on one's quality of life. This is often coupled by the fact that those who are neurodivergent but may not know it yet may experience frustration and extremely critical thoughts around themselves because they are aware of the fact that they are struggling, and may feel that others around them are not struggling to the same degree. This can create the idea that something is wrong with them, which is a very potent negative thought capable of fueling depression. 

When it comes to treating neurodivergence and depression, it often is important for clinicians to make the distinction between depression that is present organically and depression that is specifically comorbid due to previous experiences. Oftentimes depression that is present due to other experiences and as a connection and comorbidity to other disorders can abate simply by treating the original disorder and helping the person come to terms with their neurodivergence. That being said, depression that occurs as a neurodivergent comorbidity out of the experience of being neurodivergent is no less potent or dangerous than organic depression and needs to be taken seriously. 

If you have concerns that your neurodivergent child is struggling with depression, please feel free to reach out to Mindful Healing.