With so much information at our fingertips and so many individuals sharing their experiences with mental health on social media, it is easy to walk away from 15 minutes of scrolling TikTok wondering if you meet the criteria for a mental health condition like ADHD or autism. Maybe you’ve heard the term “neurodivergent” and felt that it summarized how you have felt for years, unable to explain or define it yourself. With sharing personal experiences of mental health challenges trending upward, there are plenty of opportunities to foster community around shared experiences and struggles. However, in addition to consulting TikTok about your mental health, it is important to seek the support of a mental health professional to develop a comprehensive understanding of your symptoms and how to address them to improve your ability to cope with stressors, navigate challenges, and make progress toward your personal goals.
One step toward developing a better understanding of your patterns of behavior and addressing areas of concern is discussing your symptoms with a mental health professional. A mental health counselor can facilitate exploration of the symptoms you notice and how they affect various areas of your life, including relationships, work, self-care, and overall health. If you notice any of the symptoms listed below, you may benefit from counseling.
- Difficulty with social interactions, communication, and maintaining social relationships
- Difficulty adjusting to changes in routines, plans, or expectations
- Restricted and/or fixated interests
- Hyper- or hyporeactivity to sensory input
- Difficulty maintaining focus/sustaining attention, being easily distracted
- Difficulty with time management
- Difficulty engaging in tasks that require sustained mental effort
- Forgetfulness
- Fidgeting and/or difficulty staying seated when being seated is expected
- Restlessness
- Difficulty waiting for one’s turn (e.g. in a conversation, when playing a game)
- Feeling “keyed up,” acting as if “driven by a motor”
Getting Started with a Neurodiversity Therapist
If you notice any of these difficulties affecting you at home/work/school, in relationships, or with meeting personal needs and goals, please reach out to see if counseling would be a good fit for you.
You can complete our new client inquiry form or send us a message by clicking the button below to get started!