The term “neurodivergence” describes people with “abnormal” thought patterns. Most commonly, the term is attached to those who struggle with a mental illness, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). ¹ The problem is there’s no clear definition for “normal” thought patterns. Therefore, some may wonder, “Is OCD neurodivergent?”

Simply put, people with OCD are neurodivergent. Still, some argue this shouldn’t be a bad thing. Judy Singer, a sociologist and author of The Neurodiversity Movement, believes people should embrace neurodivergence. That we need to move away from the stigma associated with terms like “disabled” or “disorder,” and teach people how to make the most of their minds.

What is Neurodivergence?

Neurodivergence is a non-medical term that defines differences in brain development and function from that of a neurotypical (normal) person. In other words, people who are neurodivergent have mental strengths, weaknesses, and struggles not seen among the general population.

However, even with this definition, there is no universal agreement to define what “normalcy” is, both medically and theoretically. Therefore, people with neurodivergence often display symptoms of a mental disorder, such as OCD, autism, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Still, being neurodivergent doesn’t mean you lack in all mental functions. In fact, research has shown that neurodivergent people have stronger: ²

• Ability to envision three-dimensional objects
• Look at the world from a different perspective
• Short- and long-term memory
• Solving complex math problems

With that said, neurodivergence doesn’t have to be a bad thing. In fact, many people have learned to use it to their advantage.

What are the Types of Neurodivergence?

It’s no secret the brain is so complex that no two work the same. In turn, the same can be said of the neurodivergent brain. As of now, researchers have been able to identify the following types of neurodivergence:

• Developmental Dyscalculia (DD) – A learning disability that makes it difficult to understand math problems, numbers, and computing challenges. ³

• Dysgraphia – A learning disability that makes it difficult for one to express themselves in words. In turn, these individuals may also struggle with spelling, writing, and other language-based activities. ⁴

• Meares-Irlen Syndrome – A disorder that makes it difficult for the brain to accurately process visual and sensory information. In turn, this will alter a person’s perceptions. ⁵

• Hyperlexia – A person with advanced reading abilities, and/or a fixation with patterns, letters, numbers, logos, and maps. ⁶

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – A condition where one’s anxiety causes them to produce involuntary and repetitive obsessions and/or compulsions. ⁷

• Tourette’s Syndrome – A genetic condition where involuntary tics cause undesired sounds and movements. Some have linked this condition to anxiety, stress, and OCD. ⁸

• Synesthesia – When one sense (i.e. sound) is simultaneously connected to one or more other senses (i.e. sight). ⁹

How to Tell if You’re Neurodivergent

Since neurodivergence is not a medical condition, you will not receive a diagnosis from a mental health professional. However, this way of thought can be associated with mental health and physical conditions.

Therefore, if you receive an OCD or another mental health disorder diagnosis, there’s a likely chance you have neurodivergence.

Even if you don’t receive a diagnosis, you can still be neurodivergent. As mentioned, the term is simply attached to those who think differently from normal brain functioning.

However, since there’s no way to measure “normal thinking,” we also don’t have any measures for neurodivergent thinking. On top of this, neurodivergence shows a vast array of signs, making it difficult to determine one case from another.

Above, we laid out the types of neurodivergence for you to determine if you struggle with any of the most common conditions. If you’re still unsure, we recommend doing further research into neurodivergence and discussing the matter with your doctor.

What Conditions are Neurodivergent?

People who struggle with neurodivergence can usually be diagnosed with one (or more) of the following conditions:

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
• Bipolar disorder
• Down syndrome
• Dyscalculia
• Dysgraphia
• Dyslexia
• Dyspraxia
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Prader-Willi syndrome
• Schizophrenia
• Sensory processing disorders
• Social anxiety disorder (SAD)
• Tourette’s syndrome
• Williams syndrome

Can You Treat or Prevent Neurodivergence?

Since this is not a medical condition, you cannot treat or prevent neurodivergence. However, since neurodivergence is associated with mental health conditions, those can be treated and potentially cured.

In the case of OCD, a doctor will offer you two treatment options: medication and psychotherapy. When together, these treatments will provide you with enough relief to go about your daily life. ¹⁰ On top of this, you’ll likely find neurodivergent thought patterns diminish over time (namely, through psychotherapy).

Psychotherapy allows us to develop an understanding of thought patterns and the challenges they pose. A therapist will then help you develop coping techniques to diminish those patterns. For those concerned with neurodivergent thinking, we highly recommend bringing up these concerns with your psychologist.

Final Word

So, is OCD neurodivergent? Yes! Neurodivergence thought patterns are commonly found in those who struggle with OCD.

Therefore, it’s in your best interest to treat OCD itself. As a result, you and your therapist can work towards treating neurodivergent thought patterns, allowing you to go on and live a fulfilling life.

Still, neurodivergence should not be seen as a “disorder.” In many regards, it can provide an individual with beneficial and unique ways of thinking

References

¹ Dwyer P. The Neurodiversity Approach(es): What Are They and What Do They Mean for Researchers? Hum Dev. 2022 May;66(2):73-92. doi: 10.1159/000523723. Epub 2022 Feb 22. PMID: 36158596; PMCID: PMC9261839.

² Doyle N. Neurodiversity at work: a biopsychosocial model and the impact on working adults. Br Med Bull. 2020 Oct 14;135(1):108-125. doi: 10.1093/bmb/ldaa021. PMID: 32996572; PMCID: PMC7732033.

³ Shalev RS, Gross-Tsur V. Developmental dyscalculia. Pediatr Neurol. 2001 May;24(5):337-42. doi: 10.1016/s0887-8994(00)00258-7. PMID: 11516606.

⁴ Rocha Cabrero F, De Jesus O. Dysgraphia. 2022 Sep 30. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan–. PMID: 32644727.

⁵ Miyasaka JDS, Vieira RVG, Novalo-Goto ES, Montagna E, Wajnsztejn R. Irlen syndrome: systematic review and level of evidence analysis. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2019 Mar;77(3):194-207. doi: 10.1590/0004-282X20190014. PMID: 30970133.

⁶ Newman TM, Macomber D, Naples AJ, Babitz T, Volkmar F, Grigorenko EL. Hyperlexia in children with autism spectrum disorders. J Autism Dev Disord. 2007 Apr;37(4):760-74. doi: 10.1007/s10803-006-0206-y. PMID: 17048093.

⁷ Stein DJ, Costa DLC, Lochner C, Miguel EC, Reddy YCJ, Shavitt RG, van den Heuvel OA, Simpson HB. Obsessive-compulsive disorder. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2019 Aug 1;5(1):52. doi: 10.1038/s41572-019-0102-3. PMID: 31371720; PMCID: PMC7370844.

⁸ Cavanna AE, Termine C. Tourette syndrome. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2012;724:375-83. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4614-0653-2_28. PMID: 22411257.

⁹ Banissy MJ, Jonas C, Cohen Kadosh R. Synesthesia: an introduction. Front Psychol. 2014 Dec 15;5:1414. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01414. PMID: 25566110; PMCID: PMC4265978.

¹⁰ Pittenger C, Bloch MH. Pharmacological treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2014 Sep;37(3):375-91. doi: 10.1016/j.psc.2014.05.006. Epub 2014 Jul 24. PMID: 25150568; PMCID: PMC4143776.