Neurodivergence is not a singular diagnosis, but an identity and movement that encompasses all individuals with cognitive processing and learning differences.
While there are some consistencies in who identifies as neurodiverse – those with ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder, for example – there is actually a wide range of diagnoses that can be considered “neurodivergent.” For some, that includes OCD, Dyslexia and Bipolar Disorder, and for others, the question of if depression can be considered neurodivergent arises.
Key Article Takeaways
To answer this question, we spoke with Allie Neuman, MHC-LP, Therapist at The Dorm NYC, where nearly 50% of our clients identify as neurodiverse, to explore the intersection between depression and neurodiversity in young adults and the evidence-based skills they can use to build resilience, cultivate healthy relationships, and foster lasting emotional well-being.
The Dorm: How do you define neurodivergence?
Allie Neuman, MHC-LP: Neurodivergence is not a clinical diagnosis. It’s really a social and cultural term that refers to differences in cognitive processing, learning, and experiencing the world compared to what is considered neurotypical.
The term was originally used to describe neurodevelopmental disorders like autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and other cognitive disabilities—conditions that people are generally born with and live with across their lifespan. Over the last few years, the number of those who identify as neurodivergent has steadily increased, with the CDC stating 1 in 31 children were diagnosed with ASD, compared to twenty years ago, when that number was 1 in 150.
As the number of neurodiverse adults continues to grow, “neurodivergence” has become part of the neurodiversity movement, which reframes these differences not as impairments, but as natural variations in the human experience and in the human mind.
A Therapist’s Note on Living with Neurodivergence
Allie: As a neurodivergent person myself, my lived experience with my neurodivergence has often felt very confusing, frustrating, and isolating. And even though these experiences are real, for most of my life they’ve often been less visible to others, which can make me feel like I have to prove the validity of my struggles or that my challenges even exist. The impact is very real.
At times, it can feel embarrassing and exhausting to try to fit myself into systems or roles that don’t feel natural to me and my brain. I often hear this a lot from my clients who identify as neurodivergent—it just feels like they’re a squarepeg trying to fit in a round hole. It feels like you’re really trying to force yourself to fit into something that just wasn’t designed for you. It’s hard not to think that there’s something wrong with you, that you’re the problem.
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This experience can carry a lot of shame initially. Over time, though, it’s possible to develop self-compassion and realize that the challenge isn’t with you, it’s with the rigidity of the larger systems and expectations around us.
Is depression a form of neurodivergence?
I think the most honest answer is: it depends on how you define neurodivergence.
From a clinical standpoint, depression is generally not classified as neurodivergent because it’s typically a treatable condition that can go into remission, and is not something you can be born with, although you can be born with vulnerabilities that increase the likelihood of developing it later on.
Neurodivergent conditions like autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, learning differences, or intellectual disabilities are usually present in early development and are considered enduring variations in cognition, perception, executive functioning, and emotional and sensory processing.
These are lifelong neurodevelopmental differences that can’t necessarily go into remission.
Other mental health diagnoses that could fall under the neurodivergent umbrella are obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and bipolar disorder, because these diagnoses do impact the way our cognition and perception work.
However, depression does share some features with neurodivergent experiences, which is why people often think depression is a form of neurodivergence. It can affect cognition, social interactions, and perception of the world. And many people experience depression in response to living in environments or systems that aren’t designed for their neurodivergent needs.
While depression isn’t officially classified as neurodivergence, I think people living with it resonate with having a neurodivergent identity. People with depression often experience social, cognitive, and emotional differences that feel “other than” or isolating, which can be similar to neurodivergent experiences. Depression is linked to differences in brain chemistry and neural processing, which affects mood, perception, and cognition. And depression often co-occurs with neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD, ASD, or intellectual disabilities.
For some, identifying as neurodivergent while living with depression can be validating and empowering.
It’s also important to note that for a lot of people, depression is often a symptom of something, whereas neurodivergence just is.
The Connection Between Neurodivergence and Depression
Research shows that neurodivergent individuals are up to four times more likely to experience depression than their neurotypical peers. This isn’t because neurodivergence itself is inherently negative—it’s often a result of the daily challenges that come with living in a world not designed for neurodivergent minds.
Social stigma, sensory overload, difficulties with acceptance, and struggles with daily functioning can all contribute to depressive symptoms. Many neurodivergent people spend years masking their authentic selves or trying to fit into systems that weren’t built for them, which is emotionally exhausting and isolating.
The good news? With the right support and skills, neurodivergent individuals can learn to navigate these challenges more effectively. Through targeted treatment, skill-building, and learning supports designed specifically for neurodivergent populations, we can help reduce the factors that contribute to depression. When neurodivergent people have access to accommodations, understanding, and tools that work with their brain rather than against it, they’re better equipped to thrive.
How do depressive symptoms differ in someone who identifies as neurodivergent versus someone who does not?
In neurodivergent people, depression often arises as a response to chronic stressors. These chronic stressors can range from masking, social misunderstanding and exclusion, to the cumulative impact of environments that aren’t designed for the cognitive or sensory needs of neurodivergent individuals. It’s often intertwined with the experience of neurodivergence itself, and may be expressed differently due to differences in cognition, emotional regulation, sensory processing, and social interaction, which can amplify or shape how depressive symptoms appear.
For neurotypical individuals, depression may arise more from situational triggers, life events, or neurochemical vulnerabilities—without the same ongoing mismatch between the self and the environment.
The experiences can look similar outwardly to others, but the underlying dynamics and contributors often differ.
Are you experiencing persistent sadness, low motivation, changes in sleep or appetite, or a sense of disconnection from daily life, these may be signs of depression.
How do you address clients who feel stigmatized by traditional mental health labels and are drawn to a neurodivergent identity?
First and foremost, I want to validate people’s experiences. A lot of people feel that traditional psychiatric labels don’t necessarily capture the complexity of their lived experiences. Oftentimes, people feel pathologized rather than actually understood.
With clients, I really like to explore what aspects of neurodivergence resonate with them. Is it the way their brain processes information? Their social differences? Or the feeling of being othered by the world?
I like to emphasize that identity can be empowering and therapeutic—helping people reframe their experiences as natural variations rather than impairments and deficits.
What misconceptions do you see about depression and neurodivergence?
A common misconception is that depression is simply a chemical imbalance or a personal failing rather than coming from a response to environmental or systemic factors, especially for neurodivergent people.
Another misconception is that neurodivergence and depression are mutually exclusive—many people think you’re either one or the other, when in reality they are frequently comorbid and influence each other.
Another is that neurodivergence is inherently disabling. Neurodivergent brains experience the world differently, and while this can create some challenges because our society just isn’t built for neurodivergent people, frankly, it’s not inherently pathological. Depression is often exacerbated by societal barriers rather than neurodivergence itself.
How would you treat someone who had comorbid depression and a neurodivergent diagnosis?
When working with a neurodivergent client experiencing depression, treatment needs to be individualized. I’d want to explore how the client’s depression and neurodivergence intersect. For example, how executive function challenges, sensory sensitivities, or social differences may amplify feelings of hopelessness or isolation.
I also think psychoeducation is really powerful here—helping clients understand their diagnoses and how that manifests uniquely to them. This can provide clarity, self-awareness, self-advocacy, and, frankly, self-compassion.
For some, this can mean reducing masking and embracing their authentic self . For others, it means actively treating depressive symptoms so they can re-engage with supportive structures that help them do well in their environment.
In terms of treatment modalities, I use a lot of the same things I use to treat depression in neurotypical individuals—whether that’s through DBT, CBT, behavioral and environmental interventions, ACT, or psychoeducation. I’m also a big advocate for providing psychoeducation to families and caregivers, and for facilitating conversations between clients and their loved ones so that those close to the client can better understand their needs. However, I think the key component to working with neurodivergent individuals is embracing creativity and adaptability in the treatment modalities that currently exist.
For example, DBT is an incredibly helpful modality—it’s evidence-based, it works. But when teaching it in the way that it’s written and taught, it’s not always as easy for neurodivergent clients to understand. Sometimes that means adapting tools to work with how someone’s brain actually processes information—like visually illustrating concepts or writing things on note cards for those who struggle with remembering acronyms.
The reality is that what works for a neurotypical person may not work for somebody who is neurodivergent. And accepting this can involve a grieving process, recognizing that there is no “fixing” a neurodivergent mind. It just is. Many neurodivergent people have spent their lives overcompensating, so being asked to actually be more compassionate with themselves can be difficult but ultimately compassionate work.
Thank you, Allie, for taking the time to walk us through the differences and overlap of neurodiversity and depression.
Neurodiverse Young Adult Treatment at The Dorm
Living as a neurodivergent young adult can feel like navigating a world that wasn’t designed for you. At The Dorm, we use evidence-based approaches tailored to neurodivergent needs, helping young adults build confidence, develop self-advocacy skills, and engage more authentically in life.
Through clinical coaching, group therapy, and socially immersive experiences, neurodivergent young adults gain vital skills while achieving meaningful, long-term outcomes, such as improved social connection and self-advocacy, as well as an increase in self-efficacy and confidence.
Neurodiverse clients report a significant 41% reduction in interpersonal dysfunction and emotional reactivity, as well as stronger social connections, clearer boundary-setting, and greater comfort in everyday interactions, reporting greater belief in their capacity to complete goals, increased confidence in their problem-solving abilities, and stronger perseverance.
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