03/11/2024
My latest Psychology Todayday column is out now: "The Struggles and Strengths of Trauma Disorders."
Trauma disorders, like PTSD, are neurodivergences with negative and positive qualities.
"In a recent podcast interview with trauma expert Lisa Cooper Ellisonn, Ellison asked me whether trauma conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), are neurodivergences. I answered with a resounding yes."
I interviewed Ellison about the the struggles 😖—and strength 💪 —of trauma disorders. Ellison said:
“For many people, the struggles and strengths of a diagnosis like PTSD and CPTSD are the same. The goal is to recognize and cultivate the good while acknowledging and working with each attribute’s limitations."
She identified many strengths that can also be struggles: heightened sensitivity, strong empathy, and feeling comfortable in crisis situations.
It can be a strength to be good in a crisis, for example, but, as Ellison told me, when crises feel normal, “regular life can feel confusing."
🙋🏻 Are you neurodivergent? Share some of your struggles and strengths in the comments!
Read the rest of the column at livingneurodivergence.com, where you can find all of my columns for Psychology Today.
And don't forget that my new book, A LIGHT IN THE TOWER, is 30% off right now from University Press of Kansass, bit.ly/alightinthetower.
