Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Key Takeaways
- Late-diagnosed neurodivergent individuals often adapt their nervous systems due to trauma, shaping their self-narratives.
- Understanding the link between the nervous system and perception helps identify unhelpful patterns and beliefs.
- Therapy offers a compassionate space to explore neurodivergent identity and its intersection with trauma.
- My approach integrates body-based, trauma-informed techniques to help regulate the nervous system and promote lasting change.
- At Bright Spot Therapy, I support individuals in their journey to reconnect with their authentic selves and navigate trauma neurodivergent experiences.
If you’re a late-diagnosed neurodivergent person who has experienced trauma, you’ve likely learned to adapt your nervous system to protect you from the overwhelming challenges of life. This adaptive response can deeply shape the stories you tell yourself about who you are and how you show up in the world.
In my work, I guide individuals navigating the intersection of neurodivergent identity, and trauma. Together we can explore what it means to understand yourself through the lens of neurodivergent identity and culture. Additionally, we can unravel how trauma has shaped your nervous system and your internal narratives. This work helps you reconnect with your authentic self, feel more grounded, and bring clarity to how you approach life.
Let’s dive into how understanding the connection between your nervous system and perception can break patterns that no longer serve you.
What Does “Story Follows State” Really Mean?
A concept I often share with clients comes from Deb Dana’s work in Polyvagal Theory: “State precedes perception. Story follows state.” This means your nervous system—the way your body feels—directly influences how you perceive the world and the stories you create about yourself.
Your nervous system is constantly scanning for signals of safety or danger. How it interprets these signals shapes your thoughts, beliefs, and stories.
For example:
When your nervous system is stuck in fight-or-flight mode, you may interpret someone’s silence as rejection, thinking, “I must have done something wrong.” But when your nervous system is more regulated and grounded, the same situation may feel neutral, and your thought might shift to, “They’re probably just busy.”
This connection is why trying to force a “positive mindset” can feel impossible. It’s not about battling your thoughts; it’s about understanding and working with your nervous system to shift its state.
How to Work with Your Nervous System
If you’ve experienced trauma, your nervous system may feel stuck in one of two extremes—constantly on high alert or completely shut down. When your nervous system is in these states, the stories that arise can reinforce feelings of inadequacy, fear, or isolation.
But change doesn’t start with fixing your thoughts—it starts with gently shifting your nervous system.
Here’s how we can begin:
1. Building Awareness
I’ll help you become more attuned to how your nervous system influences your thoughts and emotions. This process isn’t about judgment—it’s about curiosity and understanding how you’re wired.
2. Learning Regulation Tools
Together, we’ll explore simple, effective poly vagal and somatic strategies to help you shift your state when needed.
3. Rewriting the Narrative
As your nervous system becomes more regulated, it becomes easier to challenge unhelpful beliefs and start creating more empowering stories about yourself and your life.
Therapy as a Space for Identity and Healing
For many late-diagnosed neurodivergent individuals, exploring your identity can feel like finally naming multiple aspects of your experiences that has always been present. However, it can also bring up grief, confusion, or overwhelm—especially if trauma has shaped your experiences.
In therapy, we make space to explore your neurodivergent identity, your nervous system’s patterns, and the stories you’ve carried throughout your life. We can work to build a relationship with your internal landscape and make sense of your core beliefs. Additionally, we identify internal conflicts and create room for new, aligned narratives to emerge.
Why We Might Be a Good Fit
If you’ve experienced trauma, are exploring your neurodivergent identity, or are trying to build a relationship to your internal landscape, I specialize in helping individuals like you. You’re in the right place if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by your experiences, misunderstood by others, or like your struggles are too much to navigate on your own.
My goal is to help you untangle these experiences, develop a stronger connection with your true self, and rewrite the stories that no longer serve you. In this process, you can embrace a more aligned, purposeful, and connected life.
Here’s what makes my approach unique:
1. A Safe and Compassionate Space
Therapy should feel like a place where you can show up exactly as you are, without judgment. I create a warm, understanding environment where you can explore your experiences without fear of criticism.
2. Body-Based, Trauma-Informed Techniques
My approach integrates Polyvagal Theory, Somatic work, Mindfulness, and Brainspotting to help you regulate your nervous system. This creates the foundation for lasting change.
3. Exploring Neurodivergent Identity
I deeply understand the nuances of late diagnosed neurodivergent identity and how trauma shapes the neurodivergent experience. Together, we’ll honor your identity and work through the intersection of neurodivergence and trauma.
Let’s Work Together
When you connect with your nervous system and learn to shift its state, you’re not just managing symptoms—you’re transforming how you experience life. As a result, you’ll feel more in control of your energy, grounded in your relationships, and aligned with your authentic self.
If you’re ready to explore this journey, I’d love to support you. At Bright Spot Therapy, we offer compassionate, body-mind connection-based therapy. This therapy is also available virtually for individuals across Michigan and in-person in Farmington Hills and the Detroit Metro Area. My approach is centered on helping you navigate the intersection of neurodivergent identity and trauma. Furthermore, it fosters a deeper connection to your nervous system and empowers you to show up as your authentic self.
All parts of you are welcomed here! If you feel ready to begin, I would be honored to support you. Visit BrightSpotTherapy.com or call (248) 296-3104 to reach out, and ask for Jamie.
A Note on This Content
This post is meant to offer education and support, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Mental health care looks different for everyone, and decisions about therapy or medication are best made in partnership with a licensed provider.
About the Author
This article was created by Jamie Night, LMSW at Bright Spot Counseling and EMDR Treatment Center, a Michigan-based practice specializing in trauma-informed therapy and psychiatric medication support. All of our providers are licensed to provide therapy or medication services in Michigan.
