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Divergent Mind

Thriving in a World That Wasn’t Designed For You

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Divergent Mind

Written by: Jenara Nerenberg
Narrated by: Tegan Ashton Cohan
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About this listen

A paradigm-shifting study of neurodivergent women—those with ADHD, autism, synesthesia, high sensitivity, and sensory processing disorder—exploring why these traits are overlooked in women and how society benefits from allowing their unique strengths to flourish.

As a successful Harvard and Berkeley-educated writer, entrepreneur, and devoted mother, Jenara Nerenberg was shocked to discover that her “symptoms”--only ever labeled as anxiety-- were considered autistic and ADHD. Being a journalist, she dove into the research and uncovered neurodiversity—a framework that moves away from pathologizing “abnormal” versus “normal” brains and instead recognizes the vast diversity of our mental makeups.

When it comes to women, sensory processing differences are often overlooked, masked, or mistaken for something else entirely. Between a flawed system that focuses on diagnosing younger, male populations, and the fact that girls are conditioned from a young age to blend in and conform to gender expectations, women often don’t learn about their neurological differences until they are adults, if at all. As a result, potentially millions live with undiagnosed or misdiagnosed neurodivergences, and the misidentification leads to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and shame. Meanwhile, we all miss out on the gifts their neurodivergent minds have to offer.

Divergent Mind is a long-overdue, much-needed answer for women who have a deep sense that they are “different.” Sharing real stories from women with high sensitivity, ADHD, autism, misophonia, dyslexia, SPD and more, Nerenberg explores how these brain variances present differently in women and dispels widely-held misconceptions (for example, it’s not that autistic people lack sensitivity and empathy, they have an overwhelming excess of it).

Nerenberg also offers us a path forward, describing practical changes in how we communicate, how we design our surroundings, and how we can better support divergent minds. When we allow our wide variety of brain makeups to flourish, we create a better tomorrow for us all.

Mental Health Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Women in Business Health Special Need Human Brain
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Divergent Mind has brought a calm, curiosity and clarity to my life story and lived experiences. Thank you Jenara for your research and sharing.

Life changer!

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This book has opened me to growing self-understanding and self-acceptance - I can now begin to see so many new possibilities.

New dimensions

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much needed read, nice research. it was very good to listen to also . thank you

very good

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This book breaks new ground as it doesn't merely provide tips for navigating the conventional factory model world.

The author dares to confront the system, encouraging us to unite in celebrating diversity and the unique ways in which individuals process and handle various sensory inputs.

Women have long been overlooked in the realm of neurodiversity studies, enduring misdiagnoses and incorrect labels.

It's an essential read for anyone, whether diagnosed or undiagnosed, seeking to embrace inclusivity.

I feel seen

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Great journalism reaching out to inclusivity, women of diversity communities. I really enjoyed the narrative voice as well. Non judgmental. I recommend the book read or listen for those interested or and identifying in sensory sensitivities and sensory first thinking processes.

Inclusive, diverse, great journalism on neurodivergent women

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