Do You Knew Your Neurotype? 15 Books to Guide Your Journey - MAKES SENSE TO ME

Do You Knew Your Neurotype? 15 Books to Guide Your Journey

Do You Know Your Neurotype?

Have you ever felt like the world wasn’t built with you in mind? Like everyone else seems to instinctively follow rules you didn’t even realise existed? Maybe you’ve spent years wondering why certain things feel so much harder for you than they seem for others—or why you thrive in ways that others don’t understand.

If any of that resonates, you’re not alone. And you might be neurodivergent.

What Is a Neurotype, and Why Does It Matter?

Your neurotype is simply the way your brain is wired. Neurodivergent neurotypes—like Autism, ADHD, dyslexia, OCD, and more—differ from the ‘neurotypical’ majority.

Both neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals have distinct neurotypes.

  • Neurotypical individuals have brain functions and cognitive patterns that align with what society typically expects.
  • Neurodivergent individuals have brains that function differently from the dominant societal norm, often experiencing unique strengths and challenges.

Importantly, being neurodivergent is a spectrum, encompassing a wide range of identities, neurodevelopmental differences, and mental health conditions.

    As you explore your neurodivergence, you’ll likely find that it’s common to have more than one neurodivergent identity. For example, AuDHD—being both autistic and ADHD—is increasingly recognised, with research suggesting that around 50–70% of autistic individuals also have ADHD An experience deemed medically impossible until 2013!

    Understanding your neurotype is a journey of self-discovery that goes beyond diagnosis as you embrace the many ways to be neurodivergent; it’s about self-awareness, self-acceptance, and finding the tools that make life work for you instead of against you. It’s about building a life where your experiences make sense to you, rather than feeling like you’re constantly pushing against the tide.



     

    Many neurodivergent people have deep empathy, unique problem-solving skills, hyperfocus, boundless creativity, or natural pattern recognition.

    Advocating for Your Needs
    Whether in work, education, or daily life, knowing your neurotype allows you to seek accommodations that support your well-being.

    Finding Community
    Identifying as neurodivergent can connect you with others who share similar experiences, offering validation and support.

    Improving Self-Compassion
    Many neurodivergent individuals have spent years masking or struggling to fit into neurotypical expectations. Learning about your neurotype can foster greater self-acceptance and reduce burnout.

    It's not too late! to explore neurodivergence and it's not your fault that you may be coming to the realsiation in your 20s, 30s, 50s and beyond. Many neurodivergent people don’t discover they're neurodivergent until adulthood, often after years of feeling out of sync with the world. Some common reasons for late identification include:

    Whether you come to this discovery later in life or at a younger age, the journey toward understanding your brain can be incredibly freeing. It’s not about fitting into a label—it’s about gaining the language to describe your experiences and the knowledge and support to advocate for yourself.


    🔍 How to Begin Exploring Your Neurotype

    If you’re wondering whether you might be neurodivergent, here are a few steps to start your journey:

    📖 Reflect on Your Experiences – Think about childhood patterns, work struggles, sensory sensitivities, and social dynamics.
    🫶🏾 Seek Out Community – Connect with neurodivergent spaces online or in-person to hear others' experiences.
    📚 Read Books by Neurodivergent Authors – Learning from lived experiences can be incredibly validating.
    🤓 Consider Professional Assessment – If you want an official diagnosis, research practitioners who specialize in neuro-affirming diagnostic tools and therapies. 
    💡 Embrace Self-Identification – Not everyone has access to diagnosis, and self-recognition is equally valid.

    🧠 Explore MAKES SENSE TO ME
    MAKES SENSE TO ME is a neurodivergent-owned bookshop designed to celebrate neurodivergent voices. With books exclusively by neurodivergent and disabled authors, a sensory range to support different needs, and a mission built from my own journey of discovering my neurodivergence, it’s a space where our stories matter and we belong.


    📚 15 Books for the Neurocurious

    From questioning your neurodivergence to those powerful ‘aha’ moments, these books will help you on your journey:

    📖 Am I neurodivergent?

    Image for We're All Neurodiverse : How to Build a Neurodiversity-Affirming Future and Challenge NeuronormativityImage for The Pocket Guide to Neurodiversity

    📖 I think I might have ADHD?

    Image for Now It All Makes Sense - How An ADHD Diagnosis Changed My Life : The Sunday Times Bestseller from the Founder of LadBible and UniLad   Image for Is It My ADHD? : Navigating life as a neurodivergent adult   Image for It All Makes Sense Now : Embrace Your ADHD Brain to Live a Creative and Colourful Life

    📖 I think I might be Autistic?

    Image for Rediscovered : A Compassionate and Courageous Guide For Late Discovered Autistic Women (and Their Allies)Image for Different, Not Less : A neurodivergent's guide to embracing your true self and finding your happily ever after   Image for Untypical : How the World Isn’t Built for Autistic People and What We Should All Do About it  Image for Illuminated : All the Things I’Ve Left Unsaid  Image for Girl Unmasked : The Sunday Times Bestseller: How Uncovering My Autism Saved My Life

    📖 I think I might be Dyslexic?

    Image for Dyslexia and Me : How to Survive and Thrive if You’re Neurodivergent

    📖 Yep, I'm Neurodivergent!

    Image for Learning from Neurodivergent Leaders : How to Start, Survive and Thrive in Leadership   Image for How to be You : Say Goodbye to Should, Would and Could So That You Can  Image for The Neurodiversity Edge : The Essential Guide to Embracing Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, and Other Neurological Differences for Any Organization


    💜 You Deserve to Take Up Space

    Understanding your neurotype is about more than identifying challenges—it’s also about recognising your strengths and accommodating your unique busy brain. Whether it’s hyperfocus, creativity, deep empathy, or pattern recognition, neurodivergence brings incredible talents that the world needs.

     

    Before I knew I was neurodivergent, I thought I was just not good enough. I pushed myself to burnout trying to cope while masking my struggles, assuming everyone else was simply better at handling life’s demands. Sound familiar? Naming my neurotype (Neurodivergent: AuDHD, Dyslexic) gave me the language to understand myself. Instead of blaming myself for finding certain tasks overwhelming, I started identifying why they were challenging—which lead me to MAKES SENSE TO ME.

    This journey isn’t always easy. Some days, you might feel like you’re unraveling; other days, like you’ve found a missing piece of yourself. Both are valid. Both are part of the process. But let me say this: you are not alone. You never were. And now, you don’t have to be. 🥰

     



    At MAKES SENSE TO ME, we celebrate neurodivergence through books, resources, and a community that affirms your experiences. If you're exploring your neurotype, check out our curated collections featuring authentic insights, latest research, intersectional lenses and empowering reads by and for the neurodivergent community and beyond.

    📚 Did you know our Welcome Book Boxes 📦 are curated for the neurocurious and those new to the world of neurodiversity—If your overwhelmed buy the breadth of choice in our bookshop but still want help navigating your Neurodivergent or Neurodiversity journey with hand-picked reads, thoughtful extras, and a sense of belonging. 🎁✨ Browse our Book Box collection here! 

    Do you know your neurotype? If you’ve recently discovered your neurodivergence, what has helped you the most? Let’s continue the conversation in the comments below! #theneurodivergentbookshop #makessensetome 🌈🧠📚💡

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