The Hidden Tax on Neurodivergent Professionals

On this episode

Many neurodivergent people become experts at masking their differences. They can ignore basic needs like hunger, thirst, and rest, believing they should just “keep calm and carry on” like everyone else seems to be doing. This masking takes a tremendous toll, leading to higher rates of anxiety, depression, burnout, and trauma among neurodivergent clinicians.

As Dr Lee David explains, creating neuro-inclusive workplaces benefits everyone, not just those with neurodivergent traits. Simple adjustments like providing meeting agendas in advance, allowing flexible work arrangements, or addressing environmental factors like lighting can make a big difference.

When neurodivergent people ignore their needs and push themselves to meet unrealistic expectations, they enter a boom-bust cycle: working harder, resting only briefly, then pushing on again, never fully recovering. This pattern eventually leads to complete burnout, where recovery becomes much more difficult and time-consuming than if they’d addressed their needs earlier.

But this episode offers a practical framework you can implement, to help create space between stress and reaction, allowing your wiser self to make choices that honour all your needs, not just the loudest ones calling for attention.