The Dictionary definition.
Neurodeveopmental means the development of the nervous system of an individual organism.
The internet definition refers to a group of disorders that begin in childhood that affect the development of the brain and impact a persons functioning.
My understanding of what neurodevelopment means to me.
You are born with it. But, in particular it refers to how a person’s nervous system is formed and develops over time that affects their living, functioning, interaction with others, and every aspect of their life.
Ok, so knowing these above definitions did not help me understand my life. In fact, since I wasn’t diagnosed until the age of 49, I begged the question–Why? And why now? Well, if it’s truly neurodevelopmental then I was born with autism. It was missed for several reasons but I’d like to dwell on just a few. The fact is I was born with it. It was developing as I was growing and maturing in life. You can’t separate a person from their nervous system! However, the only way this makes sense to me is by using a flower analogy.
A carnation seed has always been a carnation seed. The life within eventually breaks through its outer shell. It develops roots, leaves, buds etc. Eventually it becomes obvious that it’s carnation flower. The flower is a complete manifestation of the hidden life that was within the shell. When my life was changing due to autism, I could no longer work full time. I had to cut back on social gatherings. I hit a brick wall after entering into autistic burnout. I began to grieve my former life and function. What’s wrong with me? What’s happening? Why now? How can I have autism? I’ve lived my life of 49 years!
The fact is, I’ve always been the carnation flower I just didn’t know it. I’ve been masking my entire life until I couldn’t anymore. This whole time I’ve been growing, budding, developing leaves–and when the “flower” began to open and manifest itself, I was screaming what’s wrong with me! What the heck? I just didn’t realize that I’ve always been that carnation flower. 49 years old is just when the flower began to manifest itself in my life in a very obvious way (to me). The flower doesn’t flip out when it blooms! It’s just doing what it supposed to do. Developing at it’s own pace according to its own life cycle. So when I began to experience all of these changes I was in full bloom. There is nothing wrong with me, or you. You are just a beautiful flower that has finally manifested itself into the world.
Autism is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder because it originates during the early, critical periods of brain growth—often beginning in utero—and affects the way the brain “wires” its communication networks.
Unlike a traumatic brain injury (which is acquired) or a late-onset psychological condition, autism is a structural and functional blueprint that is present from the start of the “build.”
neurospicybrains 