Navigating the AFAB Late-Diagnosed Neurodivergent Experience

In working with burnt out overachievers and people-pleasers, I find a lot of neurodivergent, highly sensitive, gifted women seek me out. In her book, The Highly Sensitive Person, Dr. Elaine Aron notes this, “Sensitive girls find it all too easy to take the path of traditional values without first learning how to be in the world.” I see it. Eventually the world catches up with them, and they struggle with just making it through the world. Their achievements are no longer enough. They need help dealing with aspects of daily life that they’ve managed to avoid for so long. At that point, therapy becomes very focused on helping them feel okay in their bodies, and how to navigate a world that feels like it is too much for them.

“Sensitive girls find it all too easy to take the path of traditional values without first learning how to be in the world.”

~ The Highly Sensitive Person, by Dr. Elaine Aron