Neurodiversity Quotes

“My room is the safest place my body has. My mind doesn’t really have a safe place.”
― Anna Whateley

“Therapy that is focused on battling “irrational beliefs,” such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), doesn’t work as well on Autistic people as it does on neurotypicals. One reason for that is many of the fears and inhibitions of Autistic people are often entirely reasonable, and rooted in a lifetime of painful experiences. We tend to be pretty rational people, and many of us are already inclined to analyze our thoughts and feelings very closely (sometimes excessively so). Autistics don’t need cognitive behavioral training to help us not be ruled by our emotions. In fact, most of us have been browbeaten into ignoring our feelings too much.”
― Devon Price, Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity

“-autism is neither a deficit, disease nor disorder, but simply a different, and equally valid, way of being.”
― Victoria Honeybourne, A Practical Guide to Happiness in Adults on the Autism Spectrum: A Positive Psychology Approach

“Neuroscientists have observed that Autistic brains continue to develop in areas associated with social skills for far longer than neurotypical brains are believed to. One study, conducted by Bastiaansen and colleagues (2011), observed that though young Autistic people experienced far less activity than allistics in the inferior frontal gyrus (an area of the frontal lobe involved in interpreting facial expressions), by age thirty no differences between non-Autistics and Autistic people were evident. In other words, Autistic brains eventually “caught up” to neurotypical brains, in terms of how actively they processed and interpreted facial expressions as social data. Other studies have found that Autistic people over the age of fifty are comparable to allistic people, in terms of their ability to make sense of the motivations and emotions of others.

Researchers aren’t sure why these findings occur, only that they help to justify conceiving of Autism as a developmental disability or delay. For my part, I suspect that Autistic people get better at reading faces and understanding human behavior over time because we eventually develop our own systems and tricks for making sense of the world. We might have developed at the same pace as neurotypicals if we’d been given accessible tools earlier on. The social scripts and shortcuts that work for neurotypical people do not work for us, so we have to teach ourselves to develop social instincts.”
― Devon Price

“AI scales operations, let humans scale compassion.”
― Janna Cachola

“Women don't have milder autism because of their biology. People who are marginalized have their autism ignored because of their peripheral status in society.”
― Devon Price PhD, Divergent Mind, NeuroTribes & Unmasking Autism 3 Books Collection Set

“For anyone who was ever told they were too much or not enough, who tried to fit into boxes that were never made for them, who was told to quiet their spark or dim their light to make others comfortable, and who has been waiting their whole lives to hear: You are exactly right as you are. It is your time to thrive.”
― Ronen Dancziger, The Therapist's Handbook for Neurodivergent People: A NeuroFlex ACT Guide for Living Fully with ADHD, Autism, OCD, and a Neurodivergent Life

“I wrote this handbook because I've repeatedly seen neurodivergent individuals believe they're broken, when in truth, they are simply different. This difference isn't a flaw to fix; it's a unique way of being human that deserves profound understanding, steadfast support, and heartfelt celebration.”
― Ronen Dancziger, The Therapist's Handbook for Neurodivergent People: A NeuroFlex ACT Guide for Living Fully with ADHD, Autism, OCD, and a Neurodivergent Life

“Your neurodivergent brain isn't something to overcome. It's something to understand, appreciate, and work with. Let's figure out how to do that, together. You Already Have Everything You Need.”
― Ronen Dancziger, The Therapist's Handbook for Neurodivergent People: A NeuroFlex ACT Guide for Living Fully with ADHD, Autism, OCD, and a Neurodivergent Life

“To understand the neurodivergent mind is not to fix it, but to learn its language, honor its rhythm, and discover the strength in difference. This is where that journey begins.”
― Ronen Dancziger, The Therapist's Handbook for Neurodivergent People: A NeuroFlex ACT Guide for Living Fully with ADHD, Autism, OCD, and a Neurodivergent Life

“At its core, neurodivergence simply means your brain works differently than what's considered typical. Think of it like this: if neurotypical brains run on one operating system, yours runs on another. Neither is better or worse. They're just different. And that difference? It's not a bug in your code. It's a feature.”
― Ronen Dancziger, The Therapist's Handbook for Neurodivergent People: A NeuroFlex ACT Guide for Living Fully with ADHD, Autism, OCD, and a Neurodivergent Life

“Your brain isn't broken. It's beautifully, uniquely yours.”
― Ronen Dancziger, The Therapist's Handbook for Neurodivergent People: A NeuroFlex ACT Guide for Living Fully with ADHD, Autism, OCD, and a Neurodivergent Life

“Embracing this identity means something powerful: instead of trying to squeeze yourself into a mold that was never meant for you, you get to understand your actual strengths, honor your real needs, and live as your authentic self.”
― Ronen Dancziger, The Therapist's Handbook for Neurodivergent People: A NeuroFlex ACT Guide for Living Fully with ADHD, Autism, OCD, and a Neurodivergent Life

“The struggles you face usually aren't because you're neurodivergent. They're often because the world hasn't figured out how to work with different kinds of minds.”
― Ronen Dancziger, The Therapist's Handbook for Neurodivergent People: A NeuroFlex ACT Guide for Living Fully with ADHD, Autism, OCD, and a Neurodivergent Life

“Adopting this strengths-based view doesn't mean pretending challenges don't exist. It means reframing them. Instead of asking 'What's wrong with me?' you get to ask 'What are my unique strengths? What do I need to thrive? What kind of support would actually help?”
― Ronen Dancziger, The Therapist's Handbook for Neurodivergent People: A NeuroFlex ACT Guide for Living Fully with ADHD, Autism, OCD, and a Neurodivergent Life

“You're not less than anyone else. You're a vital, irreplaceable part of what makes humanity diverse, creative, and whole.”
― Ronen Dancziger, The Therapist's Handbook for Neurodivergent People: A NeuroFlex ACT Guide for Living Fully with ADHD, Autism, OCD, and a Neurodivergent Life

“NeuroFlex ACT is grounded in the belief that: Your brain’s operating system is not broken; it’s different, and that difference is a source of strength.”
― Ronen Dancziger, The Therapist's Handbook for Neurodivergent People: A NeuroFlex ACT Guide for Living Fully with ADHD, Autism, OCD, and a Neurodivergent Life

“NeuroFlex ACT isn’t about striving to fit a mold. It’s about unfolding into your authentic self, with tools that honor your wiring and your humanity.”
― Ronen Dancziger, The Therapist's Handbook for Neurodivergent People: A NeuroFlex ACT Guide for Living Fully with ADHD, Autism, OCD, and a Neurodivergent Life

“NeuroFlex ACT is built on a deep understanding that neurodivergent brains process the world in unique ways. It's not about trying to make your brain fit into a neurotypical mold. It's about providing a framework that works with your specific wiring.”
― Ronen Dancziger, The Therapist's Handbook for Neurodivergent People: A NeuroFlex ACT Guide for Living Fully with ADHD, Autism, OCD, and a Neurodivergent Life

“NeuroFlex ACT is rooted in the neurodiversity paradigm. It sees your brain not as a problem to be solved, but as a unique ecosystem to be understood, respected, and supported.”
― Ronen Dancziger, The Therapist's Handbook for Neurodivergent People: A NeuroFlex ACT Guide for Living Fully with ADHD, Autism, OCD, and a Neurodivergent Life

“The ADHD brain is built for responsiveness, for novelty, for meaningful stimulation. It is attuned to cues of interest and urgency, rather than arbitrary deadlines or routines.”
― Ronen Dancziger, The Therapist's Handbook for Neurodivergent People: A NeuroFlex ACT Guide for Living Fully with ADHD, Autism, OCD, and a Neurodivergent Life

“To understand the autistic brain is to enter a world shaped by depth, precision, and sensitivity.”
― Ronen Dancziger, The Therapist's Handbook for Neurodivergent People: A NeuroFlex ACT Guide for Living Fully with ADHD, Autism, OCD, and a Neurodivergent Life

“OCD is not simply a disorder; it is a way the nervous system organizes around fear, uncertainty, and the search for safety.”
― Ronen Dancziger, The Therapist's Handbook for Neurodivergent People: A NeuroFlex ACT Guide for Living Fully with ADHD, Autism, OCD, and a Neurodivergent Life

“Neurodivergence doesn’t follow a straight line. It curves, overlaps, and branches into complex, beautiful configurations.”
― Ronen Dancziger, The Therapist's Handbook for Neurodivergent People: A NeuroFlex ACT Guide for Living Fully with ADHD, Autism, OCD, and a Neurodivergent Life

“The world doesn’t need you to shrink into its boxes. It needs you to stand tall in your unique brilliance and build bridges wide enough for others to walk beside you. Every time you show up as you are, ask for what you need, or celebrate your differences, you strengthen those bridges. With each person who crosses, the world grows richer with the creativity, insight, and joy that only comes when every mind has room to thrive.”
― Ronen Dancziger, The Therapist's Handbook for Neurodivergent People: A NeuroFlex ACT Guide for Living Fully with ADHD, Autism, OCD, and a Neurodivergent Life

“You are not broken. You are not a problem to be fixed. You are a human being with a mind that has learned, often for good reasons, how to survive.”
― Ronen Dancziger, The Therapist's Handbook for Breaking the Loop - Your NeuroFlex ACT Workbook: Rewire Your Mind. Reclaim Your Life.

“Your brain isn’t broken. It’s just doing what it was designed to do, on overdrive.”
― Ronen Dancziger, The Therapist's Handbook for Breaking the Loop - Your NeuroFlex ACT Workbook: Rewire Your Mind. Reclaim Your Life.

“It’s not damaged. It’s stuck in survival mode.”
― Ronen Dancziger, The Therapist's Handbook for Breaking the Loop - Your NeuroFlex ACT Workbook: Rewire Your Mind. Reclaim Your Life.

“Your brain is not broken. It’s trying to protect you. It just may need a reboot.”
― Ronen Dancziger, The Therapist's Handbook for Breaking the Loop - Your NeuroFlex ACT Workbook: Rewire Your Mind. Reclaim Your Life.

“If it is true that those who are slaves to their moods, beings drowned in their sorrows, reveal a number of psychic or cognitive frailties, it is equally true that a diversification of moods, variety in sadness, refinement in sorrow or mourning are the imprint of a humankind that is surely not triumphant but subtle, ready to fight, and creative...”
― Julia Kristeva, Black Sun: Depression and Melancholia.