In the first part of this series, we explored how neurodivergent individuals can thrive in the workplace when given the right support. Now, let’s dive deeper into the daily struggles they face and how their unique perspectives can lead to breakthroughs that change everything.

“Sometimes, the greatest breakthroughs come from those who see the world differently. When we honor their struggles and amplify their voices, we unlock not just their potential, but a better future for all of us.” ~ Brendon Burchard

The Struggle to Be Heard

Have you ever felt like no one was listening? Like your voice, your perspective, your truth was being dismissed or misunderstood? For neurodivergent individuals, this isn’t just an occasional frustration—it’s a recurring battle. A battle to be taken seriously, to be seen, to be heard.

Over a decade ago, I twisted my ankle. What followed was a long, painful journey of being dismissed, misunderstood, and fighting to be taken seriously. Despite explaining my pain repeatedly, I couldn’t seem to get the support I needed.

If you ask me how I’m doing, I’ll likely say ‘fine,’ based on my mental state. But if that answer is interpreted as applying to my physical state, it creates errors on their end—regardless of what anyone says next. That disconnect can feel frustrating, even isolating.

Doctors questioned me, dismissed my concerns, and left me feeling like I was standing in front of a firing squad. It wasn’t until I reached my breaking point—showing up on crutches after months of agony—that someone finally listened.

Even then, the surgeon hesitated. My injury didn’t fit the textbook cases. But I wasn’t a textbook case. I was the exception to the rules.

And isn’t that true for so many neurodivergent individuals? We don’t fit the mold. We don’t process, think, or communicate in the “textbook” way. But that doesn’t mean we’re wrong—it means we’re different. And that difference is where innovation, creativity, and brilliance often live.

Questions:

Have you ever been in a situation where you didn’t feel understood, but instead dismissed? What about the people around you—do they respond differently than you expect, sometimes causing confusion? If so, what do you do to get back on the same page? How do you bridge that gap?

Finding the one who truly listens

Four years later, I met the first female surgeon I’d worked with. She understood me. She specialized in this part of the foot, and I had spent years documenting everything—using markers, taking pictures, anything to make my experience clear. She ordered a proper scan, which confirmed what my second physical therapist had said years earlier: that tiny bone was moving more than an inch.

Finally, someone took the time to listen, to explain, and to offer a solution. She explained to me that my assumption was partially incorrect. The moment she took the time to explain what I had assumed to be true, I understood that what I had been suggesting all along wasn’t possible at all. She explained this and came up with a different solution. 

The question on my mind was why her predecessor (the third or fourth one, I lost count) who had trained her and who I’d spoken to the year before, hadn’t said the same thing to me? A difference in communication or understanding possibly? I remember he said: You need two surgeries. One doesn’t exist and the other can’t be done. What if he had explained to me why my assumption wasn’t correct, just like the last surgeon did, instead of just saying: “It’s never been done”? Why was he annoyed I had been able to make an appointment? Isn’t helping out, even if it’s pointing in the direction, the whole intention behind performing medicine? Was he really only after the money?

This experience taught me that being misunderstood doesn’t mean being wrong. It means you need to be specific and keep fighting for clarity, understanding and for solutions. Your voice matters, and your persistence can change everything.

Questions:

What lengths are you really willing to go to be truly understood? Would you sacrifice your freedom by staying silent, or has persistence and perseverance become your life motto?

The Importance of Perspective and Pushing Through

You don’t realize how much you walk until you can’t. And you don’t see how merciless streets, sidewalks, and buildings are until every step demands a detour, a workaround, or a fight just to keep moving.

The thing is, I already have to pick my battles, so every change makes me cross another boundary, which might already be outside of my comfort zone. Every detour means extra pain, on top of the pain I’m already carrying—pain that doesn’t just disappear. And that extra pain? It’s not just the physical pain of flare-ups or the lingering pain in the background. It’s the constant adjustments—using pillows, changing seats, relying on different aids—and worse, the uncertainty of not knowing how this will end up.

That uncertainty breeds fear and discomfort. If I’m honest, there were—and still are—short-lived moments of anxiety whenever something unexpected happens. In those moments, there’s only one person who can ask for support and eventually make the decision to calm down: me.

That’s how I’ve learned to flip the switch, to shift back to positivity and celebrate what I just accomplished. Everything else gets buried in silence, masked by the lightheartedness I wear to stay sane, until I finally cave in to the doubts and frustrations for just a short moment, when nobody is around. Then it’s back to business as usual.

There’s no good reason to worry when the only thing you can do is live your best life—taking care of your health, both mentally and physically, as best as you know how.

Questions:

What do you do when everything seems too much, especially when it’s all the time? Will you let it overtake your life, or will you run with it for a short time and then move on?

Some last Words - The Steam Power Collective

What if everything you thought made you different was actually your greatest advantage? The Steam Power Collective is here to prove that neurodivergent brilliance isn’t just valuable—it’s transformative.

This isn’t just my story—it’s a call to action for anyone who’s ever felt dismissed or underestimated. Together, we can create a world where neurodivergent brilliance is celebrated and unleashed.

The Steam Power Collective isn’t just a community—it’s a movement. A movement to redefine leadership and success by championing the unique perspectives of neurodivergent individuals. Together, we’ll harness the power of perspective, resilience, and proven strategies to unlock our full potential.

This is your moment to step into a space where your unique perspective isn’t just welcomed—it’s celebrated. The Steam Power Collective is more than a community, it’s a revolution in how we lead, create, and thrive.

Details are dropping this week—don’t miss your chance to join the founding members of this groundbreaking movement.

Question:

Are you ready to step into your power and join a movement that’s redefining leadership? The Steam Power Collective is waiting for you. Together, we’ll shatter limits, redefine what’s possible, and create a world where everyone is heard, seen, and celebrated.