Personal Perspective: The Intersection of Neurodiversity, Trauma, and Intuition

I became an occupational therapist (OT) primarily because I could have benefitted from occupational therapy as a child. My mother, who worked as both a speech and language pathologist and a special education teacher, often says to me, “Where were you when you were growing up?”. This is especially touching, since she was the one who set me on my path of becoming an OT years ago. 

I was that sensitive child who (despite being highly articulate) would lose all sense of myself and break into meltdowns when I got a wrinkle in my sock. I was that kid who hyper focused and tuned everything else out–my mom would often say “Earth to Katie…” as she had a hard time getting my attention when I was hyper focused. I was that kid who grew into that adult who had extreme rejection sensitivity, and who had a hard time reading social cues. The one who knew what other people were feeling, even without them saying a word. The one who was/is sensitive to crowds. The one who experiences such things as “time blindness”. I now recognize these as signs of neurodiversity (which includes ADHD, OCD, ASD), as well as my history of trauma (including childhood trauma). 

Becoming an OT was not a straight path for me. I was on the fence about becoming an OT until I studied pediatric therapy and the work of Dr. A. Jean Ayres. Though I didn’t fully grasp all the concepts at the time, I felt them. I sensed that this work was deeply healing and therapeutic. I began to understand myself better, and even started applying some of the OT work to my own development.

One of the biggest shifts came after I became a mother. My intuition kicked in strongly, and I began remembering talking to imaginary friends, seeing and feeling things others couldn’t as a child, and even communicating with people who had crossed over. I could see visions, and interpret things that simply had no other explanation. To make it through school and appear “normal,” I had pushed much of this awareness aside. But around 2007, it all came rushing back. It led me to a question that has shaped my work ever since: What if some of the neurodiverse children I work with aren’t just sensitive to sensory input—but also intuitive?

These experiences taught me something essential: many children—especially neurodivergent ones—are incredibly intuitive. They sense more than they can explain. When given a safe, nonjudgmental space, they share things that might otherwise be dismissed as “imagination.”

I began to see a pattern: children who were sensitive to sensory stimuli often seemed equally sensitive to energetic or emotional stimuli. These weren’t just “behaviors” to manage—they were signs of deep perception and vulnerability.

As I deepened my work, another layer emerged: trauma. According to epigenetic research, we can inherit the trauma responses of not only our mothers, but of our ancestors. This multigenerational trauma relies on several factors, including environmental triggers. In other words, we can feel trauma from our ancestral patterns deeply if we are traumatized or experience traumatic events in our lifetime, especially in early childhood.

Some argue that being neurodiverse is itself, traumatizing. Not only because of the challenge with the regulation of sensory information coming from the environment or from within the body (interoception), but because our daycares, schools, and jobs are not set up to honor the needs of a neurodiverse person. Outdoor play and engagement with the natural environment is becoming more and more limited in schools. Recess is taken away as a punishment (this is one of the most challenging things that I witness). Academics are prioritized over experiential learning, socialization, and emotional regulation. We are trying to build skyscrapers without a foundation, put simply. This is challenging for any person, but all the more challenging with someone who is neurodiverse.

So, how does intuition fit in with trauma? If you have experienced trauma in your lifetime, you will understand that safety becomes the primary goal. You may learn to “read the room” very very quickly. You become adept at anticipating or sensing the needs of others, and to make sure that everyone has their needs met (ahead of your own needs) to ensure safety. This is an example of the “fawn” response. You may become hyper focused on the needs of others, because you feel the needs deeply yourself. 

So, how does this all fit together? Does neurodiversity cause trauma? Does trauma present like acquired neurodiversity? Does trauma create heightened intuition? Does neurodiversity mean having a bigger “antenna” to other realms? Does having heightened intuition cause trauma? Honestly, I believe that they can all influence each other. I think that there are a lot of interesting questions to ask, and perhaps more surprising things to come from this contemplation. I have seen recent phenomena like the Telepathy Tapes begin to connect the autistic community to intuitive abilities like telepathy. I have heard trauma experts talk about the similarities between neurodiversity and trauma, and I have also heard people discussing having heightened intuitive abilities as a result of childhood trauma. 

I believe we have a lot to continue to learn about the intersection of trauma, neurodiversity, and intuition. I think as we open up to consider these things, the more we can understand ourselves, our children, and how to support each other. Keeping an open mind and an open heart is a crucial step in navigating the complexity of these factors. 

If you suspect that your child or yourself has any or all of these traits, know that you can get support. Seek out help with a therapist who is open minded about these matters. Get support for any trauma that needs attention, consider a diagnostic evaluation for yourself or your child–especially if you are looking to have school or work support or modifications. Make sure to get movement (muscle work is very grounding), eat and sleep well, and get plenty of time in nature. Unplug from time to time. Learn to trust your gut. Meditate to begin to cultivate or more deeply cultivate your intuition.

If you are looking for support for your sensitive child, the AboutPlay team works with children this way. Additionally, I see children for intuitive consultations at AboutPlay. If you are seeking help as an adult for cultivation of your intuition, check out some of the offerings at The Energetic Heart. As always, get out and play. Move your body. Love your neighbor. Let’s support each other in our understanding and evolution as humans.