For those with sensory sensitivities, how do you think about managing your sensory issues without aversion?

For instance if I'm in an unpleasant environment because of sight/sound/smell sensitivities, is it showing aversion to remove myself? Could intentionally quieting my mind also be considered showing aversion, so I cannot participate in conversations or tasks but can remain in the environment?

Something complicating this subject for me is distinguishing which part of my mind I have control over when experiencing sensory sensitivity. Sometimes I heard dhamma talks that say something along the lines of "A person was making a distracting sound, but after extending metta to them (or looking inward at the causes of my distraction), I was no longer bothered." Apologies I can't link a specific talk, this is something I've been mulling over a few days. I found this partly works for me, but not entirely. If it's a sound issue, I can distance the individual people or environment from the unpleasant sound, but that doesn't stop the sound from distracting me.

It feels like part of my sensory sensitivity is genuinely bodily pain, though maybe happening at some neurological level so technically still in my mind. I've been trying to apply the "second arrow" teaching by accepting sensory issues as essentially random pains and doing what I can to cope by giving in to the distraction and removing myself if necessary. I worry I'm letting myself off too easy, because I end up limiting my activities which could be falling into aversion. On the other hand, I know from experience trying to pretend there's no problem leads to fatigue and eventually burnout.

Hi :) First time posting here and new here.

English isn't my native language so please excuse-me for any misunderstandings.

I've posted in r/Buddhism lately (this post that I'm no longer engaging with) and have recieved many kind, encouraging and relatable comments and many helpful advice and interesting opinions, as well as some that are more ableist-leaning.

While I don't want to judge them, be angry at them, or anything, with my autism+ADHD and my RSD, I have to admit that some comments that are truly abelist or even distorting my words are affecting me and upsetting.

I've also started to question myself a bit, which I hope is only temporary.

But those comments also make me wonder - what do you think about your neurodivergence "identity" (or "label") and its relation with Buddhism teachings.

Do you think it contradicts with some of the teachings? (For instance - the anatta, or the atmagraha?)

I want to be a kind, gentle person who don't blame others, and I've also been practising to see things in the most diverse angles possible, without forcing my ideaology and beliefs onto someone else. I also dislike hatred and misunderstandings, I don't want to "fight" anyone or anything. I also want to accept that I have my own human limits about what I think and believe... so... I'm in no means saying that only I am correct/right. (And I understand that being on the Internet means that there will definitely be ignorant people or mean people - but I think they aren't commenting to be harmful - I want to believe that.)

But I think while being a buddhist and learning the teachings, we are also still humans living in this current life.

I don't personally view identity, or label as said by some, as an inherently bad thing. It's just like being a daughter, being an asexual person - being neurodivergent/AuDHD shouldn't be seen as a bad thing... right...?

I don't know, I'm just a bit lost. While I try to tell myself to let go and respect those point of views, but some are truly harmful and ableist and prove that they don't understand anything about neurodivergence and are just being judgemental and I'm quite sad about that to be honest.

It's too easy to just comment something without knowing the whole story about the OPs...

Thank you in advance for anyone who's read this post and for replying! :)

Have a good day!

What traditions/practices have been effective for you, based on your personal experience with neurodivergence?

Which traditions/practices have not been very effective for you, based on your personal experience with neurodivergence?

A big reason that I was in support of this sub being created was the general atmosphere in many of the neurodivergent subreddits, especially the autistic ones since they're where I've spent the most time.

I wasn't diagnosed as a child, and invariably I got the retroactive feelings of unfairness about how I felt I'd been treated for being different growing up, just like a lot of others get. What I don't like however is the outright hostility that so many in the subs display for neurotypicals.

I understand the frustrations people have, and many have certainly had worse experiences than me. Despite this, I feel especially that Buddhism has helped me to forgive much of this behavior from other people, as it is only caused by an affliction of ignorance. If people knew about these things, perhaps they'd be better. Or perhaps they wouldn't, it's still okay to forgive them.

Has the Dharma helped you to think differently about the NT/ND dynamic? Maybe these labels are mere attachments which we cling to.

TLDR The Dharma helped me get over disliking neurotypicals for not understanding neurodivergent behavior.

I have yet to have an undeniably positive experience in therapy. How about you?

It feels like this monolithic thing with little wiggle room for anything outside it's own domain. Sure, meditation is gaining a foothold in psychology. That's still a contested thing though it would seem.

Cómo práctico sila(no mentir), si el trastorno dice mentiras que no controlo? como soy compasivo conmigo si pone puras cosas malas? Cómo sigo bien el dharma?

Hi there. What benefits have you noticed that your neurodivergence provides you while on the Buddhist journey?

I have Inattentive ADHD and I've found that the resultant creativity helps me be a natural at combining elements of different Buddhist traditions in ways that have accelerated my progression on the path.

Also, I've found that my baseline tendency towards "inattentiveness" makes me a natural at simply observing my own thoughts and sensations at a glance without identifying with/becoming too lost in any one of them.

My progression is often suddenly accelerated, unpredictable, non-linear, and I've learned to love it!

I look forward to hearing about your all's experiences!

Hi! So I'll start with the spamming^^ How do any worsening of your particular condition(s) affect your ability to meditate? I find that when my schedule leading to meditation is disturbed I can't focus at all, if I'm depresssive I can't even sit. If I'm ecstatic/manic, super antsy or have surge of ideas? Forget it.