Know Your Neurotype: Why Curiosity About Our Brains Changes Everything
- Oct 9
- 3 min read
By Dr. Colleen Cira
If I could record my dream podcast episode today, it would be called Know Your Neurotype.
Why? Because for too long, we’ve been living under the weight of something I call neuro-normativity. It’s the quiet assumption that everyone is neurotypical—just like we once assumed everyone was straight unless they “came out.”Those assumptions might seem harmless, but they aren’t. They erase identities. They silence experiences. And they keep people from asking one of the most powerful questions they could ever ask: What if my brain works differently than I’ve been told?
I’ve lived this truth in more ways than one. As an Autistic ADHD-er and trauma survivor, I spent years trying to contort myself into a “normal” that was never meant for me. On the outside, I was successful: I became a licensed clinical psychologist, built a thriving group practice, and was recognized as a national trauma expert. But inside, I was burning out—because I didn’t yet have the language to name my own wiring.
And I’ve watched this play out with my children too. Both of my kids are neurodivergent, and when they didn’t yet know that, it felt terrible. They thought something was wrong with them. Just like I once did. That not-knowing breeds shame, confusion, and self-blame. But once they had the words, once we understood their neurotypes, everything shifted. Awareness gave them relief. Acceptance gave them confidence. And slowly, that acceptance blossomed into self-love.
Here’s what I want people to hear: this isn’t just about getting a diagnosis. In fact, the formal assessment process is a barrier for so many people—because of availability, insurance hoops, financial costs, or simply not being believed. The truth is, not everyone will have access to that path. And that’s okay. Self-identification is every bit as valid as formal diagnosis. What matters most is that people have access to life-changing information and the freedom to explore their own wiring.
Because here’s what happens when we don’t:
People go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
They miss out on resources, accommodations, and communities that could help them thrive.
Worst of all, they internalize shame, believing they’re broken when they’re simply different.
That’s why my dream episode would push listeners to get curious. Not because everyone needs a label, but because self-knowledge is one of the most radical acts of love we can give ourselves. When you know your neurotype, you can craft a life by design, not default. You can build routines, relationships, and careers that honor your wiring instead of fighting against it. You can finally drop the exhausting act of masking as “normal” and live into your fullest self.
If even one listener walked away thinking, Maybe I’m not broken. Maybe I’m just wired differently—and that’s okay,that impact would be worth everything.
Because here’s the truth I’ve learned—both as a psychologist and as a mother:
Awareness is what opens the door to acceptance.
Acceptance is what softens into self-love.
And self-love is what makes it possible to thrive.
That’s the conversation I want to start. That’s the story I want to tell. And that’s the podcast I want to record.
About Dr. Colleen Cira
Dr. Colleen Cira is a licensed clinical psychologist, nationally recognized trauma expert, and founder of both Cira Center for Behavioral Health and Cira Center Consulting. She is also an Autistic ADHD mother raising neurodivergent children, which allows her to blend clinical expertise with lived experience. Dr. Cira has been featured in NBC, ABC, US News & World Report, Fast Company, Real Simple, and more.
Connect With Dr. Colleen
Instagram: @drcolleencira
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