A note for neurodivergent readers

PDF version with dyslexia-friendly font here

If you are reading Steady Ground and you are also neurodivergent (someone with features or diagnoses of ADHD, Autism, or both), I would like to just add an extra layer of acknowledgement to your experience as a trauma survivor.

Here are a few considerations for how to make the book more accessible:

Work with, rather than against, your learning style . Here are many different ones and all are valid. If you have difficulty taking information in by reading, or if doing so increases feelings of overwhelm, here are a few options to try.

• There is a version of the book that includes text descriptions and is written in large, dyslexia-friendly text. If you have already purchased the original version, I will happily send you the accessible version for free, just send me an email.

• If you learn better using reading, you can use a text-to-speech program, and copy and paste the text from the PDF into the window to read it out loud to you. Some PDF readers also have text-to-speech as a built-in feature.

We know there is a relationship between trauma and neurodiversity. If you suspect you may be neurodivergent, it might be harder to pinpoint which of your challenges might be due to trauma versus your neurodivergence. They can look similar, and they can influence each other. For example, someone with ADHD may have experiences of being overstimulated or overwhelmed that can feel similar to hyperarousal. Or, perhaps being overstimulated is something that can significantly narrows your window of tolerance. However, many of the approaches in Steady Ground may still work to support your needs.

Because the major research and resources about trauma is presumably done through a (presumably) neurotypical lens, there might be parts in the book that don’t resonate for you. Take an approach of openness and curiosity, and give yourself permission to need different things without judgement, if you can.

For example, you may also find that you might need a certain amount of sensory input to keep you focused when you are trying to ground. For example, multiple grounding strategies at once may hold your focus better (ie. Fidgeting with a sensory toy while listening to music and swaying from side to side).
Or, certain sensory grounding strategies may feel very uncomfortable for you if you struggle with sensory processing, and it’s okay to not do them.

Finally, give yourself permission for your self-care to look different. Self-care at its heart is giving yourself permission to attune to your needs, regardless of whether or not they make sense to other people. That might mean fidgeting, moving, or ‘stimming’ to keep you present. It might mean adjusting to meet your sensory processing needs as they change. Self-care is preserving your energy. It might mean needing more downtime to recharge. Especially f you have to conceal your neurodivergence around certain people to stay safe, that can be extremely draining. If you can ‘unmask’ and give yourself to show up just as you are in certain spaces, even when just alone with yourself, that is self-care.

Finally, you may want to find trauma-informed care from a therapist or community that understands and embraces neurodiversity. Full provider and resource list coming soon.

For more resources about neurodiversity, click here.