Living Radiantly: Neurodivergence, Hypermobility, and Learning to Rest

It’s often normal for a person to plan out their day the night before, either for a clear state of mind or for better productivity. Neurodivergent people tend to especially utilize this to help prevent anxiety, shutdowns, and meltdowns. But what if your body can't keep up, especially when living with hypermobility?

What is the connection between neurodivergence and hypermobility?

Neurodivergent individuals, including those with ADHD and autism, are more likely to experience hypermobility. This can lead to joint instability, pain, and physical limitations that make it difficult to keep up with daily routines, especially when mental expectations and physical capacity don’t align.

For many of us, that connection isn’t just something we read about, it’s something we live with every day. A neurodivergent person has a 51% chance of being hypermobile compared to a neurotypical person, whose chances sit around 17–20%.

And that reality shows up in ways most people don’t see. Hypermobility alone can cause days of delay in your work or plans, making it harder to function at the pace the world expects.

When Your Mind Plans but Your Body Pushes Back

Maybe you tried to sit a certain way while reading and feel one of your ribs slip. Now you’re limited in movement, and anything that requires deeper breathing becomes difficult. Or maybe you were bent down on your knees for just a minute while picking something up, and now your knee feels out of place. Walking or putting weight on it is no longer an option.

For neurodivergent individuals, the mental stress of being limited can sometimes feel worse than the physical pain. It’s important to remind ourselves that we are trying to function in a world that wasn’t built with us in mind, including the speed at which we’re expected to move and keep up.

We often push ourselves past our physical capability, ignoring pain and potentially making it worse, just to ease the stress in our minds. We want everything done, handled, and checked off so we can finally rest.

Something I’ve been working on myself is learning to listen to my body instead of listening to my mind. My mind is often influenced by the outside world and people who are able-bodied, while my body tells the truth about what I actually need.

If you hurt yourself or if something flares up…rest. Your brain might tell you that you’re slow or behind, but in that moment, there is nothing that will serve you more than giving your body the time it needs to recover.

If you live with neurodivergence or hypermobility, you’re not alone and learning to listen to your body is part of living radiantly.