Thank you so much for this. Seriously, you put into words something I've been turning around in my head for a while.

You're right — "neurotypical" is kind of a fuzzy concept. No two brains are the same. And yes, even people who seem to "fit in" perfectly often feel like they don't belong. That's the human part of it.

But here's where I see the difference in my practice: for some people, that discomfort is occasional. For others — the ones I'd say experience neurotype dysphoria — it's constant, and it comes with a heavy dose of masking. It's not just "I feel lonely sometimes." It's "I have to pretend to be someone else every single day just to get by."

And your point about tribalism vs. modern society? I love that. We evolved in small tribes where everyone knew your quirks. Now we live in a world of strangers and rigid systems. For some brains, that's annoying. For others, it's genuinely traumatic.

What you said at the end really stuck with me: "Nobody should feel forced to accommodate others at the expense of their own discomfort, just as nobody should feel forced to fit in when it makes them uncomfortable." That's pure gold. That's the healthiest boundary I've read in a long time.

So no, you're not broken. And you're definitely not alone. Thanks again for sharing this — it made my day.

Take care,