Glossary of Neurodivergent Terms – A to Z

Hi! This is the one-page index of Weirdly Successful's Neurodivergent Glossary!

See below for short definitions of all our current glossary items in alphabetical order, with links to each item.

Browse or search the page to find terms we have an entry on, or even print it.

Note: No definitions are final. This is a live glossary that we update periodically, so all entries are subject to change as we improve our definitions over time.

To explore terms by category or get up to speed with the latest updates, check out the glossary homepage!

waiting mode

Waiting mode is a psychological state characterized by heightened anticipation or anxiety while awaiting a specific outcome or event.

In the neurodivergent, especially ADHD community it usually means the period before an event that needs focus or attention spent in a sort of paralysing waiting mode, not being able to do little else until the event is over.

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working memory

focus memory

Working memory is one of the executive functions. It is our mental scratchpad, where we temporarily hold and play with info to help with tasks like problem-solving and learning. It's key for everyday stuff but has limited space, so juggling too much can be tough, especially for people with ADHD, who have an even more limited space.

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