While That’s a Great Question, I’d Love to Tell You does not explicitly refer to mental health, this topic underlies many of Myers’s personal stories and experiences. In her social media content, Myers often shares her own challenges with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and a late-in-life autism diagnosis. She does not mention these disorders in the book, except for one brief mention of OCD in Chapter 5, but even so, these issues impact many of her experiences and contribute significantly to the book’s themes, in which Myers explores the difficulties of navigating a society built for neurotypical individuals. Her anecdotes collectively critique the fact that mainstream society does not readily accommodate neurodivergent modes of being. She also confronts the common stereotypes and stigmas related to neurodivergence and mental health.

Neurodivergence is a term used to describe individuals whose neurological makeup does not conform to mainstream “neurotypical” ways of being. This catch-all term includes conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, OCD, and major depressive disorder, among many others (“Neurodivergent.” Cleveland Clinic, 2 June 2022). While “neurodivergence” is not a medical term, it covers a range of conditions, differences, and varying levels of disability. Those working from a neurodiversity model argue that neurological differences are not problems or dysfunctions in need of cures; instead, these neurological differences are simply different ways of being that should be accepted, accommodated, and celebrated within society. This model has inspired a paradigm shift among medical and mental health professionals and has helped to support the complex and varied neurodivergent community. However, many stereotypes and stigmas are still perpetuated by society, often stemming from outdated misconceptions, prejudices, and ableism (Dryden, Daniell. “Common Myths of Neurodivergence: Breaking Stigma and Shifting Perspectives.” The ASC-ADHD Coach, 26 Jan. 2025).

Common misconceptions include the belief that neurodivergent individuals lack intelligence or need to be “cured” or “fixed.” Another common prejudice holds that all neurodivergent individuals exhibit the same tendencies, sensitivities, and behaviors, and have the same basic limitations and needs. However, many studies have demonstrated that neurodivergent individuals possess a broad range of abilities, skills, challenges, and unique strengths. Notably, many neurodivergent individuals possess qualities and strengths that cannot be easily categorized by conventional measures of intelligence, and this fact indicates the limitations of those measurements, not the individuals themselves.

Neurodivergence encompasses a wide range of complex conditions and differences. While some have overlapping traits, even individuals who share the same condition, such as autism, are unique and have different experiences and traits. For this reason, all neurodivergent individuals should be accommodated based upon their own needs rather than being subjected to the biased lens of broad stereotypes.

While autism remains central to the social difficulties that Myers describes, she also addresses the many stereotypes and stigmas that are specifically associated with OCD. For instance, in popular culture, OCD is often associated with neatness and strict tidiness or with superstitious fears, but in reality, OCD encompasses a broad range of potential fears and compulsions, only some of which are exhibited as excessive tidiness. In fact, many of these difficulties are not connected to physical actions or obvious environmental cues at all. Quite a few individuals with OCD experience entirely mental compulsions, such as counting or repeating phrases in their heads. Even for those who do exhibit the stereotypical symptoms of compulsive cleaning and tidiness, it is important to note that these habits do not stem from a logical desire for cleanliness but from the person’s irrational fears, which cause immense psychological distress (Bailey, Lily. “8 Myths about OCD.” Psychology Today, 10 Sept. 2020).

In short, neurodivergent individuals face many barriers due to society’s stereotypes and misconceptions. The frequent use of dismissive or ableist language and attitudes contributes to these problems, creating stigma and discrimination in schools, employment, and many other social settings. As a result, neurodivergent individuals find themselves repeatedly barred from access to essential support systems unless they can find a way to “mask,” or hide their differences in order to “fit in.”

However, such masking, whether conscious or unconscious, can only be maintained for limited periods of time and comes at great personal cost. Because neurodivergent people are often pressured to conform to neurotypical society and experience overt and covert discrimination when they fail to do so, many fear the prospect of disclosing their conditions and avoid requesting the accommodations they need. These omnipresent difficulties form a pointed subtext in many of Myers’s anecdotes as her younger self struggles to fit in and deals with the social repercussions of being different.