Neurodiversity recognizes that brains work in many different ways, and conditions like autism, ADHD, and learning differences are natural variations, not flaws. For neurodivergent young men, the transition from their teen years into daily life can come with unique challenges, including social difficulties, emotional regulation, and executive functioning struggles. Without the right support, these challenges can contribute to isolation, anxiety, depression, or even substance use.
Our transitional living program provides a structured, supportive environment where neurodivergent individuals can build essential life and social skills. Our approach focuses on empowerment, helping our housemates understand their strengths, develop coping strategies, and gain the confidence needed to thrive in adulthood.
What is Considered Neurodiversity?
Neurodiversity refers to a range of neurological differences in individual brain function and behavioral traits . Neurodiversity helps us understand that there is not one way for a person’s brain to function; brains have variations in how they function, perceive, and respond to the world. This has been a trending topic in the media lately due to the influx of people realizing they may be neurodivergent and exhibiting neurodivergent tendencies.
There are different types of neurodivergent conditions, including learning disabilities and developmental disorders such as:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Sensory processing disorder (SPD)
- Developmental coordination disorder (DCD)
- Dyslexia
- Dyscalculia
- Tourette’s syndrome
These are not disorders, but instead a different way of processing and experiencing the world.
What is the Difference Between Neurotypical and Neurodivergent?
When you are neurotypical, you process and perceive the world in the “typical” way of thinking, learning, and interacting, like the majority of people. So, a neurotypical person has a cognitive function that falls within the typical range of societal norms and doesn’t generally experience the cognitive or sensory differences associated with neurodevelopmental conditions. In contrast, neurodivergent cognitive function falls outside the typical range.
These are not binary categories; instead, they exist on a spectrum. Neurodivergence manifests differently for everyone. When someone is neurodivergent, they can feel isolated and notice the differences they hold since societal expectations typically favor neurotypical traits.
Related: Understanding Neurotypical Vs Neurodivergent in Addiction Recovery
Common Challenges Faced by Neurodivergent Young Men
If you are a young man battling neurodivergence, you might experience a wide range of challenges.
Social Challenges
Since your brain works differently compared to neurotypical people, you may encounter social difficulties, including an inability to understand social cues, being unable to make friends, or having a lot of anxiety around socialization. You may also isolate a lot more, due to the difficulties with socialization and being unable to create genuine connections.
Academic and Professional Struggles
Neurodivergence contributes to academic or professional challenges since your strengths and skillsets for these might be different from typical areas of achievement. Consistently doing tasks or working on timelines can be harder for you to follow, yet you may hyper-fixate on a hobby or special point of interest.
Sensory Overload
Sensory issues can be overwhelming for people who are neurodivergent. This can include bright lights, textures, smells, and loud or distracting sounds. Sensory overload can be difficult to navigate in everyday life when you’re constantly exposed to triggers.
Executive Functioning
Executive functioning, or the mental skills that help you manage your time, organization, attention, emotional regulation, and goal setting, can affect neurodivergent people by making it difficult to start or complete basic tasks. Something like taking a shower can be overwhelmingly difficult when dealing with executive dysfunction.
Mental Health and Addiction
When managing sensory issues, difficulties with socializing, and executive dysfunction, these issues can lead to the development of mental health conditions and addiction. Depression or anxiety tends to be the most common conditions that can develop from having to manage neurodivergence. There’s also an increased vulnerability to developing substance abuse since it can be used as a coping mechanism.
Failure to Launch
Transitioning to independent adulthood can be very difficult for young neurodivergent men. If you stay at home too long, you might be unable or unwilling to move out, find stable employment, perform well in college, and have issues with self-sufficiency. These specific struggles can contribute to the failure to launch.
Do Neurodivergent People Struggle with Change?
Neurodivergent people tend to experience difficulty with change due to being unable to have cognitive flexibility. Cognitive flexibility is the ability to adapt to behavior or new thinking. This is why routines and predictability help neurodivergent people manage their days.
Unexpected changes in general can trigger and stress out neurodivergent people. At New Life House, our mental health professionals teach you coping strategies to these triggers so you can navigate change more easily in the future.
The Intersection of Neurodiversity and Addiction
All of the different challenges discussed, like executive dysfunction, sensory issues, difficulties socializing, and the development of other mental health conditions, can all lead to substance abuse. Additionally, young men tend to be undiagnosed or even misdiagnosed when it comes to neurodivergence, especially when substance use is involved.
When everything feels overwhelming or out of control, self-medicating seems like a good option. This is how substance abuse might develop due to neurodivergent symptoms. Traditional recovery programs might only focus on sobriety, and not treat the entire person, or why they started using in the first place. This is why dual diagnosis treatment, by treating both your addiction and mental health, is so important, and a top priority at New Life House.
Related: What is a Sober House and How Can it Transform Your Life?
What is a Neurodivergent-Affirming Approach?
At New Life House, we recognize and value neurodiversity. We teach people that neurodivergence is not a deficit in people’s skills; instead, it’s just a difference. They can get to the same result using a different pathway, even if it doesn’t fully make sense to others.
Embracing the neurodiversity movement allows us to help more young men who are struggling in life. Whether you are neurotypical or neurodivergent, New Life House is here for you.
Related: More Than Just Sobriety: How a Recovery House Supports Mental Health and Personal Growth
How New Life House Supports Neurodivergent Young Men
The environment at New Life House is beneficial when supporting neurodivergent young men by providing:
- The structured environment creates predictability while teaching adaptability, so overcoming changes becomes easier to navigate.
- Our gender and age-specific programs also help you foster community, so everyone can relate to each other in one way or another.
- We provide ample support from mental health professionals like therapists, psychiatrists, and counselors.
- We understand that everyone has different learning styles, and we make sure to accommodate that through personalized programs catered to your needs.
- Family programming, including day passes and family therapy, is incorporated into the program, which is a great space to educate the family on neurodivergence and how to navigate it to best support your loved one.
- Once the program ends, you’ll join the great support system of our alumni community, which stays involved and connected for many years after your stay.
Related: Recovery Home Vs Sober Living
Supporting a Neurodivergent Loved One
When trying to support someone who is neurodivergent, it’s important to have effective communication with them. Making sure to check in, asking what they might need in the moment, giving them space to process, and asking clarifying questions can all help.
Additionally, make sure you accept neurodivergence while understanding it is not a flaw to be fixed, it’s just a different way to process the world. When this understanding comes into play, it becomes easier to ask for accommodation and support.
Get the Support You Need Today
Having mental health professionals and a healing community who understand neurodivergence and can properly support you is life-changing. Neurodivergence is hard to manage in the way it can affect your life, lead you to substance abuse, or cause other mental health conditions. That’s why New Life House prioritizes proper programming for neurodivergent individuals.
If you are a young man who may be neurodivergent and struggling with coping and life skills, or battling substance abuse, reach out to New Life House today to learn more about our recovery house in Los Angeles, CA. Let us support you as you transform your life.
References:
- MEd, N. B. M. (2021, November 23). What is neurodiversity? Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-is-neurodiversity-202111232645
- Professional, C. C. M. (2025, May 13). Neurodivergent. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/23154-neurodivergent
Last Updated on June 5, 2025
