About the Video 

This video was made for educational purposes only! And is in no way being used for profit, just to share some knowledge and hopefully help some neurodivergent people at work! 
 

Helpful Links / Resources: 

 

This website is by far the most useful site I have found so far for resources on how to navigate being neurodivergent at work:

 

Brain.fm:

 

https://www.brain.fm/nl/blog/neurodivergent-productivity-tools-adhd?utm_source=google-ads-search-non-brand-focus-tier-1&utm_campaign=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22886804101&gbraid=0AAAAADkUcV1vu1XUid3PjoM3TsQBW_eMP&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrZTRBhDSARIsAHidYff_OvJ6BJwrWLTx1cnNGwFSjUwmEUoBG3rBclqPJH1q-T7vgOT298gaAlnXEALw_wcB

 

These are my favourite fidget tools so far: 

 

Nee-Doh Fidget Cubes:

 

https://www.smythstoys.com/uk/en-gb/toys/sensory-toys/fidget-toys/needoh-nice-cube-swirl-fidget-toy-assortment/p/251547

If you are experiencing burnout this site can help: https://lifeskillsadvocate.com/blog/neurodivergent-burnout-signs-recovery/

 

Some facts and figures:

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There is no exact figure for the number of undiagnosed neurodivergent people working in NHS mental health. However, using the UK average of 15%—and considering that up to 29% of medical trainees in certain clinical regions identify as neurodivergent—tens of thousands of clinical and support staff likely operate undiagnosed or undisclosed across the UK

 

Find out more here: https://resolution.nhs.uk/learning-resources/supporting-neurodivergent-practitioners-the-role-of-nhs-resolutions-practitioner-performance-advice-service/

 

Organisation responsibilities

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Under the Equality Act 2010, organisations have a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments for individuals who are neurodivergent and meet the definition of having a disability/being disabled under the Act. An individual does not need a diagnosis to be considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010. Specialist health assessments may assist both practitioners and organisations in determining whether a neurodivergence equates to a disability.

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Learn more: 

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https://resolution.nhs.uk/learning-resources/supporting-neurodivergent-practitioners-the-role-of-nhs-resolutions-practitioner-performance-advice-service/

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Duty to make reasonable adjustments

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Under section 20 of the Equality Act, employers are under a duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled employees who are placed at substantial disadvantage by the application of a policy or practice.

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What is “reasonable” will be unique to each individual, but could include:

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•     flexible working arrangements, such as flexible hours and being able to work from home

•     Providing equipment such as a screen reader, standing desk or noise cancelling headphones

•     Changes to work environment, such as the level of noise and light

•     Allowing regular short breaks throughout the working day

•     Having regular check ins on how they are getting on with their workload

•     Making information available in different formats

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Find out more here:

 

https://www.hempsons.co.uk/news-articles/neurodivergence-in-the-workplace-employment-law-considerations/?cn-reloaded=1&cn-reloaded=1

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NHS Trust Declarations:

 

According to data analyzed in the NHS Workforce Disability Equality Standard, mental health trusts generally have the highest rate of disability/neurodivergence declarations, at around 7.4% of their staff. However, this number is widely known to be an underrepresentation due to fears of stigma or a lack of formal diagnosis.

 

Learn more here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/workforce-disability-equality-standard-2023-data-analysis-report-for-nhs-trusts/

 

Also here: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12618718/

 

How to tell if you’re neurodivergent, if you’re struggling at work? 

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Struggling at work can sometimes be a signal of neurodivergence, such as ADHD, Autism, or Dyslexia. It often manifests as executive dysfunction, sensory overload, and emotional exhaustion from constantly trying to "mask" or hide your natural working style to fit into traditional office environments.

Specific signs you may be neurodivergent include:

 

1. Executive Dysfunction and Time Management

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• Time blindness: Finding it incredibly difficult to accurately estimate how long a task will take, or hyper-focusing for hours while missing deadlines.

• Task paralysis: Feeling physically or mentally unable to start a task, even when it’s simple or urgent, because the brain finds it overwhelming.

• Working memory gaps: Forgetting verbal instructions almost immediately, or struggling to complete multi-step tasks without a written guide.

 

2. Sensory and Environmental Overload

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• Sensory sensitivity: Becoming easily distracted or physically fatigued by fluorescent lighting, background chatter, or repetitive sounds in the office.

• Burnout: Experiencing chronic exhaustion, brain fog, and a severely reduced ability to handle everyday demands—often referred to as neurodivergent burnout.

 

3. Communication and Social Differences

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• Unwritten social rules: Feeling confused by unspoken office etiquette, or being told your communication is "too blunt" or "too direct" when you are simply being honest.

• Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD): Feeling intense physical or emotional pain, anxiety, or shame when receiving constructive criticism or facing delayed email replies.

• Social exhaustion: Feeling entirely drained after meetings or social events because of the constant conscious effort to mimic neurotypical behavior (known as masking).

 

4. Processing and Output Differences

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• Written vs. verbal mismatch: Having brilliant ideas and strong verbal communication, but struggling to put those thoughts into written reports or emails.

• Difficulty switching tasks: Getting extremely frustrated or disoriented when your routine is suddenly changed or you are pulled into a last-minute project.
  
  Video footage was kindly borrowed from the following creators on Youtube, under the Creative Commons License: 
   

• Psych2Go : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0-9Zh6PZaM 'Signs of Inattentive ADHD (ADD): May 24, 2022 Writer: Sara Del Villar Script Editor: Isadora Ho Script Manager: Kelly Soong VO: Amanda Silvera Animator: Aury YouTube Manager: Cindy Cheong 

• Osro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAYDRIbXFAc   'Afternoon Class: Animation Short Film (2014) Film by Seoro Oh. 2015, 2D Digital animation

• Ethan Nestor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLLlyKdyeks  'I bought a box of figet toys to cure my adhd' July 20th 2020. 

• Simplify and Succeed : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R0BLFFXxVU "Neurodiversity Examples: Neurodiversity Explained Simply: Definition, Meaning & Types Defined December 27th 2025

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References: 

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Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (2025) Neurodiversity at work, understanding neurodiversity. Available at: acas.org.uk (Accessed: 30th June 2026)

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Barnum, C (2025) 8 Signs of Undiagnosed ADHD in Adult Women. Available at: missionconnectionhealthcare.com (Accessed: 30th June 2026) 


 

Care Scribe (2026) The Ultimate Guide to Neurodiversity in the Workplace. Available at: carescribe.io (Accessed: 30th June 2026)

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Ethan Nestor (2021) 'I bought a box of fidget toys to cure my ADHD' Available at: youtube.com (Accessed: 2nd July 2026)

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Inclusive Change (2025) Neurodivergent Burnout: The hidden Struggle Behind Overwork. Available at: inclusivechange.co.uk (Accessed: 30th June 2026)


 

Leaf Complex Care (2025) Identifying the Key Signs of Neurodiversity. Available at: leafcare.co.uk (Accessed: 30th June 2026)

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McMahan, J (2026) Why Time Is Different for Neurodivergent People: Understanding Time Blindness. Available at: exceptionalindividuals.com (Accessed: 30th June 2026) 


 

Neurobridge (2024) Understanding Neurodivergent Burnout. Available at: neurobridge.co.uk (Accessed: 30th June 2026)

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Osro (2014) 'Afternoon Class: Animation Short Film 2014' Available at: youtube.com (Accessed: 2nd July 2026)

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O’Reilly, D (2025) How to Actually Get Started: Simple ADHD-Friendly Techniques to Beat Task Paralysis. Available at: audhdpsychiatry.co.uk (Accessed: 30th June 2026) 


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Psych2Go (2022) 'Five Signs of Inattentive ADHD (ADD)' Available at: youtube.com (Accessed: 2nd July 2026)

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Purcell, R (2026) Neurodivergent Symptoms: What to Look For and How to Get Support. Available at: carescribe.io (Accessed: 30th June 2026)

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Schmalaker, C (2025) How To Recognise And Overcome Task Paralysis: A Step-By-Step Guide. Available at: nfil.net (Accessed: 30th June 2026) 


 

Schram, R and Stonell, E (2026) Supporting Neurodivergent Practitioners: The Role of NHS Resolution’s Practitioner Performance Advice Service. Available at: resolution.nhs.uk (Accessed: 30th June 2026)

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Simplify and Succeed (2025) 'Neurodiversity Examples: Neurodiversity Explained Simply: Definition, Meaning & Types Defined' Available at: youtube.com (Accessed: 3rd July 2026)

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The Neurodiversity Academy (2024) How to Spot and Support Neurodivergent Team Members Who Are Struggling. Available at: theneurodiversityacademy.com (Accessed: 30th June 2026)

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