They’re seeing things in themselves that are different from (what they correctly or mistakenly perceive as) the “norm”. Since most NDs have experienced being scolded, ridiculed, shamed, ostracised for being “different”, some over and over again, for all their life, they’ve internalised that the “weird” thing is their fault, that there’s something inherently wrong with them. Recontextualising a (new) “weird” thing as a consequence of their neurodivergence makes it not their fault or at least lessens the feeling of “wrong”. … I keep saying “they” as if I don’t catch myself doing it.