Janetta Boshoff Occupational Therapist in Mental Health

13/03/2026

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11/03/2026

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05/03/2026

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**Why Many Neurodivergent People Feel Comfortable in the Quiet and the Dark**

Sometimes you walk into a room and find someone sitting quietly in the dark. No music playing. No bright lights. Just silence and stillness. For many neurodivergent people, that space is not strange at all. In fact, it can be one of the few places where the brain finally feels calm.

But the moment someone walks in and suddenly turns on the lights while asking, *“Why are you sitting in the dark?”* the entire atmosphere changes. What felt peaceful a second ago can suddenly become overwhelming.

For many people with ADHD, autism, or other neurodivergent traits, the world is often extremely loud and bright. Lights can feel harsh. Background sounds that others barely notice can become distracting. Conversations, screens, notifications, and constant stimulation can create a level of sensory input that slowly builds into mental exhaustion.

That is why quiet, dim environments often feel safe.

A darker room can reduce visual overload. Fewer distractions allow the brain to slow down and breathe. Instead of fighting constant stimulation, the mind finally gets a moment to reset. It is not about hiding or being antisocial. It is simply about finding a space where the brain can function without being pushed past its limits.

Unfortunately, people who do not experience this kind of sensory sensitivity sometimes misunderstand it. They assume the person is upset, isolating themselves, or doing something unusual. In reality, the person sitting quietly in the dark may just be regulating their energy.

Another part of the misunderstanding comes from how quickly questions are sometimes asked. Neurodivergent brains often take a moment to process what is being said. When someone suddenly enters, turns on the lights, and asks a question immediately, the brain may still be adjusting to the sensory change.

Give it a minute.

Many neurodivergent people can absolutely answer questions, participate in conversations, and engage socially. They simply function better when they are given a moment to shift gears instead of being pulled instantly from calm into stimulation.

What looks strange from the outside is often just a form of self-regulation.

And sometimes the most supportive thing someone can do is simple: walk in quietly, sit down, and let the calm stay calm for a moment.

Because for many neurodivergent people, that quiet space is not darkness.

It is relief.

05/03/2026

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05/03/2026

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ADHD and sensory processing.
Let’s talk about it through our PEAR Tree™️Model.

A new large research review of over 5,000 people found that children and adults with ADHD are much more likely to experience sensory differences. (https://www.jaacap.org/article/S0890-8567(25)00209-6/fulltext)

That means more sensory sensitivity.
More sensory seeking.
More low registration.
More avoiding.

So how do we understand this?

PEAR helps.

P – Person
ADHD is not just attention.
It is how a person experiences sound, light, touch, movement, texture, smell.
Some nervous systems register everything.
Some miss things and need more input to stay alert.
Some do both, depending on the situation.

E – Environment
Busy classrooms. Supermarkets. Open plan offices.
Fluorescent lights. Background chatter. Unexpected touch.
The same space does not feel the same to every nervous system.
For one person it is fine.
For another it is exhausting.

A – Activity
If a child is rocking, chewing, tapping, pacing, spinning, lying on the floor…
Is it defiance?
Or is it regulation?
Movement and sensation can be tools for focus.
Without the right sensory support, attention falls apart.

R – Relational Response
How we respond matters.
If we interpret sensory behaviour as “naughty” or “lazy”, stress increases.
If we recognise a nervous system doing its best, we can co regulate and adapt.

ADHD is not separate from the body.

Attention happens in sensation.
Participation happens in context.
Regulation happens in relationship.

When we see ADHD through PEAR, we stop asking
“What is wrong?”

and start asking
“What does this person need to participate safely and successfully?”

The research is aligning with lived experience.

And that gives us permission to design better support.

01/03/2026

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Puberty can make boys seem unpredictable, emotional, or defiant, but the real story lies inside the brain. During early adolescence, a massive neurological transformation begins. The childhood brain dissolves, and new pathways rapidly form, reshaping how boys think, feel, and react.

Testosterone surges can rise dramatically, intensifying emotions, impulses, and energy. These shifts are not signs of disrespect. They reflect a brain flooded with new signals it has not yet learned to manage. The emotional volume increases before the internal controls are ready to keep pace.

Meanwhile, the prefrontal cortex, the part responsible for judgment, regulation, and long-term thinking, is still years from maturity. This mismatch creates the classic puberty storm: strong feelings, quick reactions, and difficulty pausing before responding. It is biology, not bad behavior.

With understanding and support, boys adapt more smoothly. Calm guidance, predictable boundaries, and steady connection help their brain learn regulation through experience. They need adults who can stay grounded while their inner world reorganizes at full speed.

When parents see puberty as construction, not rebellion, everything shifts. Patience replaces frustration, and boys feel safer expressing themselves. This safety becomes the foundation that helps them grow into balanced, confident young men.

28/02/2026

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28/02/2026

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28/02/2026

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❓ What is something all of these recruitment methods have in common?

A. Areas of poverty�
B. They began as relationships�

The answer? B. They began as relationships.

It’s more common for someone to be trafficked by a person they know than by a stranger.

Traffickers rarely start with threats. They start with trust. With attention. With what looks like care. But here’s the truth:�
The same thing that can be used to exploit someone, a relationship, can also be the very thing that protects them. Parents who stay involved. Teachers who notice behavior changes. Friends who ask deeper questions. Neighbors who check in.

We are each other’s first line of defense.

Safe relationships act as a shield. When someone is surrounded by support, traffickers can’t recruit easily without someone raising a red flag.

That’s why understanding the signs of recruitment matters. The more informed we are, the more protected our communities become.

A21’s free resource library equips people to recognize dangerous relationships early, build safe connections, and prevent exploitation before it begins. Because awareness isn’t just information, it’s protection.

Visit A21.org/Relationship to download our Safe Relationships Guide and start building stronger, safer connections today.

27/02/2026

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27/02/2026

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