I was diagnosed with NVLD at age 19. It was like a lightbulb went off because now my family had answers to all of the questions of why so many things were and still are challenging for me. Ever since I’ve been diagnosed I’ve been trying to make those challenges not seem so big and some of them have gotten easier to deal with. I’ve gotten better at reading social cues and body language by asking my parents what they mean when I see them in a TV show. I have also gotten better at doing math in my head by doing addition with easy groupings that equal five, ten, or 15. I have tried to make many if not all of the challenges easier for me because I know they can be and I want them to be.
Sometimes I label or identify too much of myself with NVLD. This past year I have been trying to make myself realize it’s something I have and I can control. I also realize that not all my issues are related to it but the majority of them are. I’m looking at NVLD as a blessing in disguise because it makes me who I am. I have gifts from it. I have really good auditory and verbal memory. I can remember scenes from movies really well. I can also remember the songs really well. My brother and I have fun reciting scenes to each other. We even do it in the character’s voice. I can also recall people’s names and faces really well. When I used to attend summer camps in my youth I could name all of the people in the group photos that I would receive at the end of the camp.
I hope that my experience with NVLD can help inspire others who have it to do the same thing I did with my challenges. It does get easier in life if you keep at your challenges, or struggles and try to make them easier and alleviate some of the weight off your shoulders.
Jennifer
I am 24 and have NVLD. I work with my parents as an administrative assistant and have been learning a lot about myself this past year. I’ve been learning that I can do more techy work than I thought I could. I can also do more design work because I’m starting to develop an eye for it. I have gotten better at doing things on social media, marketing, and advertising events. My hobbies are knitting, downhill skiing, running, hiking, making new friends, learning, challenging myself, and helping others. I also have a podcast called Living With an Invisible Learning Challenge: livingwithnld.com.
Youtube: Jennifer Purcell
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