My name is Leila, and I was diagnosed with NVLD when I was in fifth grade. Having NVLD has made it really hard for me to do a lot of things. I’ve struggled with math since I was a child, and I still can’t ride a bike like all my other friends. I cannot tell the difference between sarcasm and literal things, and it’s super frustrating to me when my friends don’t understand, or when I misinterpret what they say. It sometimes makes me feel too sensitive or disconnected from others.
I feel like I am so much more different than people, like everyone is speaking a different language, and I am trying to learn that whole new language as I live every day. Sometimes it can feel like I’m dumb, or that something is seriously wrong with me. It is so nice to see a whole community of people who are just like me, and it makes me feel not so different anymore. I hope one day I can feel normal, like everyone else. The truth is, ever since I was a little girl, I haven’t felt normal. I have always felt like there is just something off about me, and I never really understood why. Sometimes, I still don’t understand. NVLD doesn’t mean just being bad at math or bad at talking, it’s this whole thing and dilemma that goes on in our brains. It’s overthinking and overanalyzing every conversation we had, trying to figure out if we said something wrong. It’s being frustrated when we can’t do things that other people our age can do. It’s comparing yourself to every individual on the planet, wondering where you went wrong. To anyone reading this with NVLD, you’re not alone. I feel you and see you, and we can get through this and grow into amazing people.
Leila
My name is Leila. I am a high school student struggling with the challenges of NVLD.
