The primary purpose of struggle pages is to serve as a practical survival guide for people experiencing difficulties in their daily lives. When someone reads “What This Feels Like” and recognizes themselves, they should be able to learn about how this struggle manifests, gain self-understanding, and discover actionable ways to channel their energy more effectively to improve their lives. The immediate coping strategies function like a survival guide for urgent moments, while long-term solutions help people reduce or eliminate the struggle from their lives entirely. All content should prioritize practical help over academic depth.
Write from lived neurodivergent experience while respecting individual variation. Use “some people find,” “many experience,” and “you might notice” rather than “you will feel” or universal statements. Avoid generalizing your patterns to all readers - neurodivergent experiences span enormous diversity, and what’s true for one person may not apply to another. Acknowledge when experiences vary significantly between individuals, conditions, or life circumstances. Present information as possibilities rather than certainties.
Reject both medical deficit language (“impairments,” “symptoms,” “dysfunctions,” “disorders”) and wellness-culture reframing (“superpowers,” “gifts,” “just wired differently,” “neurodivergent advantage”). Present neurodivergence as neurological variations that create predictable friction with systems designed for different brains. Neither pathology requiring cure nor advantage to celebrate - simply brain differences with real-world impacts that require practical accommodation and understanding.
Write clearly and directly without dumbing down content or talking down to readers. Use concrete examples, define specialized terms upon introduction, and structure information logically. Assume readers are intelligent adults who deserve straightforward information and respect their ability to understand complex concepts when properly explained. Avoid academic jargon while maintaining intellectual honesty and depth.
Describe neurodivergent struggles as genuinely difficult emotional experiences without using physical violence metaphors (“punch to the gut,” “stabbed,” “attacked”), disaster language (“catastrophic,” “devastating,” “unbearable”), or life-threatening comparisons (“survival,” “emergency,” “life-or-death”). Use calibrated language like “challenging,” “difficult,” “intense,” “very hard” that validates real struggle without suggesting imminent danger. Frame experiences as emotional discord requiring support and understanding, not crises requiring rescue. Match the internal dialogue people actually have rather than clinical extremes or dramatic interpretations.
Always attribute research claims and statistics to specific researchers, institutions, or studies rather than presenting them as established universal fact. Use phrases like “According to Dr. [Name]’s research,” “Studies by [Institution] found,” or “[Researcher]’s clinical experience suggests” rather than “Research shows” or “Studies prove.” When discussing medications, reference drug families and classes only (“ADHD stimulants,” “alpha-2 receptor agonists,” “antidepressants”) rather than specific drug names to prevent medication-seeking behavior where patients shop for doctors to prescribe specific drugs. Therapeutic interventions (like “transcranial direct current stimulation” or “cognitive behavioral therapy”) are appropriate to name specifically since patients can appropriately ask about these treatment options.
Use search terms and emotional descriptions that match how people actually think and talk about their experiences in private moments. Search terms should be 2-4 words maximum, capturing the immediate, frustrated internal dialogue (“can’t focus,” “so sensitive,” “brain won’t cooperate”) rather than clinical descriptions or lengthy explanations. Avoid dramatic escalation in describing everyday neurodivergent challenges - most struggles are chronic difficulties that require support, not acute emergencies requiring intervention.
Provide objective, neutral definitions that explain what terms mean rather than justifying behaviors or providing therapeutic perspective. Use dictionary-style language: “Procrastination: Delaying or putting off tasks until later” rather than “Procrastination: Delaying tasks not out of laziness but due to brain differences.” Focus on what the term actually means, not on making the reader feel better about experiencing it.
CRITICAL VARIATION PRINCIPLE: When creating content, intentionally vary numerical choices within allowed ranges. Do not default to maximum values. Mix it up: sometimes use 5 coping strategies, sometimes 7, sometimes 6. Use 19 jargon tooltips in one article, 23 in another. This creates more natural, less formulaic content.
What This Feels Like: Describe the phenomenon in various details so that the entire range of the struggle can be understood and people can “find themselves”. This section must use the page title within it somewhere as a jargon term. Consider ending with a “Common experiences” highlight box (semicolon-separated list of 4-6 examples), but vary endings between articles - sometimes use a different type of highlight box, sometimes end with a regular paragraph, sometimes with a particularly vivid description.
Why This Might Be Happening: Explain the differences in neurodivergent brains that cause this effect, running through the various mechanisms at play. This section commonly includes Learn More sections since the science is often strong here.
Medical Intervention: Begin with “Consider professional support if [struggle] is significantly impacting your life:” followed by a list of red flags. Include wrapping text about how medical intervention can reduce or eliminate the struggle, guiding readers to appropriate licensed care.
Validation: Begin by validating the experience, reframe the struggle as something that can be worked with rather than fought against, and highlight how the same neurological differences can be strengths in different contexts.
Learn More sections explain the science behind struggles, providing research-backed context without overwhelming the main narrative.
<div class="content-card">
<!-- All sections go inside this wrapper -->
</div>
<div class="what-section">
<h2 id="what-this-feels-like">What This Feels Like</h2>
<p>Opening paragraph with <a class="jargon">jargon term<span class="tooltip">Definition text.</span></a> embedded naturally.</p>
<p>Additional paragraphs describing the experience...</p>
<!-- Variable ending options (choose one, vary between articles): -->
<!-- Option A: Common experiences list -->
<div class="highlight-box">
<p><strong>Common experiences:</strong> First experience; second experience; third experience; fourth experience; fifth experience.</p>
</div>
<!-- Option B: Different highlight box -->
<div class="highlight-box">
<p><strong>The reality:</strong> A powerful summarizing statement about the struggle.</p>
</div>
<!-- Option C: Regular concluding paragraph -->
<p>A particularly vivid or resonant description that captures the essence of the struggle.</p>
</div>
<div class="why-section">
<h2 id="why-this-might-be-happening">Why This Might Be Happening</h2>
<p>Explanation paragraph with <a class="jargon">technical terms<span class="tooltip">Clear definition.</span></a> included.</p>
<!-- Optional Learn More section -->
<div class="learn-more">
<h3 onclick="toggleLearnMore(this.parentElement)">Learn More: Specific Research Finding ↓</h3>
<div class="learn-more-content">
<p>Research details with attribution to Dr. [Name] or [Institution]...</p>
<p>Additional research context...</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="immediate-help">
<h2 id="next-five-minutes">What Can Help You Through the Next 5 Minutes</h2>
<p>Brief intro sentence about immediate relief:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Strategy name:</strong> Detailed description of what to do right now, including any <a class="jargon">terms<span class="tooltip">Definition.</span></a> that need explanation.</li>
<li><strong>Another strategy:</strong> Clear, actionable instructions for immediate implementation.</li>
<!-- 5-8 strategies total (VARY THE COUNT) -->
</ul>
<!-- Optional highlight box for emergency kit or key tip -->
<div class="highlight-box">
<p><strong>Emergency tip:</strong> Critical information for immediate relief.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="long-term">
<h2 id="healthy-long-term-solutions">What Are Some Healthy Long-Term Solutions</h2>
<p>Introduction to sustainable approaches:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Solution name:</strong> Detailed description of long-term strategy with <a class="jargon">relevant terms<span class="tooltip">Definition.</span></a> explained.</li>
<li><strong>Another solution:</strong> Evidence-backed approach for lasting change.</li>
<!-- 5-8 strategies total (VARY THE COUNT) -->
</ul>
<!-- Optional Learn More for professional support -->
<div class="learn-more">
<h3 onclick="toggleLearnMore(this.parentElement)">Learn More: Professional Support Options ↓</h3>
<div class="learn-more-content">
<p>Information about therapies, specialists, or resources...</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="medical-section">
<h2 id="medical-intervention">When Should I Consider Medical Intervention</h2>
<p>Consider professional support if <a class="jargon">condition name<span class="tooltip">Brief definition.</span></a> is significantly impacting your life:</p>
<ul>
<li>Specific red flag or warning sign that indicates need for professional help</li>
<li>Another clear indicator that medical support would be beneficial</li>
<!-- Usually 5-8 red flags -->
</ul>
<p>Additional context about finding appropriate care...</p>
<div class="highlight-box">
<p><strong>Types of support that help:</strong> List of specific professional resources or treatment types.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="validation-section">
<h2 id="validation">You're Not Imagining This</h2>
<p>Validating paragraph acknowledging the reality of the struggle...</p>
<p>Additional validation and reframing...</p>
<p>Strength-based perspective on the neurological differences...</p>
<div class="highlight-box">
<p><strong>Remember:</strong> Final empowering message about rights and self-advocacy.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="related-struggles">
<h3>Related Struggles</h3>
<div class="struggle-tags">
<a href="/struggles/executive-dysfunction.html" class="struggle-tag">Executive Dysfunction</a>
<a href="/struggles/time-blindness.html" class="struggle-tag">Time Blindness</a>
<!-- Either 4 or 5 related struggle links (not "4-5", pick one number) -->
</div>
</div>
Jargon Tooltip (use <a> tag, not <span>):
<a class="jargon">term to define<span class="tooltip">Neutral, dictionary-style definition of what the term means.</span></a>
Learn More Section (onclick on h3, not div):
<div class="learn-more">
<h3 onclick="toggleLearnMore(this.parentElement)">Learn More: Specific Topic ↓</h3>
<div class="learn-more-content">
<p>Detailed information with research attribution...</p>
<p>Can include <a class="jargon">jargon<span class="tooltip">Definition.</span></a> within learn more content.</p>
</div>
</div>
Highlight Box:
<div class="highlight-box">
<p><strong>Label:</strong> Important information that needs to stand out from regular text.</p>
</div>
<a> tags: Not <span> tags - this enables better accessibility| relative_url filter---
layout: struggle
title: "Page Title"
subtitle: "Descriptive subtitle"
description: "SEO meta description (150 chars max)"
slug: page-slug-name
condition: autism # adhd/autism/bipolar/bpd/ocd
# Tag System (Mandatory)
tags:
experience: [stuck, frustrated] # 1-2 tags from experience list
functional: [organization, energy] # 1-2 tags from functional list
context: [work, pressure] # 1-3 tags from context list
condition: [autism] # MUST match the condition field above
# Content Management (Mandatory)
status: published # published/draft - for staging/kill switches
featured: false # true/false - for main page curation
# SEO Optimization (Mandatory)
search_terms: ["user language searches", "frustrated phrases", "problem descriptions"]
---
Keep them SHORT: 2-4 words maximum. People type short, frustrated queries, not descriptive sentences.
Include 6-8 SHORT terms per page - what someone types when they’re struggling right now, not how they’d describe it to a therapist later.
CRITICAL PRINCIPLE: TOC is autogenerated by layout - do NOT include in individual struggle page content.
Navigation is handled by layout using CSS Grid for perfect center alignment regardless of button text length.
<a> tag and tooltip class<a> structureWhen asked to “update according to standards,” run through EVERY item on this checklist systematically. Do not focus only on mentioned issues - verify ALL standards compliance.
/conditions/[condition-name].html/struggles/[struggle-name].html/toolkits/[toolkit-name].htmlWhen creating struggle pages, always provide interactive code artifacts with type “application/vnd.ant.code” and language attribute. The user needs to be able to interact with and copy/paste code for project cohesion.