Beyond the words: Dyslexia – a stigma? Or a superpower?

Part of why I'm drawn to write about dyslexia now is because, like many, I grew up not understanding why learning felt so difficult or why I struggled with reading and writing. At the time, there was little awareness or language to explain what I was experiencing. The stigma attached made me feel isolated and less capable. It wasn't until later that I understood I was living with dyslexia, a different way of processing the world, not a deficit. It's estimated that up to 1 in every 10 people in the UK has some degree of dyslexia, yet so many go through life feeling alone in their struggles.

I hope this article can bring hope to others who feel stuck or misunderstood, including those who are neurodivergent. Despite the challenges, I have found ways to achieve things I once thought were out of reach. By breaking through the stigma of dyslexia, I've discovered and embraced my creativity and unique self-expression, along with many other tools and strengths that it helped me develop.

In exploring dyslexia, it's important to recognise the empowering viewpoint shared by Ronald D. Davis in The Gift of Dyslexia. Davis highlights that dyslexia is not merely a learning difficulty but a unique way of thinking, a different kind of intelligence that brings creative problem-solving and inventive strengths. This perspective can help break down stigma, encouraging those with dyslexia to see their brains not as flawed, but as gifted in distinct and valuable ways.

This article is for anyone who has felt that same confusion, frustration, or shame, and for those who want to understand how dyslexia shapes identity, self-esteem, and the challenges people face in a world designed for a different kind of learner.

How dyslexia shows up in our lives

For many people, the word dyslexia brings to mind trouble with reading or spelling. But for those who live with it, it's rarely just about letters on a page. It's about what those letters and our struggles with them whisper to us about who we are, what we're worth, and how safe we feel to be seen.

In my therapy room, I meet people who carry anxiety, low self-worth, shame, and exhaustion, and underneath, sometimes unspoken, sits something like dyslexia. Often undiagnosed for years, or brushed aside as 'just not trying hard enough' by teachers or family, its real impact is rarely only academic. It weaves itself deep into how people see themselves.

One client told me how she would feel terrified at school if asked to read aloud in English. Just the possibility filled her with dread and anxiety, not because she wasn't bright, but because she knew how exposed she would feel if she stumbled or got stuck on a word. Many grew up hiding their struggles out of fear of being humiliated. Some remember teachers who, through lack of understanding, could be cruel, calling them lazy or careless, not seeing the silent panic and effort beneath the surface. Peers, too, could label them as 'stupid' or 'slow'. These messages sink in young and can echo for decades.

Teachers themselves are often under-resourced and unsupported, unsure how to help students with dyslexia, ADHD, or other neurodiverse ways of learning. Without the right knowledge, they can easily misinterpret signs of struggle as lack of effort or bad behaviour, when in reality, these children are working harder than anyone realises just to keep up.

Today, though, there is much more awareness around neurodiversity and dyslexia than there used to be. Many schools have dedicated SENCOs (Special Educational Needs Coordinators), and children are more likely to be assessed early through tools like PATOSS dyslexia tests and other evaluations. While there is still progress to be made, this growing understanding means more young people can get the right support sooner, helping them thrive rather than struggle in silence.

It's this hidden cost, the quiet battles behind the classroom door, that so often brings people to therapy later in life. They come wanting relief from anxiety or shame, but at the heart of it is the same old story: a fear of not being good enough, of being 'found out' or falling behind.

Finding understanding and new paths

While the early messages about dyslexia can be painful, they don't have to be the end of the story. I've seen how powerful it is when someone begins to understand their struggles in a new light, not as a personal failing, but as a different way of being that deserves compassion and curiosity.

Part of this work is helping people notice the harsh inner voice they carry, the one that still calls them 'lazy' or 'not good enough,' and gently question where that voice came from. Often, what feels like a flaw is really a sign of how hard they have worked to fit into a neurotypical system that wasn't built for their way of thinking.

When we can loosen that old identity, the belief that there is something wrong with us, it makes space for what's always been there underneath: creativity, big-picture thinking, problem-solving, unique forms of self-expression. So many well-known figures with dyslexia remind us what's possible when the inner critic steps aside. Richard Branson, for example, often talks about how his dyslexia helped him see opportunities others missed, turning what was once seen as a weakness into one of his greatest business strengths.

At its heart, neurodiversity means recognising that minds work differently and that difference is not a defect, but a natural and valuable part of being human. If society can truly understand this, and if those who are neurodivergent can see it in themselves, we start to relieve shame and open the door to acceptance. We stop asking people to squeeze into boxes that don't fit and instead make room for all the ways brilliance shows up.

Therapy can help people reconnect with these hidden strengths. By unpacking old shame and meeting themselves with more kindness, they often discover a freedom to reach for things they once thought were out of reach, not despite their differences, but because of them.

Supporting neurodiversity in society

Understanding neurodiversity means recognising that every mind works differently, and that difference should be welcomed, not judged. Society has an important role in creating spaces where neurodiverse people feel seen, supported, and valued.

This means schools, workplaces, and communities learning more about conditions like dyslexia, ADHD, and others so they can respond with empathy and practical support, rather than misunderstanding or stigma.

When we broaden our awareness and embrace diversity in how people think and learn, we build a world where everyone has a chance to thrive. This collective effort makes it easier for individuals to step into their full potential, free from shame and fear.

Embracing the gift of dyslexia

We are all beautifully unique in our appearance, our experiences, and most profoundly, in our minds. Each mind carries a different piece of a vast jigsaw puzzle. When these pieces come together, they create a rich and vibrant picture far greater than any one piece alone.

So, what does your piece look like? How do you speak to yourself about your dyslexia? Is it a challenge you quietly battle, or can you start to see it as a strength, a part of your unique puzzle that brings something valuable and irreplaceable to the world?

Think of the many who have walked this path before you: thinkers like Einstein, creators, actors, and entrepreneurs who thrived not in spite of dyslexia, but because of the unique ways their minds worked. Their stories remind us that dyslexia can be a gift, a different way of seeing, solving, and expressing that might just be your superpower.

As you continue your journey, remember: your mind's difference isn't a flaw. It's a vital piece of the puzzle that helps build a more diverse, creative, and compassionate world. Embrace your piece and let it shine.