I get many suggestions from readers about what to write my columns on, and this was one of them. Not being left-handed myself, I realised I’d never really thought much about the challenges or difficulties that might come with being a left-hander in a predominantly right-handed world. So, I wanted to share some of my learnings after reading some of the research and talking to left-handed people about their experiences.
About 10 per cent of people are left-handed, yet most everyday objects, such as scissors, desks, can openers, coffee mugs with logos, are designed for right-handed people. Once you start thinking about it, you suddenly notice how much adapting left-handed people probably do every single day.
If you’re left-handed, you’ve likely spent your life learning little workarounds. Smudging your writing as a child. Accidentally bumping elbows at dinner tables. Using scissors that never quite work properly. One left-handed person told me they simply assumed as a child that they were “bad” at cutting things, before realising the scissors themselves were the problem. It might sound minor, but over time these experiences can reinforce the feeling of being slightly different from everybody else.
I’m interested in how feeling “different” shapes people psychologically. Not necessarily dramatically different, just enough to feel aware of it. Sometimes it’s appearance, personality, anxiety, learning style, family background, or feeling socially awkward. And for some people, perhaps it’s simply growing up left-handed in a world designed for right-handed people.
Historically, left-handedness was viewed very negatively. Children were once forced to switch hands at school because being left-handed was considered wrong, naughty, or even shameful. Thankfully, we know much better now, but it’s remarkable how uncomfortable humans can sometimes be with difference.
Research has also explored whether left-handedness is associated with certain mental health or neurodevelopmental conditions. Some studies have found slightly higher rates of ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, or mood difficulties. However, these findings are generally small and inconsistent, and they certainly do not mean there is something psychologically wrong with being left-handed. Most left-handed people are perfectly psychologically healthy and functioning well.
Researchers believe these findings may partly relate to subtle differences in how the brain develops and organises itself. Human brains vary enormously, and sometimes those variations overlap with different strengths and vulnerabilities. But difference should never automatically be confused with deficit. In fact, many left-handed people are often described as adaptable, creative, and flexible thinkers, perhaps partly because they’ve spent their lives navigating environments that don’t naturally suit them. There’s also something psychologically valuable about learning early on that there isn’t only one “right” way to approach the world. I think there’s a broader lesson in that for all of us.
Clinically, I often see people who feel they don’t quite fit the mould. They compare themselves to others and assume this means there’s something wrong with them. But human beings were never meant to all think, feel, look, or function in the same way. Sometimes the very things that make us feel different are the things that teach us resilience, adaptability, and creativity. And perhaps left-handed people learnt that long ago, probably while wrestling with a pair of right-handed scissors!
