Blog Archives

Energy, Employment & Flow

8/24/2022

Neuro-Diversity and the Demands on Individuals, Families & Societies to do SHORT, MEDIUM & LONG TERM PLANNING to Avoid Burnout & Breakdown

The Healthcare and Criminal Justice Costs of NOT UNDERSTANDING Neuro-Diversity are HUGE ---

BUT this turns out to be LEGITIMATELY VERY COMPLICATED.
When it comes to EMPLOYMENT/ENTREPRENEURSHIP --- Individuals, Families & Societies have a BIG INTEREST in figuring this out for the often ASYNCHRONOUS, IDIOSYNCRATIC NEURO-DIVERSE PERSON.

For me personally, I can't wait years or decades for others to keep up with my ABSTRACT THINKING --
- and it's not likely to happen.
On the other hand, others can't wait years or decades for my EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING to keep up with theirs ---
- and it's not likely to happen.

Employment Index

Strengths-Based Approach

Go With the Flow

Oasis: The Importance of Being Idle

Martin Scorcese on "Citizen Kane"
American Film Institute

"If you use a wider angle lens --- you see the walls speeding past you."

One of the things that you see often in job announcements is a requirement for "ATTENTION TO DETAIL."

That is very much a matter of NEURO-DIVERSITY.

If we get it in our heads, as we tend to do --- that this "ATTENTION TO DETAIL" is a fundamental competency or even moral issue ---

We've erected some BIG BARRIERS for a SEGMENT of the NEURO-DIVERSE population.
The irony is that the most sanctimonious people on this "ATTENTION TO DETAIL" --
- can also be quite NEURO-DIVERSE.

I think this issue of "ATTENTION TO DETAIL" that we think is so GENERIC is actually quite INDIVIDUAL and IDIOSYNCRATIC.

For me personally, I'm interested in understanding enough of the details so I understand the underlying GENERAL PRINCIPLES.

After that, I'm looking for ANOMALIES that would go to the UNDERLYING GENERAL PRINCIPLES.
I'm pretty good at understanding a system and even working individually with clients to better understand where that system may be falling apart---- BUT --
That is generally a DIFFERENT KIND OF ATTENTION TO DETAIL than most Employers are looking for.

Further, some of our traditional "ATTENTION TO DETAIL" is just silly --- BUT SOME OF IT ISN'T.

If we understand --- and we generally don't understand --- that not only we ourselves but human beings in general are only perceiving a small fraction of REALITY ---We start to appreciate the importance of DIFFERENT TYPES OF ATTENTION and SENSORY/INFORMATION PROCESSING.

I want to thank Scott Durairaj PGC, MBA with the NHS (National Health Service) England for posting this on Linkedin.

Big Gifts, Big Energy Demands, Executive Functioning Challenges & Traps for the Unwary

8/15/2022

Conjecture

People with ADHD, Autism and/or Dyslexia are often coming with some BIG GIFTS and Executive Functioning Challenges that come with perhaps understandable but often destructive reactions from others or even ourselves:

"If you can do that --- I know you can do this." OR
"Your Executive Functioning isn't up to par -- You're An Idiot."

Those BIG GIFTS are often the result of some RAMPED UP SENSORY PROCESSING that is coming at a BIG ENERGY COST.

See Asperger's From the Inside
Why So Tired? How Sensory Processing Effects Executive Function

Further, REASONING comes at a BIG ENERGY COST.

Additionally, EMOTION is a part of the Reasoning Process.

The "FATIGUE" that comes with all this doesn't necessarily look like what we're expecting ---

Further, most of the people around the world are drinking a lot of CAFFEINE ---it can RAMP UP YOUR INTELLECTUAL FUNCTIONING ---
- Unfortunately, it ramps up that STRESS RESPONSE, too.

There are some people like myself --- I have had a panic attack -- BUT if I cut out the CAFFEINE --- that goes away --- that is not true for everyone.

BUT that CAFFEINE helps my EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING --- so that's the CATCH-22
Finding that BALANCE --- has been no easy trick.
BTW --- I do take Lithium

Some studies have found that caffeine can boost concentration for people with ADHD. Since it's a stimulant drug, it mimics some of the effects of stronger stimulants used to treat ADHD, such as amphetamine medications. However, caffeine alone is less effective than prescription medications.

How Does Caffeine Affect ADHD - Healthline

See also:

"Research into how the need for energy has influenced and constrained the evolution of life"--- A Biochemist’s View of Life’s Origin Reframes Cancer and Aging.

I think ENERGY DEMANDS (which may be the result of RAMPED UP SENSORY PROCESSING & STRESS RESPONSES) are relevant to Neuro-Developmental Differences/Disorders and Psychiatric Disorders.

FREE
Florence + The Machine

I've posted this video a few times (I do love it). My take --- it is a BRILLIANT interpretation of what it feels like to be a Neuro-Diverse Person in the Modern World and probably anybody.

There's so much to this --- the Colorful happy background --- but in the foreground is her ANXIETY on a cell phone --- she looks tired and her ANXIETY is handing her a cup of coffee.

As she is running from one thing to another --- her ANXIETY is trying NOT TO SPILL THE COFFEE.

Singer Florence Welch Is Proud of Her Dyspraxia | Understood

Welch has both Dyslexia and Dyspraxia.

Caffeine, Stress and Your Health - Verywell Mind

Caffeine and stress can both elevate cortisol levels. High amounts of caffeine can lead to the negative health effects associated with prolonged elevated levels of cortisol (as in chronic stress). However, small to moderate amounts of caffeine can lift your mood and give you a boost.

Does coffee cause panic attacks?

These include coffee, sodas, tea, and energy drinks like Red Bull, Monster, Rockstar and 5-Hour Energy. All of these include stimulants that can increase your heart rate, blood pressure, triggering that fight or flight condition in your body. Without a doubt, caffeine is one of the key culprit[s] in triggering anxiety and panic attacks.

Does Coffee Cause Anxiety? - Calm Clinic

For Neuro-Diverse people with EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING DIFFERENCES in a SOCIETY that largely doesn't think it should have to ACCOMMODATE EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING DIFFERENCES----

The Traps for the UNWARY NEURO-DIVERSE person are numerous.
Further, if we have more of a CRITICAL MASS of People with an "UNDERSTANDING" of these Neuro-Developmental Differences and HOW TO TAILOR ACCOMMODATIONS and WORK-AROUNDS ---
- It is likely to become much less of an issue than it is today.

The Problematic Dynamics of Empathy, Stress & Ramped Up Sensory Processing

8/7/2022

Like I already knew this . . .

Research on Recognizing Facial Emotion Expressions Could Change Our Understanding of Autism

August 2, 2022

Summary: Autism-associated social difficulties may reflect differences that only become apparent in high-pressure scenarios and certain social interactions. The findings challenge the belief that those with ASD can’t adequately read facial emotional expressions.

Source: Flinders University

So I have never really bought this "IDEA" that people with ADHD &/or Autism couldn't read facial expressions---- I think it can be quite the OPPOSITE ---

BUT

There are PROBLEMATIC DYNAMICS --- I think it is more related to RAMPED UP STRESS RESPONSES that can get out of control.

Further, I'm fine if we want to FOCUS on EMPATHY but it's not going to get us very far if it is not the DOUBLE EMPATHY of EFFORT rather than the split-second EMPATHY of which team you're on.

I think it can be helpful to bring in this concept of REJECTION SENSITIVE DYSPHORIA which is often associated with ADHD, but I think cuts across a lot of NEURO-DIVERSITY that appears to be associated with greater Neuro-Developmental Inflammation.

Further, I don't think this issue of emotions normal in every way except INTENSITY is limited to "REJECTION."

Whether we call this "EMOTIONAL INTENSITY" associated with "Giftedness" or "EMOTIONAL DYSREGULATION" associated with a Neuro-Developmental Difference or Psychiatric Disorder ----
- Can reflect a lot of "UNCONSCIOUS BIAS"

This INTENSITY is not all a bad thing, but it is not all a good thing either.

Further, I think it can become very hard on not only those around us but on our own bodily and mental systems.

Further, if we start to consider "PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS" as related to Neuro-Developmental Differences/Disorders ---

there are more problematic dynamics.

ADHD, Autism, Bipolar Disorder, Depression and Schizophrenia are BLURRED, according to the US National Institute of Mental Health.

A particularly problematic behavior that has been associated with "BIPOLAR DISORDER" is ---

AGGRESSION as a means to stave off DEPRESSION
- “Aggression protects against the onset of major depressive episodes in individuals with bipolar spectrum disorder. Journal of Behavior Therapy (2017)

I think the problem is a lot less that people aren't sensitive --- BUT THAT THEY ARE TOO SENSITIVE.

I think that goes to some extent to explain the popularity of Mark Manson's books which I think are tapping into a counter-intuitive reality.

Flinders University --- Adelaide, Australia

Further, I think something that you hear Older Women say --- "Oh men are such babies -- they're so sensitive."

I don't think as girls and younger women we start out thinking that --- BUT I do think men are often more "SENSITIVE" and whether they are IMPLODING or EXPLODING --- it can be very problematic.

Especially, in the CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM where you often have men who are acting aggressively maybe as an unconscious way to stave off DEPRESSION---

AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE
AND Both the PREVENTION and CURE may be COUNTER-INTUITIVE.

NEURODiversity Wednesday

Energy, Employment & Flow

Big Gifts, Big Energy Demands, Executive Functioning Challenges & Traps for the Unwary

The Problematic Dynamics of Empathy, Stress & Ramped Up Sensory Processing

Neuro-Diversity
Wednesday

(with variable spellings of Neurodiversity)

Archives

Categories

​ NEURODiversity Wednesday

Energy, Employment & Flow

Big Gifts, Big Energy Demands, Executive Functioning Challenges & Traps for the Unwary

The Problematic Dynamics of Empathy, Stress & Ramped Up Sensory Processing

Neuro-DiversityWednesday(with variable spellings of Neurodiversity)

Archives

Categories

NEURODiversity Wednesday

Neuro-Diversity
Wednesday

(with variable spellings of Neurodiversity)