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The Catch-22 of Neuro-Diversity: All Who "WONDER" are NOT LOST

3/4/2022

Aurora -- Temporary High

I've always been quite affected by Songs and Lyrics --but I'm not really a musician --- although I was writing song lyrics in 3rd grade (mainly stringing together Cher's song titles and performing them in class).
I remember my husband the guitar player commenting: "Oh, you're one of those people who listen to lyrics --- I listen mainly to the chords."
And my response was pretty much --- "Yeah, I listen to the lyrics you freak --- like 'NORMAL' people."
One of the reasons I paired Aurora with Judeo's Reaction was because Judeo was ASSUMING that EVERYONE who heard Aurora sing "Temporary High" ---- got the SAME enormous amount of information that Judeo got in less than 5 minutes.

Vibes with Judeo

We are PROCESSING the World DIFFERENTLY.

One of many Catch-22s of various forms of Neuro-Diversity and Sensory Processing is:

The more you're processing, the more PATTERNS you are going to pick up ---
- That at least has the potential for NEW UNDERSTANDINGS --- and quite frankly probably the LIKELIHOOD of NEW UNDERSTANDINGS.

BUT we may assume "EVERYONE" gets "it" when they don't.

Further, "it" may not be the same for me as it is for you.

The Fog of Neuro-Diversity

3/4/2022

Neuro-Diverse: I'm too smart to have Executive Functioning Differences or Deficits

Neuro-Typicals (sometimes Mental Health Professionals): I shouldn't have to put with people with Executive Functioning Differences or Deficits.

Val's Take

The changing paradigms in MENTAL HEALTH are largely the result of working our way back in the CHAIN of CAUSALITY.

There is much greater recognition at least in the research that NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION and DISORDERS are Associated with PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS.

This brings up our ideas and understandings of INTELLIGENCE and SENSORY PROCESSING.
- What is so interesting about NEURO-DIVERSE youtubers ---- they were often either
  - Treated as IDIOTS as kids or
  - IDENTIFIED as "GIFTED"

AND quite frankly depending upon what you're focusing on BOTH can be true---
- at the SAME TIME, in the SAME PERSON

It is this ASYNCHRONY and COMPLEXITY that is often so CONFUSING.
- Understanding that COMPLEXITY is one of the KEYS to getting a handle on our MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS ---
- Because CURRENTLY:
  - Some Neuro-Diverse people "think" they are TOO SMART to have significant executive functioning challenges ---
  - AND Neuro-Typicals (including many in the Mental Health Profession) --- are sometimes trying to turn Neuro-Diverse people into Neuro-Typicals to DISASTROUS EFFECT.

REAL LIMITS

Many of the "GIFTS" of Neuro-Diversity are the RESULT of Neuro-Plasticity and Hyper-Connected Brains that are pretty much RUNNING AT CAPACITY ALL THE TIME.

The REASONABLE Neuro-Diverse Person

The "Objective" Reasonable Person Standard with Standard Executive Functioning just isn't going to work for many Neuro-Diverse People.
- They need more breaks
- They may have ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES
- They may have SHORT TERM MEMORY ISSUES
- They are more subject to OVERWHELM
- They are more subject to BURNOUT
- The consequences of the BURNOUT are MORE SERIOUS ---
- At the SAME TIME, they often have STRENGTHS that need to be exercised at a surprisingly HIGH LEVEL to maintain MENTAL HEALTH.

It is pretty hard to manage this by accident.

Aspergers from the Inside
Why So Tired? How Sensory Processing Effects Executive Function

This issue of how Sensory Processing Effects Executive Functioning is a FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE in NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL and PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS.

I would submit that Paul --- the mild-mannered Australian Aspie Engineer --- actually has a lot in common with many people who might be HOMELESS or JUSTICE-INVOLVED with NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL and/or PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS that are struggling with:

Emotional Regulation
Sensory Processing, and
Executive Functioning more generally

I think it is so IMPORTANT --- NOT to get HUNG UP on the DIAGNOSTIC CATEGORIES --- which were our best attempt to understand this stuff BUT are CRUMBLING BENEATH OUR FEET.

THESE CATEGORIES are BLURRED --- the important thing is the UNDERLYING BIOLOGY which involves SHARED GENES ACROSS "DISORDERS," DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION, EPIGENTICS and ENVIRONMENT.

When We're Talkin' NEURO-DIVERSITY --- We're Talkin' NEURO-DIVERSITY

2/22/2022

I think one of the GREAT GIFTS of NEURO-DIVERSITY is revealing UNDERLYING COMMONALITIES and NEEDS of people who might perceive themselves as OPPOSITES.

People NEED their Talents developed and recognized
People can't IGNORE their WEAKNESSES --- but they may need help in dealing with them.
People are NOT Perfect --- and if they are spending a lot of time "MASKING" that takes a toll.
If the price of admission to the COMMUNITY is a PRETENSE of PERFECTION --- that is going to have CONSEQUENCES for the INDIVIDUAL and the SOCIETY.

On the one hand, you could look at our CELEBRITY CULTURE and say how ridiculous, crass and stupid it is.

On the other hand, we're really trying to UNDERSTAND the COMPLEXITY of the PERSON ---- where all the positive traits and all the negative traits are not going together.

It's a lot about GROWING UP.

Aspergers from the Inside

High Functioning Autism --- It is NOT what you think.

(Takes on the 70 IQ to argue for more understanding and "HELP" for NEURODIVERGENT PEOPLE with higher IQs.)

Val's Take: I think as more and more people are aware of Executive Functioning Differences and their relationship to NEURO-DIVERSITY and NEURO-DIVERSITY's relationship to PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS ---
we're going to start taking "HIGH FUNCTIONING NEURO-DIVERSITY" a lot more seriously.

A lot of people who are HOMELESS and JUSTICE-INVOLVED are NEURO-DIVERSE with IQs above 70.

We've got to start educating ourselves and others ---- and that's the message of so many NEURO-DIVERGENT Youtubers. See the Neurodivergent Rebel below.

These understandings have to make it to our SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEMS and our POLICYMAKING.

There is so much that NEURO-DIVERSITY has to offer ---- BUT this can't be done in IGNORANCE.

Neurodivergent Rebel
Setting Healthy Boundaries

Val's Take: There is so much EDUCATION that needs to go on to get a CRITICAL MASS of people who can address these NEURODIVERGENT issues.

My experience is there's NOBODY in the room who understands these issues -- & I didn't either. Further, people aren't fitting neatly into the CURRENT CATEGORIES --- so it can take a long time to get that DIAGNOSIS that is fairly SIMPLISTIC for the REALITY.

Most of this is driven by DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION and that tends to be INDIVIDUAL.

Neuro-Diversity in the Workplace: Is It A Blessing or a Curse?

2/13/2022

If done CONSCIOUSLY --- it can be a BLESSING --- If not, the ROAD TO HELL WAS PAVED WITH GOOD INTENTIONS

The inset to the right is a Survivor of the 1972 Andes Plane Crash.

The survivors were given WRONG DIRECTIONS --- and ultimately resorted to CANNIBALISM to SURVIVE.

One of the things that many --- OUT-GROUPS come to realize is that IN-GROUPS are CANNABALIZING them --- meaning IN-GROUPS are using people in OUT-GROUPS to:

Prop up their own egos;
Serve as a buffer from the bottom of the social heap: and
Strengthen Ties Among the "In-Group"

Of course, if you're in a HIERARCHICAL SYSTEM, without REAL INCLUSIVITY --- we're NOT RECOGNIZING that EVERYONE has STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES --- then the POWER to DEFINE is going to DEFINE that OUT-GROUP to the BOTTOM OF THE SOCIAL HEAP.

I think the IN-GROUP(s) may have some PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY because a lot of this is UNCONSCIOUS --- BUT it is NOT UNCONSCIOUS to People in the OUT-GROUP(s).

So when we think about NEURO-DIVERSITY ---- at least 4 Groups need to be IDENTIFIED --- and interestingly they are often considered OPPOSITES:

People who didn't do well in SCHOOL and had EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING ISSUES;
People who did great in SCHOOL and had EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING ISSUES;
People at the TOP of this SOCIETY with EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING ISSUES;
People at the BOTTOM of this SOCIETY with EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING ISSUES.

So in our SOCIETY --- what are the GO-TO EXPLANATIONS for the UNDER PREFORMERS --- well, they just didn't APPLY THEMSELVES, they didn't work hard enough--- or they just don't have the TALENT --- they don't have what it takes .

However, I would submit if you really start INVESTIGATING this --- IT IS MUCH MORE COMPLICATED.

So WRONG DIRECTIONS ---
- What we're often not taking into account is that the person is BENEFITTING from SUPPORTS in the ENVIRONMENT that are MASKING or MAKING IRRELEVANT these EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING ISSUES.

So for someone like myself, my DAD wasn't doing my homework for me --- BUT
- He was a lover of STRUCTURE and ORDER --- not in a pathological way ---
  - It drove me crazy sometimes but it allowed me to THRIVE ---
  - Further, I didn't really know what CRAZY was or how much I depended on that SUPPORT until it wasn't there.
  - Further, even my father didn't realize how much I was dependent on that SUPPORT.

Additionally, all this STRUCTURE & ORDER was paired with unparalleled
- COACHING,
- CHEERLEADING and
- an APPRECIATION of INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES--- it's a RARE COMBINATION --- it wasn't perfect but it allowed me to thrive --- certainly in SCHOOL.

I knew I had weaknesses --- BUT they had been COMPENSATED FOR pretty EFFECTIVELY.
- What I really knew was that I had BIG STRENGTHS.

I didn't know that my WEAKNESSES could overtake me without the PROPER SUPPORT.

I think this is TRUE for people across the board.
I think it is easier to see with NEURO-DIVERSITY because the perceived (or hidden) STRENGTHS can be BIGGER and so can the perceived (or hidden) WEAKNESSES.

That ASYNCHRONY (or perhaps SYNCHRONY if properly understood) is a source of a lot of FRUSTRATION ---

Those STRENGTHS have to be addressed just as much as those WEAKNESSES through
- COACHING and
- CHEERLEADING
- NOT understanding and developing the person's STRENGTHS ends up being just as much of a problem as not understanding WEAKNESSES because ----
  - Those STRENGTHS are the FIRST LINE of COMPENSATION for the WEAKNESSES.

On the other hand, to me Bill Clinton and Donald Trump are CAUTIONARY TALES about what happens if we allow NEURO-DIVERSE people with BIG STRENGTHS and BIG WEAKNESSES to RUN AMUCK.
- Throughout history, people really have had a hard time dealing with COMLEXITY in their Leaders ---
  - the Divine Right of Kings comes to mind, and
  - JFK

BUT ultimately that is not just COMPLEXITY in the PERSON at the TOP or in the SPOTLIGHT --- it's COMPLEXITY in HUMAN BEINGS.

According to some Service Providers, many incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people have tried to START their own BUSINESSES and are interested in ENTREPEURSHIP.

In some cases the lift to SUPPORTED ENTREPRENEURSHIP may be less than the lift to SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT --- if we know what we need to COMPENSATE for and what we need to BUILD UPON.

I'm not sure it's an "UNDUE HARDSHIP" on Employers to ACCOMMODATE their NEURO-DIVERSE Employees --- but the fact of the matter is it can take a FAIR AMOUNT OF EFFORT ---
- Especially, as the PATH is BEING BLAZED.

Intensity and Burnout in Autism, ADHD & Giftedness

2/7/2022

Someone like me --- I have aspects / symptoms that look kinda like:

Autism
- Food sensitivities and pickiness
- Considerable RATIONALITY to deal with SENSORY OVERLOAD and INTENSE EMOTIONALITY
ADHD
- Interested in EXCITING things --- CRIMINAL LAW
- Sensory Overload and Intense Emotionality
- Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria -- which can probably be seen in Autism and Giftedness as well
GIFTEDNESS
- was one of 3 high school valedictorians
- graduated Top 10 Seniors at a State University
- Sensory Overload and Intense Emotionality
Tourette's
- Not exactly Tourette's but a Movement Disorder that gets triggered by INTENSE EMOTION.

So what happens if we FOCUS on the CATEGORIES in the DSM? Somebody like myself --- GETS MISSED.

That FAILURE to IDENTIFY and COMPENSATE for NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL DIFFERENCES --- has CONSEQUENCES.

However much we may be fascinated by NEURO-PLASTICITY --- our current understandings and automatic biological processes have their LIMITS ---

I would submit that the HYPER-CONNECTED BRAINS of people with PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS are PHYSICAL EVIDENCE of our current LIMITS.

Asperger's from the Inside: Avoiding Autistic Burnout

Paul asks the question --- Is it even possible to avoid BURNOUT if you are on the Spectrum?

Because the way one's brain works is ---- INTENSE FOCUS and CRASH.

Recognizing that EXTRA TIME you need to take to RECOVER is important.

Of course, the SOCIETY doesn't UNDERSTAND that --- and maybe it is hard for FAMILY AND FRIENDS to UNDERSTAND as well.

How to ADHD: What Does It Mean to Have "Burnout"

Gets into the official definition of BURNOUT and recognizes it as a SYSTEMIC MISMATCH between the PERSON and the ENVIRONMENT.

In other words --- we're not blaming the INDIVIDUAL.

Edvin Palmer: Living with Emotional Intensity - Part 1 - Intellectual Giftedness

"When people think about intellectual giftedness, they often get stuck on the intellectual part of it. But, giftedness also has an emotional component. So, in this video, I speak with openness and honesty about what it's like to live with emotional intensity."

I think a lot of "GIFTED" People think the answer is going to be to find somebody else who is INTELLECTUALLY or otherwise "GIFTED" --- and the reality is often one has just SQUARED the EMOTIONAL INTENSITY.

RELATIONSHIPS are HARD for NEURO-DIVERSE people --- you're having to work harder and so is the other person.

Neuro-Developmental Differences / Disorders are NOT Just Differences of the Brain

1/27/2022

If we didn't know that Neuro-Developmental Disorders affected the Brain and the Central Nervous System --- that would be a big problem.

We do know that even as we're resistant to the ramifications of that.

BUT what if NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS are NOT just differences and disorders of the BRAIN & CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM?

What if they are affecting MULTIPLE SYSTEMS of the BODY?

The "OPTIMISTS" among us may say --- that marginalized poor person with Neuro-Developmental Disorders should be "CONTROLLING" all this with the proper values and work ethic ------

even as the BILLION DOLLAR RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS are struggling to figure it all out.

[BTW --- I am an OPTIMIST when it comes to ULTIMATELY UNDERSTANDING and CONTROLLING for these CHALLENGES --- but it is a WORK IN PROGRESS.]

In the meantime, the POOL of people with NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL DIFFERENCES / DISORDERS seems to be steadily increasing.

Which is NOT surprising if you realize that these DIFFERENCES & DISORDERS are linked to the IMMUNE SYSTEM, MATERNAL IMMUNE ACTIVATION, EPIGENETICS and INNATE & ADAPTIVE IMMUNITY.
By way of "EXPERIMENTATION" ---- "abnormal immune systems" --- can give rise to BIG STRENGTHS and BIG CHALLENGES --- and that can be in the SAME PERSON
- which has really CONFUSED our ASSUMPTIONS and RULES of THUMB --- that all the good traits are going together and all the bad traits are going together.
- People are "SELECTING" for the "good traits" and --- when they picked up one end of the stick --- they got the other as well.

Appropriately, we can't understand "NEURO-DIVERSITY" without using CRITICAL THINKING.

We must CONSCIOUSLY address both the CHALLENGES and STRENGTHS of NEURO-DIVERSITY.

Focusing on STRENGTHS ALONE --- may not currently be enough but those STRENGTHS can MITIGATE some of the weaknesses.

Those who were sad had rapid improvements in mood when they utilized their strongest skills.

---Jan. 23, 2022

The Environment, Sensitive / Reactive Systems & Enlightened Self-interest

1/20/2022

My experience is that the SOCIAL HIERARCHIES one is in during one's lifetime can change dramatically.
Many people experience the Hierarchies in SCHOOL and ACADEMIA as significantly different in SOME RESPECTS than those found in most ADULT ENVIRONMENTS.

For many Neuro-Diverse People --- SCHOOL is a TORTURE CHAMBER

For others, SCHOOL is a DREAM COME TRUE.

If that ENVIRONMENT is "WORKING" FOR US or "WORKING GOOD ENOUGH"--- we may see its FLAWS ---
- BUT we don't have enough SKIN IN THE GAME to do the HARD WORK to CHANGE it.
- OR Stick OUR NECKS OUT to CHANGE IT.

What's the POINT?:
- DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS work for DIFFERENT PEOPLE.
- Ironically, NEURO-DIVERSE PEOPLE often find themselves on OPPOSITE ENDS of the SPECTRUM ---
  - That's a lot of what I'm trying to say with the "Odd Couple" --- Autism & ADHD --- which are surprisingly

BLURRED.
Further, NEURO-DIVERSE People tend to be CONTROL FREAKS in their own ways because they are SO SENSITIVE or REACTIVE TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

Is the Line between --- "Oh, that person is so 'PASSIONATE and SENSITIVE' to that person is 'PATHOLOGICAL and REACTIVE' " ----- really SO FINE --- or are we just OBLIVIOUS to the many steps it took to get from one to the OTHER ---

AS WELL AS the DIFFICULTY of recognizing COMPLEXITY in ourselves and others.

Nowhere is that perhaps more on DISPLAY than the "GIFTED COMMUNITY" that is having a hard time recognizing that their EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING ISSUES are DEVELOPMENTAL and BIOLOGICAL ----

which given the ASSUMPTIONS of the Society is quite understandable.

More and More --- "GIFTEDNESS" is recognized as part of NEURO-DIVERSITY.

Who we are willing to recognize as "GIFTED" is also subject to UNCONSCIOUS THINKING & UNCONSCIOUS BIAS.

A lot of "GIFTED" People are working to change that.

Frank Sinatra
That's Life

Big Chill (1983)
Rationalizations

In 1983, I was not in my 30s --- I was in my early 20s and at the TOP of MY GAME.

In less than 5 years --- I was wondering what had happened.

The Revivalists
All My Friends

(I wasn't getting HIGH --- BUT I had my first MAJOR EPISODE of DEPRESSION -- and recall feeling as though I had jumped out of a plane without a PARACHUTE -- BUT I didn't know it was DEPRESSION)

So by my late 20s -- I was already struggling ---

I had assured my Mother who had grown up during the DEPRESSION with a SINGLE MOTHER with POLIO --- that this LIBERAL ARTS MAJOR was all going to work out because I was going to LAW SCHOOL and not only that I really wanted to be a LAWYER --- and SAVE THE WORLD.

We all have SKIN IN THE GAME when it comes to CHANGING THE ENVIRONMENT

That's why it is so hard.
Ultimately, this needs to work for EVERYONE --- and that EVERYONE is DYNAMIC --- its not going to be the same in 50 years
And we're likely going to understand more in 50 years than we understand now.
Even if we don't have all the SPECIFICS of that KNOWLEDGE we can still operate under principles of the BELOVED COMMUNITY & ENLIGHTENED SELF-INTEREST in creating ENVIRONMENTS that are USER-FRIENDLY for DIVERSE USERS.

Alan Bloom on Enlightened Self-Interest

Composing to avoid Cacophony --- Understanding asynchrony

1/15/2022

It is hard to understand any BIOLOGY outside of the Environment and that's both a physical environment and a social environment.

The great MODERN ENTREPRENEURS and BENEVOLENT DICTATATORS and NOT SO BENEVELOENT DICTATORS often are NEURO-DIVERSE and if they are at the top they may feel safe to be open about that ---- Richard Branson and Elon Musk come to mind.

BUT you've really got to be at the TOP and feeling relatively INDEPENDENT --- often FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT but INDEPENDENT in other ways as well--- to be open about NEURO-DIVERSITY.

Further, NEURO-DIVERSITY is often like that ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM -- that nobody's talking about in this case --- because they don't really SEE IT or UNDERSTAND IT ---

This ASYNCHRONOUS ELEPHANT is CONFUSING to everyone --- including the person.
Further, we and individuals themselves have ASSUMPTIONS about HIGHER ORDER THINKING and its relationship to EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING --- and the experience often the PAINFUL EXPERIENCE of NEURO-DIVERSE PEOPLE is that REALITY is much more COMPLICATED than those ASSUMPTIONS.

Asynchronous Development In Gifted People

So while NEURO-DIVERSITY tends to bring with it BIG STRENGTHS which can be in HIGHER ORDER THINKING that need to be DEVELOPED, EMPLOYED and REWARDED --- it brings BIG CHALLENGES too --- often in EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING.

If you DEVELOP and REWARD those NEURO-DIVERSE STRENGTHS and OTHERS COMPENSATE for REMAINING CHALLENGES ----

that person can start to look AMAZING and probably is doing AMAZING THINGS.

--- the other hand, if you don't DEVELOP and REWARD those DIVERSE STRENGTHS and people become SOCIAL OUTCASTS because all anyone can see are the WEAKNESSES:

that person can start to look TERRIBLE, and in one or more ways probably is DE-COMPENSATING.

Take the "O Train" to get to Criminal Justice Reform in a Hurry

Jazz Academy at Lincoln Center (2020)

Music scholar Greg Thomas discusses the lasting legacy of Duke Ellington's 1943 masterwork "Black, Brown, and Beige."

One of the many interesting observations of Thomas is that Ellington composed with certain musicians in mind --- understanding their strengths and weaknesses.

That complicated challenge is what we are called on to do as a Society.

Elon Musk

WHERE THIS STARTS TO GET BLURRED:

If we set people up on a PEDESTAL --- they are going to FALL OFF --- either in their LIFETIMES or to be WITNESSED BY HISTORY
- People are NOT PERFECT --- and for some / many NEURO-DIVERSE people those BIG STRENGTHS come with some BIG WEAKNESSES.

See The Microbiome, Stress, Trauma, the Anna Karenina Principle & Justice

Most people are dealing with COMPLEX, IDIOSYNCRATIC combinations of FACTORS (most of which aren't even HUMAN --- think the MICROBIOME) that are playing out INDIVIDUALLY in this MOMENT in TIME.

Ironically, it is UNDERSTANDING the BIOLOGICAL BASIS of BEHAVIOR that argues AGAINST:
- SOCIAL HIERARCHIES and
- EUGENICS
And FOR:
- A more COMPLICATED and CHALLENGING VIEW of HUMAN STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES
- That is NOT on a WILD GOOSE CHASE for the PERFECT PERSON, but is ---
- Taking people as THEY ARE:
  - Developing, Employing & Rewarding Strengths AND
  - Compensating for Weaknesses to the best of our ABILITY

Duke Ellington Composing

It's the DIFFICULT TASK of COMPOSING with the MUSICIANS in MIND --- ALL The MUSICIANS.

Y'All MEANS ALL

And because NONE of US are PERFECT --- we MUST do this together.

Richard Branson

Neuro-Developmental Continuums, Psychiatric Disorders, Trauma, Intelligence & Sensory Processing

1/11/2022

Understanding PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS as "DISORDERS of the NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL CONTINUUM" has IMPLICATIONS.

One of the many things that has made this so DIFFICULT to tease out is even though PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS have been known to be for some time "HEAVILY GENETIC" ---- they weren't "TOTALLY GENETIC" ---

The Twin Studies were sometimes seen as saying MENTAL ILLNESS wasn't "TOTALLY BIOLOGICAL"
- I think what they were really saying was --- MENTAL ILLNESS isn't "TOTALLY GENETIC"

Further, the National Institute of Mental Health came up with a construction of GENES x ENVIRONMENT x AGE = MENTAL ILLNESS.

This was AFTER researchers had IDENTIFIED TRAUMA as being associated with MENTAL ILLNESS but BEFORE we had IDENTIFIED MATERNAL IMMUNE ACTIVATION as being associated with BOTH NEURO-DEVEPMENTAL DISORDERS and PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS.

Dr. Dawn Elise Snipes
Continuing Education Units

Neurobiological Impact of Psychological Trauma on the HPA Axis

Initially, "Oh TRAUMA -- that's 'PSYCHOLOGICAL'--- that's NOT 'BIOLOGICAL.' "

Now --- we're more likely to recognize that TRAUMA is BOTH --- "PSYCHOLOGICAL" and "BIOLOGICAL."
Most surprising it is involving the IMMUNE SYSTEM --- NOT JUST THE BRAIN. (and OTHER SYSTEMS OF THE BODY)

Automatic Brain: The Magic of the Unconscious Mind (2011)

"Over 90 percent of our daily actions are done unconsciously, an "autopilot" in our head. Automatic

"Brain takes a look at how unconscious processes steer the lives of two ordinary people, from everyday routines to life choices such as finding a partner. Featured by XIVETV."

Repurposed Genealogy

The Gifted Brain & Sensory Processing Disorder

Further, we've had SIMPLISTIC NOTIONS of INTELLIGENCE --- that have not held up in my life and I don't think I'm the only one.

So I would submit that INTELLIGENCE is not just "GENETICS" or for that matter "ENVIRONMENT" --- it is in fact closely related to INFLAMMATION that can lead to a perception of BELOW AVERAGE INTELLIGENCE or ABOVE AVERAGE INTELLIGENCE.

The Epidemic of "Misdiagnosis" of Mental Health Problems in the "Gifted" Community

High IQ & Psycho-Neuro-Immunology

PG Psych Lecture Series
D Y Patil University School of Medicine

Understanding Psychiatric Illnesses as Disorders of the Neurodevelopmental Continuum (2021)

This video is from India --- it's almost 1 hr. and 45 minutes long.

The point is really that this is more reflecting the NEW PARADIGMS regarding PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS and their relationship to NEURO-DEVELOPMENT.

National Institute of Mental Health (2018)

Big Brain: Perks & Costs

"It turns out that the bigger our brain is, the more its additional real estate is accounted for by growth in the higher thinking areas of the cortex, or outer mantle – at the expense of relatively slower growth in lower emotional, sensory and motor areas.

"This mirrors the pattern of brain changes seen in primate evolution and individual maturation – with higher-order areas showing greatest expansion.

"In the neuroimaging study of more than 3000 people, the investigators also found evidence linking these high-expanding regions to higher connectivity between neurons and higher energy consumption."

HERE'S THE CATCH-22

Our INTELLIGENCE is very much related to our abilities to take in "SENSORY INFORMATION" and find "PATTERNS."
Our BRAINS, IMMUNE SYSTEMS, MICROBIOMES, ENDOCRINE SYSTEMS, etc. ---- don't have an UNLIMITED CAPACITY to take in sensory information and process it.
The gains we have made have been over vast STRETCHES of TIME and it is not without MISTAKES.
Those MISTAKES often must be CLEANED UP by someone who hasn't been born yet.

The Star Institute is located in Centennial, Colorado

A pilot study by the STAR Institute found that the 35% of the children in one large sample (n=550) from a gifted and talented center exhibited symptoms of SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder).

This is significantly more than the 5% that pilot studies have found in the general population.

Getting Conscious & Honest about "Filling In the Gaps" in Mental Health & Law --- The Need to Make Some Revisions

12/30/2021

People do need LOYALTY and it is HARD to go 360 --- and that is what we are called on to do.

Further, sometimes it is that person who seems 180 degrees from us --- BUT often it is that person who is 1 or 2 degrees or less from us --- and we seem to be jostling for the same lane or niche.

the BRUTALITY of "INFIGHTING" is definitely there.

APPLYING this APPARENT CONFLICT between LOYALTY and SUBSTANCE and how this sometimes plays out for people who are maybe STRONGER on SUBSTANCE and WEAKER on EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING.

First, "EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING" seems more OBJECTIVE than FACIAL CONTOURS so ---
- The GROUP can generally CONSOLE THEMSELVES by saying "HEY, we're NOT UNFAIRLY DISCRIMINATING --- we're using OBJECTIVE CRITERIA."
How did this NEURO-DIVERSE person get STRONGER on SUBSTANCE?
- They probably asked a lot of questions because they had to.
  - Yeah, they don't have that AUTOMATIC FUNCTIONING to the same degree, BUT ALSO . . .
  - They need the DOPAMINE RUSH and other kind of RUSHES from SOLVING PROBLEMS --- that of necessity become MORE COMPLEX
    - we're not staying at SIMPLE ADDITION or LEARNING the ALPHABET --- we're MOVING ON.
- ACADEMIA is definitely a kind of INSTITUTION and ACADEMIC FREEDOM is IMPORTANT
  - Most people in their jobs don't have that
  - People in this COUNTRY have a RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH but they don't have a RIGHT TO A JOB.
    - MEANING --- most employment is AT-WILL --- and you can be fired for a lot less than a substantive disagreement.
    - Further --- there are these EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING ISSUES that can actually GET WORSE if you can't get SUFFICIENTLY CHALLENGED in your STRENGTHS.
- So some Neuro-Diverse People are coming in these quite ASYNCHRONOUS packages that are hard to FIGURE OUT if you're the person much less someone else.
- In our SOCIETY, NEURO-DIVERSE People at the TOP of Politics and BUSINESS are sometimes allowed to RUN AMUCK (think the US PRESIDENCY -- there are examples from BOTH DEMOCRATS & REPUBLICANS) and
  - At the BOTTOM --- NEURO-DIVERSE People are often unwittingly ABUSED and NEGLECTED.
- Now is maybe a good time when we have so many STAFFING PROBLEMS in so many areas to REALIZE that we need EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES more of a 2-Way Street and/or look at more CREATIVE OPTIONS such as SUPPORTED ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

It seemed so amazing when CAL-TECH's David Anderson was just logically explaining on his TEDx Talk why pouring psychiatric medication on billions of neural circuits globally might cause some unintended problems.

Now we're beyond BILLIONS of NEURO-CIRCUITS --- we're at TRILLIONS of MICROBIOTA --- and we're carrying around more of their genetic material than our own.

Further, those MICROBIOTA appear to be talking with our BRAINS and one of the pathways appears to be the STRESS HORMONE CORTISOL which is part of the ENDOCRINE SYSTEM.

The NECESSITY of RELIGION, REVISION --- and CONSERVATION

When I use the word "Religion" ---- I am referring to the monotheistic religions, the various spiritual paths, historical development of "Religious Beliefs" in humans which were originally not separate from other aspects of LIFE, CULTURE and ultimately "CIVILIZATION."

In addition to those meanings of "RELIGION" ---- I'm referring to the ESSENTIAL NEED to FILL IN GAPS of our IMPERFECT KNOWLEDGE.

The PARADOX of our EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE BASE is --- it also EXPONETIALLY EXPANDS our AWARENESS of how much we don't know.

SCIENCE is a wonderful thing and it does often require REVISION of BELIEFS we used to FILL IN THE GAPS ---
- BUT the IDEA that Science can OBVIATE the NEED to FILL IN GAPS --- seems DELUSIONAL, MAGICAL and even DANGEROUS THINKING.

REMEMBER: Seemingly OPPOSING IDEAS are not necessarily CONTRADICTIONS --- if you can view them in DIFFERENT RESPECTS.

Big Think
Us vs. Them Explained

There's a lot in this short video ---

RESOLVING the CONFLICT between LOYALTY and SUBSTANTIVE CONTENT is a BIG CHALLENGE for our Societies right now.

I think historically --- Societies have tended to shore up problems in the Society by focusing on an OUTSIDE ENEMY.

BUT we're not doing that AS MUCH --- but it is HIGHLIGHTING the CONFLICTS within the COUNTRY or GROUP --- and we don't always have the TOOLS to RESOLVE those.

Further, many of the ASSUMPTIONS Mental Health has on "PRO SOCIAL COMPETENCY" need to be QUESTIONED.

The ASSUMPTIONS that LAW has and MOST PEOPLE have about "BAD INTENT" need to be QUESTIONED ----

when most of the time --- if we go just 2 or 3 links back in that causal chain and more specifically get to the UNDERLYING BIOLOGY, we find:
- BRAIN INJURY
- NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER
- PSYCHIATRIC DISORDER, and/or
- A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER that is often RELATED to one or more of the above.

Image Credit: NPR --- What's a Paradigm Shift

It's hard to overstate how much of our "Mental Health Crisis" is owing to PARTIAL and INCORRECT PARADIGMS.

Right up at the TOP is FAILING to RECOGNIZE that the population of NEURO-DEVELOPMENTALLY DIFFERENT PEOPLE (generally, with more DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION) is making up the BULK of the PSYCHIATRIC POPULATION, and for that matter the SUBSTANCE USING POPULATION as well.
Further, GENES are important --- BUT they are generally SHARED across our conceptualizations of these DISORDERS

Add to GENES ---MATERNAL IMMUNE ACTIVATION, RAMPED UP POSITIVE FEEDBACK LOOPS, LESS THAN PERFECT ENVIRONMENTS and EPIGENETICS ---

And you end up with IDIOSYNCRATIC, INDIVIDUAL CHALLENGES --- that often resemble those DSM categories at some point --- BUT often don't quite fit in them -- and often more than one "DIAGNOSIS" can seem to be implicated.

I think one of the reasons the Mental Health Profession has been so SLOW on the UP-TAKE with regard to the SIGNIFICANCE and IMPLICATIONS of a scientifically INVALID DIAGNOSTIC MANUAL:

Sure they don't have anything else --- BUT by and large they they are trying to tailor their treatments to the INDIVIDUAL.

BUT if the BIOLOGY is UNKNOWN or UNCLEAR === you might fill in the gaps with the PRO SOCIAL COMPETENCY RELIGION --- that sounds INNOCUOUS ENOUGH --- and I would say maybe even NECESSARY ----

BUT --- it's NOT corresponding with the RESEARCH of the last 10 years which BUILT on all the preceding RESEARCH -- but is coming with NEW SIGNIFICANT UNDERSTANDINGS.
- By and large, more ADDITION than SUBTRACTION.
- So NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL and PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS absolutely involve the BRAIN and the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, but they also involve:
  - The IMMUNE SYSTEM,
  - The Microbiome
  - The Endocrine System
  - Etc.

-----and those Complicated Interactions.

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