<![CDATA[Orchid Advocacy - Translational Love, Relationships & Neuro-Diversity Saturday]]>Sun, 27 Apr 2025 18:25:14 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Categories & Neuro-Diverse Relationships]]>Sat, 19 Apr 2025 14:30:06 GMThttps://orchidadvocacy.org/translational-love-relationships--neuro-diversity-saturday/categories-neuro-diverse-relationships
Val's Take/Conjecture
  • Myers-Briggs Personality Categories are even less accurate than the DSM, but they do give us a Vocabulary to talk about personality traits --- even if it is not wholly accurate.
  • ​It's really the same kind of thing as "The 4 Humors" or "The 5 Elements of Chinese Medicine" --- create a limited number of categories and sort an over-whelming amount of information into these more manageable categories.
I think the Bottom Line is that Neuro-Diverse people are having to work harder at relationships because they and often their partners are more idiosyncratic AND we often have less energy to manage that complexity.
  • ​Also, we're often not just trying to manage this complexity in our personal lives --- but also our work lives.
These Personality Categories at least in part are meant to get us out of "Unpredictable Chronic Stress"
  • ​Maybe it's still "Chronic Stress" --- but it's "Predictable."
  • The problem arises if the Categories aren't that accurate ---- their predictive powers are often not accurate either.
Ella Henderson
Hard Work
This is one of my very favorite songs and to me Ella Henderson NAILED IT --- of course, her partner may feel like Ella is HARD WORK, too --- 99% of the time.
Frank James
Why INFJ Ruins Relationships
James makes the point that people can throw you a curve ball and not fit into your pattern or category.
]]>
<![CDATA[Women & Neuro-Diverse Relationships]]>Mon, 17 Feb 2025 12:41:18 GMThttps://orchidadvocacy.org/translational-love-relationships--neuro-diversity-saturday/women-neuro-diverse-relationships
Val's Take/Conjecture
  • ​Neurodivergent Therapist Louise Taylor:  "EMPATHY IS ABOUT THE EFFORT"
  • Guess What:  IDIOSYNCRATIC PEOPLE TAKE MORE EFFORT
 
  • ​KEY CONCEPTS are:
    • ​Bio-Energetics, and
    • Executive Functioning
 
  • BUT we need to focus on STRENGTHS first for everyone if we're to have any hope of addressing idiosyncratic bio-energetics and executive functioning.
  • BUT just focusing on STRENGTHS is not necessarily (probably won't) get us out of the woods.​ ​
  • Ultimately we need a map of our own BIO-ENERGETICS and EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING so we can set those REALISTIC BOUNDARIES and other people will feel comfortable setting REALISTIC BOUNDARIES as well. 
  • Once everyone has REALISTIC BOUNDARIES (and most of us don't) ---- working together to create 3rd Alternatives becomes a lot easier and NO DEAL is always an option for anyone.
Julia Michaels
Issues
​​​Mark Hutton, M.A.
Listen At Your Own Risk:  Most Brutal Message to Neurotypical Wives  [& Husbands]

We are on the cusp of some much better treatments for Neuro-Developmental and Psychiatric Disorders.

Neuro-Developmental and Psychiatric  Disorders are being re-conceptualized in Immuno-Psychiatry.

​BUT --- Counselor Mark Hutton's advice is still relevant.
Dr. Louise Taylor
The Neuro-Divergent Therapist 

Neurodiversity and Empathy

Neurodiversity doesn't always look like what we think --- especially in women.

Further, these categories are not good categories --- we need those biomarkers and we're getting them.
Miley Cyrus 
Flowers
Neurodivergent Rebel --- Lyric Rivera
Why We NEED to Teach Boundaries & Consent to Autistic People
Em Beihold 
​Numb Little Bug
​Mark Hutton, M.A.
The Typical Backstory of Cassandra Syndrome
Val's Take:  I think it is telling that therapist Mark Hutton mentions "AUTO-IMMUNE DISORDERS" in the "NT Spouse" as a result of not getting her emotional needs met.

I think those "AUTO-IMMUNE DISORDERS" are another clue that "NT Spouse" may not be as neurotypical as we think.  ​
Picture
Picture
Risk of Autoimmune Disease in Research-Identified Cases of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Longitudinal, Population-Based Birth Cohort Study (2024)

Conclusion: This study provides evidence from a longitudinal, population-based birth cohort for co-occurrence of ASD and autoimmune disorders.

Thus, children with ASD should be monitored for symptoms of autoimmune disease and appropriate workup initiated.
]]>
<![CDATA[Anxiety, sex differences, Neuro-Diversity & Relationships]]>Sun, 12 Jan 2025 17:24:31 GMThttps://orchidadvocacy.org/translational-love-relationships--neuro-diversity-saturday/anxiety-sex-differences-neuro-diversity-relationships
Val's Take/Conjecture
  • In the world of Neuro-Diversity and Maternal Immune Activation (MIA), ANXIETY is one of the defining features and is present early on.
  • Further, MIA can result in intellectual disability. but it can also result in above average intellectual ability.
​That ANXIETY can also look like PANIC ATTACKS and PTSD.
Additionally, on top of that ANXIETY is often ANGER and AGGRESSION ----
  • By and large, more imploding than exploding.
Further, Maternal Immune Activation is bringing Emotional Dysregulation that may be getting worse with additional Inflammation.
​AWARENESS & KNOWLEDGE can definitely help.  I think that is the driving force behind so many Neuro-Diverse Youtubers.
  • And a common experience of what a HELL it can be not to have that awareness and knowledge.
Finally, we need better treatments for the INFLAMMATION and EMOTIONAL DYSREGULATION that often comes with Neuro-Diversity and Maternal Immune Activation.

Paul Micallef --- Autism from the Inside.
Autism & Attachment Theory

In this video, Paul proposes that some to many neurodiverse relationships involve NEURO-DIVERSE MEN and "ANXIOUS NEURO-TYPICAL WOMEN."

I would say a lot of those "ANXIOUS NEURO-TYPICAL WOMEN" (not necessarily all) are NEURO-DIVERSE --- it just doesn't look like male neuro-diversity.
Picture
​Highlights

Maternal immune activation (MIA) can impair offspring learning and memory.

MIA negatively impacts cognition in rodents.

Males are more susceptible to cognitive deficits.

Some studies show improved cognition after MIA.

Sex differences in immune responses may explain cognitive outcomes.
]]>
<![CDATA[​Anxiety As a Result of Maternal Immune Activation]]>Mon, 04 Nov 2024 11:32:24 GMThttps://orchidadvocacy.org/translational-love-relationships--neuro-diversity-saturday/anxiety-as-a-result-of-maternal-immune-activation
Val's Take/Conjecture
Communication as a result of extreme anxiety on the part of one or more family members --- is often difficult.​

How we feel about this verbal interaction is often quite dependent on who is on Defense.

If we are on Defense --- we may very much feel that:
  • Things are being blown out of proportion.
 
On the other hand, the person who identified the concern may feel that things are not being taken seriously enough.

If there are generalized anxiety issues  for one or both parties  -- getting some treatment for that is probably a good idea.

Just because someone has ANXIETY, doesn't mean their concern isn't valid

Breaking things down and getting realistic about time frames and viable solutions can help along with the anxiety treatment.
Jalen Hurts
​Win or Learn
Many Neuro-Diverse people have ANXIETY issues from the beginning and those ANXIETY issues can get worse with additional Health Issues.
]]>
<![CDATA[DUELing anxieties --- "understanding brings calm"]]>Tue, 08 Oct 2024 18:20:30 GMThttps://orchidadvocacy.org/translational-love-relationships--neuro-diversity-saturday/dueling-anxieties-understanding-brings-calm
Val's Take/Conjecture
  • There's a lot of "Do As I Say, Not As I Do" in this.
  • So in relationships with spouses/partners and kids --
    • Everyone may be fairly "HIGH ANXIETY" and fairly "INTENSE"
      • But the STYLE, can be very different from SHUTDOWNS to MELTDOWNS and various COMBINATIONS.
  • Often we're asking someone to CHANGE something that is not going to be very easy for that person to change or they are asking us to CHANGE something that is not going to be very easy to change.
    • Whatever the issue is, we may have to move from TRY HARDER to TRY SMARTER.
    • Further, we probably need to just anticipate that we're needing to work on "THIRD ALTERNATIVES" that reasonably take into account everyone's needs.
  • So Lightheartedness and Humor can help a lot.  Having been on both sides of this, we need to be careful that someone isn't laughing on the outside and crying on the inside.
  • AND it's surprising how often INTENSE folks might welcome a break and a chance to RELAX.
  • Finally, we do generally appreciate "UNCONDITIONAL LOVE" with it comes to kids.
  • We're a little more "TRANSACTIONAL" when it comes to our romantic partners and spouses.
  • Neuro-Diverse folks are probably going to face SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES and BEHAVIOR CHANGES --- sooner than most just because we are often carrying a heavier INFLAMMATORY LOAD (even though we often didn't know it at the time).
    • We're on the cusp of being able to screen for issues we haven't been able to screen for in the past.
Understood

ADHD, Dyslexia Advice for Kids: Try Smarter, Not Try Harder
Picture
Guidance for 2e Kids & Adults
Cont.

  • These very serious health issues are hard for the person to deal with much less their spouse.
  • I was very lucky that in 2006 when I had a psychotic break --- Rick knew what to do.
  • When Rick was having his annoying cough --- I didn't know what to do and it would be years until he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer and numerous brain lesions.
  • We were quite a pair and took considerable comfort in the bickering older couples on "Midsomer Murders."
  • Further, it is UNCONDITIONAL LOVE and HUMOR that help get us through some TOUGH TIMES.
  • In the words of our daughter, "We all need a little MERCY & GRACE."


]]>
<![CDATA[Neuro-Diversity, Giftedness, Over-Excitabilities and Premature Aging]]>Mon, 23 Sep 2024 13:27:03 GMThttps://orchidadvocacy.org/translational-love-relationships--neuro-diversity-saturday/neuro-diversity-giftedness-over-excitabilities-and-premature-aging
Val's Take & Conjecture
  • There's debate about the distinction between intelligence and giftedness; but certainly "giftedness" is associated with "overexcitabilities."
  • I think those "overexcitabilities" are the result at least in part of Maternal Immune Activation.
  • Further, it is highly individual and idiosyncratic.
"Hyper-excitability" in the brain is associated with Alzheimer's and Epilepsy as well as Neuro-Developmental Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders and Neuro-Degenerative Disorders

In family relationships, it can be very bewildering that this person we know to be so "smart" is struggling cognitively and/or struggling with serious fatigue.

Further, this isn't occurring in a vacuum--- there are other members of the  family as well as a pretty hyper-excitable society.
Researchers are articulating more sophisticated and nuanced views of intelligence than they have done in the past.

I think our previous simplistic views were largely due to the fact that many researchers considered themselves intelligent --- so it must be an unqualified good --- right?
 
To say "giftedness" or "intelligence" is a mixed bag is an understatement.
 
On the other hand, better understandings and approaches could greatly improve things.
Picture
These observations warrant prospective and retrospective studies of autoinflammatory markers and mechanisms to elucidate any special psychoneuroimmunological vulnerability in children with a high IQ, as such studies may raise implications for how and when prophylactic medical care is provided to children.
Picture
Abstract

Although the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders remains unclear, an emerging hypothesis contends that most of the common psychiatric disorders are rooted in an inherent hyperexcitability of the neurological system.

Particularly under the influence of stress, too many neurons fire for too long, resulting in pathologically severe and persistent symptoms such as anxiety, depression, irritability, insomnia, inattention, and obsessional thinking.

However, these symptoms are just a small sampling of the many ways that neuronal hyperexcitability can be expressed.

According to the Multi-Circuit Neuronal (MCNH) Hypothesis of Psychiatric Disorders, the trait can also be expressed as overly aggressive behavior, disruptive behavior, risky behavior, promiscuous behavior, avoidant behavior, self-injurious behavior, deviant behavior, addictive behavior, and criminal behavior.

In essence, any behavioral extreme is likely to be rooted in an inherent hyperexcitability of the neurological system.

The importance of recognizing this is that the abnormality, though highly treatable, is commonly overlooked and either mismanaged or poorly managed.

Also, there is emerging evidence that the neuronal hyperexcitability trait, which appears to be heritable as a single nucleotide polymorphism, may be detectable by simply measuring one’s resting vital signs.

If proven to be correct, these findings could incentivize carriers to develop prophylactic strategies early in life.

The importance of this is immense, not only because it could reduce the risk of developing psychiatric and substance use disorders but also because it could have a protective effect against developing any of a wide range of general medical conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer, and dementia.

This article explores the many faces of neuronal hyperexcitability in an effort to increase awareness of this highly prevalent but elusive neurophysiological abnormality.
Picture
Such aberrant activity subsequently leads to downstream accumulation of toxic proteins, and ultimately to further neurodegeneration and neuronal silencing mediated by concomitant tau accumulation.

Several neurotransmitters participate in the initial hyperexcitable state, with increased synaptic glutamatergic tone and decreased GABAergic inhibition.

These changes appear to activate excitotoxic pathways and, ultimately, cause reduced long-term potentiation, increased long-term depression, and increased GABAergic inhibitory remodelling at the network level.

Brain hyperexcitability has therefore been identified as a potential target for therapeutic interventions aimed at enhancing cognition, and, possibly, disease modification in the longer term.
Picture
Picture
In pathology, an abnormal excitation-to-inhibition (E/I) ratio leads to neuronal hyperexcitability and network hyperactivity, constituting the basis for epilepsy and subsequent cognitive dysfunction, and is associated with many neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, and psychiatric diseases.
]]>
<![CDATA[Sex Differences in Neuro-Diversity]]>Sat, 17 Aug 2024 22:55:54 GMThttps://orchidadvocacy.org/translational-love-relationships--neuro-diversity-saturday/sex-differences-in-neuro-diversity
Val's Take
  • One of the things one often sees on YouTube with regard to Men with "Autism" and relationships --- there is this idea of the "Neuro-Typical" Spouse.
  • Now, I'm not saying that doesn't exist --- BUT I think often times the "Neuro-Typical" Spouse is not necessarily neuro-typical but is more of a "female version" of ADHD or Autism or some combination.
  • Further, these categories are BLURRED and people are not neatly fitting into them.  [Shared Genes and Psychiatric Disorders]
]]>
<![CDATA[The Perils of Using "Reasonableness" &/or Past Experience as a STAND-IN for "I Don't Know"]]>Mon, 11 Dec 2023 12:01:17 GMThttps://orchidadvocacy.org/translational-love-relationships--neuro-diversity-saturday/the-perils-of-using-reasonableness-or-past-experience-as-a-stand-in-for-i-dont-know
Picture
Val's Take
  • Executive Functioning, Metabolic Differences, Ramped Up Stress Responses, Speech Gifts and Deficits, etc.
AND
  • Some BIG SUBSTANTIVE STRENGTHS

[Hyper-Sensuality--- is part of Neurodiversity and it doesn't necessarily look like what one might expect.

   I think the Denver Art Museum's Sinners, Saints, Lovers & Fools --- gets pretty close to the truth ---
there's nothing quite like being Hyper-Sensual and Hyper Self-Conscious at the same time.]


Executive Functioning Differences
  • My own belief is that many of these EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING DIFFERENCES are driven by the DEMANDS OF GREATER PROCESSING:
    • Short Term Memory Issues
    • Planning
    • Decision-making
    • Organizational Issues
    • Emotional Regulation
      • Those HYPER-CONNECTED LOGICAL BRAINS are ironically requiring special care to avoid MELTDOWNS, PANIC ATTACKS, BURNOUTS and/or BREAKDOWNS
    • And just to make it more fun --- this is coming in all kinds of COMBINATIONS.


Past experience of most people would say ---- MOST PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THESE ISSUES
  • Therefore, if you do have these issues --- IT IS NOT REASONABLE
  • AND/OR --- you can't have any really big STRENGTHS OR TALENTS
  • For the ASYNCHRONOUS PERSON DEPENDING WHERE THEY HAVE LANDED in the SOCIAL HIERARCHY and what their STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES actually are and what the ENVIRONMENT is like---
    • May believe they are BETTER than other people
    • WORSE than other people
    • That some people are just BETTER and WORSE than other people.
CLARENCE DARROW in his 1903 address to the inmates of Cook County Jail in Chicago --- now recognized as probably the largest Mental Health Institution in the country:
  • "In one sense we're all equally good and equally bad --- we all do the best we can under the circumstances."
Picture
At some point, I think Stanford Professor Robert Sapolsky's 2017 book "Behave" is going to be one of the milestones and privotal events in the process of changing our understanding of human behavior.
I would say there are at least 4 BIG CATEGORIES of "CIRCUMSTANCES" people are contending with:
  • one's own biology (which is NOT ALL HUMAN btw)
  • the biologies of the people around them (again NOT ALL HUMAN)
  • the social environment
  • the physical environment (including toxins)

and these CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES  impact OUR BIOLOGIES.
Beyond that --- IT'S NOT JUST THE BRAIN, IT'S NOT JUST "NEURAL."
Neuroscientist & Author Antonio Damasio
It is really from having been surrounded by ASYNCHRONOUS PEOPLE all my life that I know there are SOME BIG STRENGTHS, SOME BIG WEAKNESSES --- and they are:
  • NOT THE SAME
  • they are INDIVIDUAL
]]>
<![CDATA[Slowing Down to Manage High Reactivity and an ISR** ---- an Integrated Stress Response]]>Sat, 06 May 2023 00:16:02 GMThttps://orchidadvocacy.org/translational-love-relationships--neuro-diversity-saturday/slowing-down-to-manage-high-reactivity-and-an-isr-an-integrated-stress-response
Conjecture
  • Part of this is really not only giving ourselves permission to do this --- but others as well.
    • But we do need to get our own OXYGEN MASK ON.
 
  • Right now managing having MORE REACTIVE CELLS and HYPER-CONNECTED BRAINS is pretty difficult and complicated.
    • I don't think that is always going to be the case.
Picture
Affliation
  • Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
The amygdala integrates and processes incoming information pertinent to reward and to emotions such as fear and anxiety that promote survival by warning of potential danger.

Basolateral amygdala (BLA) communicates bi-directionally with brain regions affecting cognition, motivation and stress responses including prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, nucleus accumbens and hindbrain regions that trigger norepinephrine-mediated stress responses.

Disruption of intrinsic amygdala and BLA regulatory neurocircuits is often caused by dysfunctional neuroplasticity frequently due to molecular alterations in local GABAergic circuits and principal glutamatergic output neurons.

Changes in local regulation of BLA (Basolateral Amygdala) excitability underlie behavioral disturbances characteristic of disorders including post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and stress-induced relapse to drug use.

In this Review, we discuss molecular mechanisms and neural circuits that regulate physiological and stress-induced dysfunction of BLA/amygdala and its principal output neurons.

We consider effects of stress on motivated behaviors that depend on BLA; these include drug taking and drug seeking, with emphasis on nicotine-dependent behaviors.

Throughout, we take a translational approach by integrating decades of addiction research on animal models and human trials.

We show that changes in BLA function identified in animal addiction models illuminate human brain imaging and behavioral studies by more precisely delineating BLA mechanisms.

In summary, BLA is required to promote responding for natural reward and respond to second-order drug-conditioned cues; reinstate cue-dependent drug seeking; express stress-enhanced reacquisition of nicotine intake; and drive anxiety and fear.
University of Michigan School of Medicine
Bipolar Disorder associated with MORE REACTIVE CELLS.

PBS Great Performances
Schumann believed to have Bipolar Disorder

University of Virginia School of Medicine
Immune System may have a large role in Social Behavior

Autism from the Inside
TRAUMA & CONSENT

This does need to be considered in personal relationships.

This is also complicated when we're talking about EMPLOYMENT and PUBLIC POLICY.

And Neuro-Diverse --- Highly Reactive People --- are often represented throughout our Economic & Political Spectrums.

]]>
<![CDATA[NEURO-DIVERSITY:  DEFICIT or EXCESS?]]>Tue, 21 Mar 2023 16:25:13 GMThttps://orchidadvocacy.org/translational-love-relationships--neuro-diversity-saturday/neuro-diversity-deficit-or-excess
When We're Talkin' Neuro-Diversity --- Whether it is a DEFICIT or an EXCESS Depends on How You Look At It

Further, Neuro-Developmental Inflammation can come in all kinds of "PACKAGES" ---
  • We need Authentic Relationships in which people feel comfortable setting and maintaining IDIOSYNCRATIC BOUNDARIES
  • That is going to FEEL more "REASONABLE" if we have BIOMARKERS.

People are getting more familiar with SENSORY ISSUES:
  • When I was a kid "PICKY EATING" was just "PICKY EATING" --- now it is often associated with AUTISM.
    • My poor mother was stuck with a child that routinely cried at the table if requested to try any new foods and it was quite melodramatic --- My mom --- "Give me strength just get through dinner."
    • My Dad I think as a child and even to some extent into adulthood had some of his own picky eating ---- although not to my extent --- so I was never forced to eat anything --- they tried the always popular "Just Try It Once"  --- but I rarely did.
      • I'm still the "PICKIEST EATER" in my family . . . even my kids aren't as "PICKY" as I am.

BUT there are OTHER SENSORY ISSUES with SMELL and SOUND --- and I'm often the one saying, "Give me a break."
  • BUT if I don't respect those SENSORY ISSUES --- I generally live to regret it.
Now just to COMPLICATE this a little ---- DO I MASK --- yes ---- EVEN IF all the MASKS came down I wouldn't look like the person we TRADITIONALLY think of with "AUTISM."
There are PEOPLE and FACES at the TOP of the ORCHID website pretty much everyday ----
  • Because that is WHAT I LIKE TO LOOK AT --- AUTHENTICALLY.
Kings College London
Thinking Twice About ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder


Talk delivered by Professor Patrick Bolton, Professor of Child & Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of  Psychology, Psychiatry & Neuroscience
I want to go even further with this:  AUTISM and ADHD are BLURRED CATEGORIES ---
  • EVEN FURTHER --- they are NOT GOOD CATEGORIES.
  • This appears to really be about COMMON GENES and MATERNAL IMMUNE ACTIVATION that can be very INDIVIDUAL.
If all we've got are SYMPTOM CLUSTERS AND WE DON'T KNOW ANY BETTER--- we go with SYMPTOM CLUSTERS ----
  • BUT the RESEARCH is painting a MUCH MORE COMPLICATED PICTURE ---
  • We're trying to get those BIOMARKERS which I think are going to involve NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION and it's IDIOSYNCRATIC EFFECT on MULTIPLE SYSTEMS OF THE BODY ----
It's quite a tale of the INDIVIDUAL and the SOCIETY --- because no individual could figure this out by themselves ---- and what we're finding is enormous INDIVIDUALITY. 
]]>