Adapting flow to neuro-diversity

• I think it is fairly well established at this point that various types of neuro-diversity can have benefits.
• What I'm really riffing off of is Malcolm Gladwell's idea of the beneficial adversity.
• I think that has been taken to PERVERSE EXTREMES in our society and goes a long way to explaining HOMELESSNESS and INCARCERATION.
• I'm going to be tying this in with ideas of "FLOW." 

Benefits of Neurodiversity: 
Dyslexia, Autism, & ADHD

​I'm not using Facebook as much as I once did --- that really happened before the latest scandals.  But when I was prioritizing Facebook --- one of the issues that would come up would be:  "IF IT DOESN'T KILL YOU, IT MAKES YOU STRONGER."

A number of people took issue with that --- pointing out it could kill you and even if it didn't kill you --- it could weaken you to such a point as to make your life miserable.

Some of these BROMIDES ("trite and unoriginal ideas or remarks, typically intended to soothe or placate") do tend to inhabit the MENTAL HEALTH WORLD and have often done so out of necessity due to GAPS IN THE KNOWLEDGE BASE.

Further, it is where I think one gets the PRO SOCIAL COMPETENCY RELIGION that has grown up over the last few decades and is very much tied to "PERSONALITY DISORDERS."

ADVERSITY and IGNORANCE

• A lot of the ADVERSITY that NEURO-DIVERSE children and adults face is a result of SOCIETAL IGNORANCE.
• That IGNORANCE for Children is not as bad as it once was, BUT there is a long way to go.
• For NEURO-DIVERSE ADULTS who did not get identified as Children it can turn into a LIVING HELL and set the stage for COMPLEX TRAUMA.
  • ​Nothing like a little COMPLEX TRAUMA to motivate you, right?
• "GIFTEDNESS" is a part of NEURO-DIVERSTIY and it's not that surprising.  What is surprising is that "GIFTEDNESS" often comes with EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING DIFFERENCES.
  • ​"This doesn't look SMART, but it must be SMART because we're SMART."
• ​It is appearing that the great bulk of people with PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS are NEURO-DIVERSE
  • ​Came with a lot of DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION,
  • And took on even more "INFLAMMATION" as a result of EPIGENETIC changes to the IMMUNE SYSTEM.
• The DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD for NEURO-DIVERSE People is that they are BIOLOGICALLY MORE SENSITIVE and that is FUELING some of their GIFTS.
  • ​On the other hand, it is FUELING ADDITIONAL INFLAMMATION that might be greater for the NEURO-DIVERSE person than it would be for the NEURO-TYPICAL person from the same SOURCE of INFLAMMATION.
• So positing a lot of ADVERSITY for NEURO-DIVERSE people to PULL THEMSELVES UP BY THEIR BOOTSTRAPS is probably going to FAIL more than it SUCCEEDS.

​Neuro-Diversity in Homelessness & Incarceration

• Homelessness ---  Neurodiversity Hidden in Plain Sight
• Autism and Homelessness --- The Real Crisis
• Childhood Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Predicts Homelessness in Adulthood
  • "​Among people diagnosed with ADHD in childhood, the homelessness rate at age 41 was 24%, far higher than in the general population."

​

• Is Police Abolition a Neurodiversity Issue, Too?
  Understanding the policing and incarceration of neurodivergence.
• ADHD testing after 'impulsive crime' arrests should be mandatory, MPs say (BBC 2019)
• Autism behind Bars

ADAPTING FLOW to NEURO-DIVERSITY

• Go with the Flow
• FLOW is a lot about --- Not Too Hard, Not Too Easy
• That often looks different for Neuro-Diverse people than Neuro-Typical people
• On the one hand, Neuro-Diverse people can often benefit from some supports and workarounds for EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING​
  • ​But that's EASY --- EVERYONE CAN DO THAT --- you don't need support for that --- SOME PEOPLE (in fact a lot of people) need support and workarounds
• On the other hand, Neuro-Diverse people can have HIGH NEEDS to develop their STRENGTHS that can be far above the NORM. ​

This is in line with our Society's continuing ARC of Authenticity  and Canadian Psychologist Tayyab Rashid's observation from the research --- "Nobody has it all, nobody lacks it all." ​