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Cancer & Neuro-Diversity --- The Crying Need for Accelerating Integrated Physical & Mental Health Care

4/27/2022

Frontiers in Cell & Developmental Biology (2021)
The Role of Neurodevelopmental Pathways in Brain Tumors

So one of the BIG PROBLEMS with the DSM 5 SYMPTOM CLUSTERS is it MISSES COMMON SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION and GENES across DISORDERS.

So people are NOT NEATLY PATTERN MAPPING to these SYMPTOM CLUSTERS and there is a lot of LATE DIAGNOSIS and EMERGENCIES and CRISES.

Further --- people are "MASKING" generally for as long as they can --- so by the time some of these issues come to light --- the person may be pretty far down the road of psychiatric illness.

Beyond that people with PSYCHIATRIC ISSUES often have ONE or MORE PSYCHIATRIC CO-MORBIDITIES --- BUT they also may have PHYSICAL HEALTH CO-MORBIDITIES that in one way or another are related to this NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION.

To really appreciate the DYNAMICS in most parts of the world --- you need to understand that most MODERN POPULATIONS have LOW GRADE INFLAMMATION and 1/4 to 1/5 of those populations have some type of psychiatric issue.

Further, autoimmune disease is rampant as are Cancer and other Inflammatory Diseases.

This is where we need PRECISION MEDICINE because this INFLAMMATION does affect us quite INDIVIDUALLY.

The Impact of Systemic Inflammation on Neurodevelopment https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › articles › PMC6110951

by NM Jiang · 2018 · Cited by 114 -- Several neurodevelopmental disorders have been linked to early life immune activation and inflammation, including autism spectrum disorders (ASD) ...
Ascending infection: infection during pregnancy ...
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis: set .

Cancer and systemic inflammation: treat the tumour ... - NCBI https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › articles › PMC3960633

by CSD Roxburgh · 2014 · Cited by 293 -- Relationship between systemic inflammatory response, symptom clusters and survival ... Symptoms associated with cancer are commonly regarded as natural sequelae ...
‎Measurement of the systemic... · ‎Relationship between... · ‎Treatment of cancer...

The curious connection between autism and cancer | Spectrum https://www.spectrumnews.org › features › deep-dive

Jan 11, 2017 -- The growing number of cancer genes linked to autism piqued the curiosity of Janine LaSalle, an autism researcher at the University of California ...

Autism and Cancer - EKU Onlinehttps://ekuonline.eku.edu › blog › psychology › autism...

Apr 7, 2021 — While autism spectrum disorder and cancer may appear entirely unrelated, there is actually a significant amount of overlap within the ...

Is there a Genetic Link between Autism and Cancer? https://www.cancersupportcommunity.org › 2017/04

Apr 12, 2017 — Dozens of genes have been linked to both autism and cancer. ... neck, thyroid, prostate, skin, breast, and lung cancer, and much more.

Subsequently Added:

Karlinska Institutet in Sweden

New study shows antioxidants stimulate blood flow in tumors

August 23, 2023

"Vitamin C and other antioxidants stimulate the formation of new blood vessels in lung cancer tumors, a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation shows.

"The discovery corroborates the idea that dietary supplements containing antioxidants can accelerate tumor growth and metastasis."

Someone like myself who is very short ---- might have a lot of SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION but there does seem to be something that is PROTECTIVE about SHORT STATURE when it comes to CANCER and even DIABETES.

Summary: A long-term study finds extremely low incidence of cancer and diabetes among individuals with a growth-stunting genetic defect. The authors ask whether controlling growth hormone in healthy adults might provide similar protection. Feb 16, 2011

Dwarfism gene linked to protection from cancer and diabetes

On the other hand, I haven't been protected from Neuro-Developmental Disorders, Psychiatric Disorders, Thyroid Disease and Osteoporosis.

Petite and thin women have a greater chance of developing osteoporosis. One reason is that they have less bone to lose than women with more body weight and larger frames. Similarly, small-boned, thin men are at greater risk than men with larger frames and more body weight. Broken bones. Jul 30, 2021

Osteoporosis: Are You at Risk? - WebMD

(I'm NOT thin, BUT I am SHORT)

Someone like my husband who recently passed away from LUNG CANCER ---

NEVER Smoked
Was 5'11"
had a mother with Bipolar Disorder
Given my mother-in-law's history of psychiatric illness, I think it likely that Rick was born with significant NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION
I would say he was quite BRILLIANT --- he would not trust that as EXAGGERATION
Had a lot of ANXIETY
Surprisingly had issues with CHRONIC DISORGANIZATION.
Was probably exposed to RADON in the family home in Colorado as a child in the 1950s and 1960s.
RADON EXPOSURE is the leading cause of non-smoking lung cancer.
I think the possibility that Rick already had significant NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION "may" have made him MORE VULNERABLE to a DEADLY DISEASE ---- he and his family didn't think he had to worry about because he didn't smoke.

Although calcium signal remodeling involves changes of different Ca2+-permeable channels, Ca2+ entry through ORAI channels is particularly important, as its dysregulation contribute to cancer features such as sustained proliferation, apoptosis resistance and invasion.Jul 7, 2020

Calcium Permeable Channels in Cancer Hallmarks - Frontiers

NIMH: ADHD, Autism, Bipolar Disorder , Depression & Schizophrenia Share Problems with Calcium Channels (2013)

Clinical features and diagnosis of psychiatric disorders in ...
https://www.uptodate.com › contents › clinical-features-an...

by J Rivest · Cited by 1 -- Patients with cancer have a high rate of comorbid psychiatric disorders as well as nonspecific psychological distress .

"PAIN," SENSORY OVERLOAD and LEGAL & ILLEGAL SUBSTANCE ISSUES --- and HEALTH NUTS who are Not Always Living Longer

4/25/2022

Conjecture

I've always been able to manage my substance issues within a perimeter of LEGALITY.
- BUT there are certainly people who are not struggling with DIET COKE like I am.
- Further, I always felt like if I can't handle sugar -- I don't think the next step is some more recognized mind-altering substance.

I have had people in my family who have died from legal substance issues.
- Alcohol and
- Smoking

Further, I have had people I have loved very much in my extended family with ILLEGAL SUBSTANCE ISSUES.

To me these are "MEDICAL ISSUES" and if they could be easily solved with a LECTURE we wouldn't have these issues.

Neurodivergent people are more likely to experience pain ...
https://www.mqmentalhealth.org › neurodivergence-an...

Feb 2, 2022 — Neurodivergent people are more than twice as likely to have hypermobile joints and are more likely to experience pain on a regular basis, ...

Image Credit: NeuroClastic

RSD = Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria

A Couple of Things:

I like this image because it gets beyond RSD as associated with ADHD -- and gets to the more FUNDAMENTAL CATEGORY of NEURO-DIVERGENCE
- which appears to be often related to greater Neuro-Developmental Inflammation.
I think Neuro-Divergent people are quite desperate at this point to get Executive Functioning Issues OUT ON THE TABLE ---
- as well as have more opportunities to exercise some of their BIG STRENGTHS which come from having HYPER-CONNECTED BRAINS.

Why that HEALTH NUT may not Live Longer?

We're really talking about the LONG TERM EFFECTS of DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION.
In Modern Times, that HEALTH NUT may be the equivalent of the RELIGIOUS ZEALOT.
Further, a lot of this activity whether on the Health front, or the Religious front or OTHER FRONT --
- may be an effort to keep Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria at bay and
- try to MANAGE a SYSTEM in which BALANCE is ELUSIVE, and
- SENSORY OVERWHELM is fairly constant.

AWARENESS is important.

We wouldn't expect someone with DOWN SYNDROME to "CURE" DOWN SYNDROME with LIFESTYLE CHANGES even though LIFESTYLE CHANGES could be beneficial.

The NEEDS of people with greater NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION are just BEGINNING to be appreciated.

Neuro-Diversity, Gender and Sexuality

4/20/2022

There are a lot of people in the LGBTQ+ Community who are Neuro-Diverse.

There are also a lot of people in the Heterosexual Community who are Neuro-Diverse ---- and often have trait combinations people are NOT EXPECTING:

You're a Girlie Girl who is pretty aggressive and/or hyper-intellectual
Maybe you're a Technical Guy whose pretty passive aggressive.

Or maybe:

You are pretty far from the Girlie Girl ---- you're some kind of Nature Woman and Talk to Animals or
You are that Sensitive Guy --- BUT that Aggressiveness comes out quite a bit.

Neuro-Diversity is really where HUMANITY comes to know itself ---- because things tend to be on the EXTREMES --- and easier to see.

Or --- In UNUSUAL COMBINATIONS.

Now --- it can be hard to talk like this in a HIERARCHICAL, TOP DOWN SOCIETY with a lot of IN GROUPS and OUT GROUPS.

The ostensible reason is: we don't want to be disrespectful, we don't want to hurt anyone's feelings --- and that is true to a point.

BUT the larger problem is that we're skeptical about this EQUALITY business ---

Of course, buying into INEQUALITY and constant ups and downs of IN GROUPS and OUT GROUPS means ---- things feel UNSTABLE and MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION is often not safe to have on the AGENDA.

I'm posting the excerpt below right for some COUNTER-INTUITIVE reasons --- and it really goes to the "INVISIBILITY" that many Neuro-Diverse people feel.

Ironically, I think the LGBTQ+ Movement has given a segment of the Neuro-Diverse Community some much needed "VISIBILITY."

On the other hand, other segments of the Neuro-Diverse Community are quite "INVISIBLE" to most of Neuro-Typical Society.

On the other, other hand --- you really can't say that the needs of the LGBTQ+ Community are being met and in some quarters there is some DANGEROUS DENIAL. I think in the circles I run in --- there is AWARENESS but I don't see that AWARENESS for others.

The IRONY or NOT IRONY is --- the MORE you seem to look like everyone else --- the harder it is not only for other people but for you yourself to realize that you may have some DIFFERENCES that need to be taken into account to maintain your own well being.

Mom On The Spectrum:
16 Overlooked Autistic Traits in Women

#1 is Problems in Romantic Relationships, including some kind of Sexual Abuse or Assault.

Stuart Anderson:
ADHD Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria

Retired Colorado Psychiatrist William Dodson should be credited with recognizing "Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria" in ADHD.

The Needs of Neuro-Diverse people with a Darker Skin Color or Different Ethnicity are also routinely overlooked.

How To ADHD:
What It's Like to be ADHD and BLACK

GENDER FLUIDITY

Important: We mention gender fluidity here not as an illness
or disease, but rather as a state of being that plays a part in
RCCX theory and appears more prevalent in the gifted
population than in the general population.

The RCCX complex of genes is associated with gender fluidity,
perhaps because of the way our bodies respond to hormones.

Dr. Meglathery’s thoughts on gender fluidity match the fact that those in the gifted community have long observed a
higher than expected level of gender fluidity in gifted
populations.

Those involved with highly and profoundly gifted
populations, in particular, have noticed a higher than
expected number of young adults transitioning in recent years
from male to female or from female to male.

The devastating cost of late diagnosis --- Recognizing the link between Neuro-developmental and Psychiatric disorders

3/27/2022

When you survey many Neuro-Diverse Youtubers who might have a LABEL of ADHD or AUTISM --- they are often LATE DIAGNOSIS.

For some people like myself --- that NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL DIAGNOSIS came a few more years after a POTENTIALLY EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PSYCHOTIC EPISODE and a PSYCHIATRIC DIAGNOSIS in my mid-40s.

Was this somehow related to MENOPAUSE --- maybe.
There are a whole group of women who may have had some kind of depression or OCD in the past --- BUT that PSYCHOTIC EPISODE doesn't come until their 40s.
- Comedian Maria Bamford comes to mind.

The number of factors one can legitimately find that affect "MENTAL HEALTH" is seemingly astronomical ----- and maybe that is a blessing in disguise because there are potentially A LOT of things we can address to modify or IMPROVE THINGS.

BUT the TRUE COST of that LATE DIAGNOSIS is DEVASTATING.

The Mental Health Profession actually has gotten pretty good if not EXCELLENT at addressing CRISES ----- and someone like myself as critical as I am ---- OWE the MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSION A LOT.

BUT we've got to GET OUT OF LATE DIAGNOSIS and this is A LOT MORE THAN these little MENTAL HEALTH SCREENS.

This is really IDENTIFYING CHILDREN with NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL DIFFERENCES & DISABILITIES in elementary school and providing proper supports to address EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING DIFFERENCES, among others with the GOAL of AVERTING GREATER PSYCHIATRIC PROBLEMS.

PRETTY MUCH I would submit we are talking about the EXCEPTIONALITIES --- kids in SPECIAL and GIFTED EDUCATION.

Hyper-Connected Brains ---- What Does That Mean & Why Can It Be Both A Blessing & a Curse

The Future of Psychiatry and Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Paradigm Shift (2019)

FROM THE EDITED VOLUME

Neurodevelopment and Neurodevelopmental Disorder
Edited by Michael Fitzgerald

The current understanding of these disorders, intellectual disability, ADHD, autism, Asperger's syndrome, tics, etc., is a neurodevelopmental disorder with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder also being neurodevelopmental, and all have significant neurobiological inputs.

Neurodevelopmental disorders—the history and future of a diagnostic concept (2020)

Deborah J. Morris-Rosendahl, Clinical Genetics and Genomics, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; NHLI, Imperial College London, UK;
Marc-Antoine Crocq, Centre Hospitalier, Rouffach, France; CAMUHA, Université de Haute-Alsace, Mulhouse, France

Genetic research supports the hypothesis that ID, ASD, ADHD, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder lie on a neurodevelopmental continuum.

Giftedness, Neuro-Diversity, Bipolar Disorder and Inflammation

Val's Note: I think it can sometimes be very misleading when we talk about "DEFICITS" and these Neuro-Developmental and Psychiatric Disorders that are tied to:

HYPER-CONNECTED BRAINS and
Ramped Up Sensory Processing

If I'm not perceiving something and somebody else is perceiving that thing ---- it may be very easy for me to DISMISS that person as DISTRACTED and FOCUSING ON IRRELEVANT MATTERS -----

Even if --- the matters are HIGHLY RELEVANT and CRUCIAL to an ACCURATE UNDERSTANDING.
And you can't keep doing things the "OLD WAY" and keep your INTEGRITY

On the other hand, all this sensory processing can manifest in a lot of:

Overwhelm
Fatigue
Etc. and
DISTRESS at having to work so hard to be UNDERSTOOD by people who really don't know what you're talking about.

Further, this tends to be IDIOSYNCRATIC. It really is IMPORTANT that we BUILD Inclusive Artistic, Intellectual and Spiritual Communities that can BETTER SUPPORT --- the "INTEGRATIVE COMPLEXITY" of the Neuro-Diverse Individual.

Incarceration, Meaning, Mental Health & Neuro-Diversity

3/24/2022

Insel Talks About the Problem of Incarceration of People with Mental Illness ---- He rightly recognizes that it is a PROBLEM of POLICY ---

But one of the REASONS Policy Makers are having such a hard time with this is that:
- It can be and is MASSIVELY EXPENSIVE on the HIGHER END of the CONTINUUM of CARE ---
- The US is spending A LOT --- and when the NEED is to INCREASE that SPENDING by many factors ----
  - It is often not clear how that is going to happen

Further, if we are not CONNECTING this up to NEURO-DIVERSITY and SOME DIFFERENT or SPECIAL NEEDS of NEURO-DIVERSE PEOPLE --- we've probably MISSED THE BOAT.

When we talk about Meaning, Purpose and the CHALLENGE of BEING INCLUDED in a NEURO-TYPICAL SOCIETY ----

We're JUST STARTING to DRILL DOWN to what those neuro-diverse differences are and how those differences are driving some different needs.
The needs are not all different --- BUT they are different enough that if they are not attended to ----- the possibility of BURNOUT or even more concerning BREAKDOWN is REAL.
- Now this could be true for anyone --- BUT
- If you've got more NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION -- you're going to be more VULNERABLE.

Whether it's ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Giftedness, OCD, Tourette's, etc. --- 2 of the COMMONALITIES "seem" to be --- greater NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION and "HYPER-CONNECTED BRAINS."

Further, those commonalities are seen in PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS as well --- and NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS and PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS "seem" to be on a CONTINUUM.

We know that many of HUMANITY'S great Artists, Thinkers, Innovators, Entrepreneurs and Leaders were and are Neuro-Diverse and they weren't and aren't perfect and they could and can be problematic.

Further, despite our hopes to the contrary --- BIG STRENGTHS can come with BIG DEFICITS.

See Interview with Dr. Thomas Insel @ 3:37

Dr. Thomas Insel Seems to Miss the Integrative Complexity of the Mental Health Crisis --- namely, better Treatments Are Needed (which he seemed to understand in 2013)

BUT Insel gets the Importance of Getting Out of Crisis Management, Bringing Services to Scale & Addressing Purpose & Meaning in People's Lives

Coming to terms with Neuro-Diversity is very much coming to terms with the EXTREMES of HUMANITY --- and cultivating these potentially beautiful flowers in much more CONSCIOUS WAYS --- so they don't WITHER and DIE as the result of poor or inappropriate care and can PLAY WELL WITH OTHERS and STILL GET THEIR NEEDS MET in SCHOOL, WORK, FAMILY, RELATIONSHIPS & the COMMUNITY.

This may incorporate MORE COMPLEXITY than our current models. 
BUT it still might be less expensive in Treasure and Human Suffering than what we are currently doing.

Finding Meaning & Purpose in a Strength-Based Approach

Neuro-Developmental Disorders, Fatigue & Strengths --- The Rocky Road to Sustainability

3/17/2022

It "appears" that for some people on a BLURRED Neuro-Developmental Spectrum of ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia and Giftedness --

What started out as a NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL Difference or Disability is progressing to a PSYCHIATRIC DISORDER

The DIFFERENCES "appear" to be greatly related to INCREASED NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION, Epigenetics and Environment.

I started "Orchid" originally loosely based on this IDEA of the "ORCHID CHILD" who was being described as kids and adults who are HIGHLY SENSITIVE to their Environments.

The OPPOSITE of Dandelions that can thrive in any environment
BUT at least have the potential to become flowers of "unusual beauty" if placed in INDIVIDUALLY TAILORED ENVIRONMENTS.
- There are ORCHIDS in the WILD --- but by and large we're talking about something that needs to be HIGHLY CULTIVATED and CONSCIOUSLY MANAGED to THRIVE.
- But if we make that EFFORT -- there can be a BIG PAY-OFF.
  - Further, this isn't the PAY-OFF of the GAMBLER ---
  - It's more the PAY-OFF of the FARMER who understands how to GROW and CULTIVATE DIFFERENT SEEDS.

One of the things that "might" account for this GREATER SENSITIVITY TO THE ENVIRONMENT at least in part could be greater NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION that is going to among other things the IMMUNE SYSTEM.

Certainly among people with ADHD and Autism, FATIGUE and BURNOUT have become HOT TOPICS.

Further, "NEURO-PLASTICITY" is a GREAT THING, but . . .

It has become a DANGEROUS Concept in Modern Society to further our NOTIONS --- that THERE ARE NO LIMITS
Now if we REALLY UNDERSTAND what we're doing --- we probably will be able to SURPASS our CURRENT LIMITS ---
- Otherwise, it looks like the HUMAN EQUIVALENT of the CLIMATE CRISIS and we are far and getting farther from SUSTAINABILITY.

Frank James
Introvert Girlfriends Be Like . . .

Intensity & Burnout in Autism, ADHD & Giftedness

The BOTTOM LINE:

SUSTAINABILITY --- LOOKS DIFFERENT--- for people with greater NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION than it looks for Neuro-Typicals.
There may very well be a ROLE for trying to develop NEURO-PLASTICITY in more sophisticated ways . . . BUT
- If we don't realize that MOTHER NATURE has already been hard at work on the NEURO-PLASTICITY front
- We may BURN NEURO-DIVERSE people OUT without even realizing it.
  - Neuro-Diverse people are often already contending with "HYPER-CONNECTED BRAINS" ---
    - That "may" become even MORE HYPER-CONNECTED leading to PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS.

Further, MOTHER NATURE often has developed some ATYPICAL STRENGTHS in those TIRED NEURO-DIVERSE people --- even if those people are sometimes perceived as "HYPER-ACTIVE."

It's not that hard to understand --- especially if YOU'VE LIVED IT --- that failure to appreciate the "SPECIAL NEEDS" of Neuro-Diverse People can lead to a lot of SUFFERING.

Further, a lot of this is about developing SELF-KNOWLEDGE and a MORE BALANCED and ACCURATE VIEW of the STRENGTHS and CHALLENGES of Neuro-Diversity.

Ultimately, that is the FOUNDATION of RESILIENCE.
Further, if we can more effectively communicate some of this HARD-WON Self-Knowledge to people in our lives --- both lay people and professionals ---
- Working together we can develop More Sophisticated Treatments and Therapies that seem more connected to the COMPLICATED REALITIES people are ACTUALLY experiencing.
- Further, we can MODIFY and ADJUST ENVIRONMENTS to both:
  - Allow Neuro-Diverse People to THRIVE,
  - AND use some of those ATYPICAL STRENGTHS for the benefit of OTHERS.

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.

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NEURODiversity Wednesday