The Face of Madness in Neuro-Diversity & What We Can Do About It

Conjecture

First, I would say that the FACE OF MADNESS is not unrelated to the FACE OF OUR CHRONIC DISEASE CRISIS.

It should not be surprising that more and more people are being born with SIGNIFICANT LEVELS of DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION and that in turn DYSREGULATES MULTIPLE SYSTEMS OF THE BODY:

• it does include the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, but it also includes
• the IMMUNE SYSTEM
• the ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
• the MICROBIOME
• the METABOLISM
• and the CIRCULATORY SYSTEM --- where we are slowly starting to find BIOMARKERS IN THE BLOOD for depression and even suicidality.
  • Ultimately, we may find "psychiatric" biomarkers in most of the systems of the body.

THIS DOES NOT ALWAYS IMPACT "IQ" NEGATIVELY --- IN FACT -- IT MAY IMPACT "IQ" POSITIVELY.

• SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDERS are identified significantly more in the "GIFTED" population.
• SENSORY PROCESSING ISSUES are common among people with NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES such as ADHD, AUTISM, and DYSLEXIA.
• NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES are more and more seen as part of a CONTINUUM with PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS.

 

• Understanding this RELATIONSHIP between NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL DIFFERENCES/DISORDERS and PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS is a MAJOR BREAK-THROUGH in our understanding of these issues.

 

• With regard to Neuro-Developmental Disorders and Psychiatric Disorders ----
  • "Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria" which is now associated with ADHD and more and more Autism and other issues ----
    • Is really about EMOTIONS THAT ARE NORMAL IN EVERY WAY --- EXCEPT INTENSITY.
      

I think that Difference in "INTENSITY" is related to Sensory Processing Differences and other Dysregulations of the Body.

Further, the IMMUNE SYSTEM is associated with SENSORY PROCESSING and is a critical part of the BRAIN-IMMUNE-GUT Triad.  The IMMUNE SYSTEM also seems to be "SCULPTING" the Brain  

"NDDs (Neuro-Developmental Disorders) are one of the chapters of psychiatric nosology most likely to benefit from the approach advocated by the National Institute of Mental Health’s Research Domain Criteria project.

"Genetic research supports the hypothesis that ID (Intellectual Disability), ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), ADHD, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder lie on a neurodevelopmental continuum."

Neurodevelopmental disorders—the history and futur…

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.31887/DCNS.2020.22.1/macrocq

The ROLE or ROLES of the IMMUNE SYSTEM seem to be EXPANDING to SURPRISINGLY---
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR 

So I would say the FACE OF MADNESS is often--

• The FACE of Developmental Difference
• That is HIGHLY REACTIVE
• Likely has average or above average intelligence
• Likely has below average "EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING"
  • Often due to the demands of INCREASED SENSORY PROCESSING.
• And is often dealing with idiosycratic METABOLISM and ENERGY FLOWS ---
  • HYPER-FOCUS is often a STRENGTH.
    

So how does all this relate to Olmstead and the UNNECESSARY INSTITUTIONALIZATION of People with Developmental Differences/Disorders and Psychiatric Disorders?

If we don't have UP-TO-DATE and INTEGRATED understandings of even the INFORMATION --- WE ALREADY HAVE  ----

• A LOT OF MONEY IS WASTED, and
• Many more people with DEVELOPMENTAL DIFFERENCES are in not just SUB-OPTIMAL PLACEMENTS ---
  • But far too often HOMELESS or INCARCERATED.