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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.

NEURODiversity Wednesday

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

Incarceration, Meaning, Mental Health & Neuro-Diversity

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

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

The Fog of Neuro-Diversity

Neuro-Diversity
Wednesday

(with variable spellings of Neurodiversity)

Archives

Categories

​ NEURODiversity Wednesday

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

Incarceration, Meaning, Mental Health & Neuro-Diversity

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

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

The Fog of Neuro-Diversity

Neuro-DiversityWednesday(with variable spellings of Neurodiversity)

Archives

Categories

NEURODiversity Wednesday

Neuro-Diversity
Wednesday

(with variable spellings of Neurodiversity)