Blog Posts

Colorado & Other States Exhausted the Health Care SYSTEM for Psychiatric Disorders Decades Ago

10/20/2021

We estimate Colorado needs an ADDITIONAL Billion $$$ over the next ten years --- an ADDITIONAL 100 Million $$$ a Year to treat Cognitive Disability in this State.

We and the World are in desperate need of BETTER UNDERSTANDINGS and BETTER TREATMENTS.

Some of those BETTER UNDERSTANDINGS are here --- BUT we often haven't SUFFICIENTLY INVESTED in TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH & MEDICINE.

THE DRAMA OF IT ALL

10/16/2021

Black Shakespeare [Explicit] by Finney the Chimney -- Parental Advisory

Former US President Bill Clinton

There are a lot of people at the TOP and BOTTOM of this SOCIETY with seemingly greater than average EMOTIONAL REGULATION PROBLEMS and maybe greater DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION.

How that is playing out would make SHAKESPEARE PROUD --- BUT it is not good for the SOCIETY or the INDIVIDUALS within it.

Former US President Donald Trump

World Mental Health Day ---We'd Like to See World Translational Research & Medicine Day

10/11/2021

You'd think we would be THRILLED with the THEME of WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY 2021 --- SCALE UP Mental Health Services at ALL LEVELS.

Isn't that what we say almost everyday on this website --- SCALE UP HOUSING, SERVICES and PLACEMENTS.

BUT ----

Bringing Mental Health Services to SCALE at ALL LEVELS is going to BANKRUPT most governments without better CONCEPTUALIZATIONS, DIAGNOSTICS & TREATMENTS.

A BIG PART of that is MORE BASIC RESEARCH . . . BUT a surprising amount of that work is TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH and MEDICINE based on RESEARCH we already have.

Textbook of Immunopsychiatry

Psycho Neuro Endocrine Immunology and the Science of Integrated Care

The PRACTICALITIES of "INTEGRATED CARE"

It takes a lot of TIME, ENERGY & EFFORT to "INTEGRATE" complicated bodies of KNOWLEDGE --- even if those BODIES of KNOWLEDGE are RELATED.

BUT what if ---- we SPEED IT UP --- and we KEEP SPEEDING IT UP without sufficient provision to keep CLINICIANS on top of this RESEARCH and "INTEGRATE" all this complicated information.

I Love Lucy -- "Job Switching" (1952)

Well, you end up with a BIG MESS in which RESEARCHERS are running FAR AHEAD of CLINICIANS --- and estimates are it will take CLINICIANS 17 to 20 years to catch up.

BUT if the SPEED KEEPS INCREASING --- the LEGITIMACY of the PROFESSION is called into question more and more.

It is in the INTERESTS of EVERYONE to DRAMATICALLY IMPROVE TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH & MEDICINE EFFORTS for PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS.

The Journal of Translational Immunology

"The Immune System and Psychiatric Disease: A Basic Science Perspective" (2019)

Divergence & Equality

9/26/2021

"Sensitivity to the Environment" is driving some of our BIGGEST perceived WEAKNESSES & STRENGTHS

That SENSITIVITY is NOT just related to the BRAIN --- It includes:
- The Immune System
- The Microbiome, and
- The Endocrine System

If I'm living in a HIERARCHICAL SOCIETY and "SPECIALNESS CULTURE" ---- I have to be AGGRESSIVE to SURVIVE.

PILE on some HISTORICAL and not so HISTORICAL In Groups and Out GROUPS and the need for AGGRESSION INCREASES
BUT AGGRESSION COMES with "AGGRESSION CELLS."
While Males may have more problems with this, MEAN GIRLS are REAL.

BUT we don't know how to STEP OUT of our HIERARCHICAL SOCIETY and SPECIALNESS CULTURE ---- HOW COULD YOU EVEN DO IT?

When we're talking about moving on down the line in our REFORM EFFORTS --- part of that is:

INTEGRATING the insights of JOHANN HARI and others regarding the SOCIAL ASPECTS of PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS
with some of the new insights regarding PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS and the IMMUNE SYSTEM and other systems of the body.

A lot of NEURO-DIVERSE people are coming to the party with some BIG STRENGTHS and LACKING SOME "EASY" EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING ABILITIES -- more accurately they are often trying to manage greater SENSORY and INFORMATION PROCESSING DEMANDS.

NEURO-DIVERSE People are DRIVING much of the HIERARCHY in our Society -- If they get to the top --- it is very hard to effectively question or address their WEAKNESSES.

If they are at the BOTTOM, their STRENGTHS are RARELY RECOGNIZED.

That is one of a number of drivers of AGGRESSION at the TOP and BOTTOM of this Society.

Our SOCIETY is certainly LESS AGGRESSIVE / VIOLENT than the MIDDLE AGES, but it isn't quite yet the SOCIETY of PROBLEM-SOLVERS it could be.

"Equality" became a dominant idea in the "Enlightenment" and certainly our Founding Fathers were greatly influenced by ideas of the "Enlightenment" and "Equality Under the Law."

BUT the truth is we've had a hard time believing in "EQUALITY" in an absolute sense because we're not all IDENTICAL or CLONES.

Further and perhaps even more importantly, taking the time, effort and resources to UNDERSTAND those NOT ALL CLONES --- is often perceived as an UNDUE HARDSHIP.

If we're not taking the time to UNDERSTAND a person's NATURAL STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES --- we're generally just slapping on the CLONE VERSION of that and hoping it FITS WELL ENOUGH.

A fair amount of the time that does work, people may feel things don't fit as well as they could ---- BUT it's not necessarily precipitating an "EXISTENTIAL CRISIS."

BUT at some point -- If things don't fit well enough--- that will precipitate an "EXISTENTIAL CRISIS."

In a lot of ways, this is about PRO LIFE and what that means over the course of the LIFE SPAN and over the BREADTH of the SOCIETY.

Photo Credit: theconversation.com

Towards a More Balanced View of "Giftedness" and "Talent"

9/24/2021

"MIXED BAGS" is one of Orchid's Themes.

Some of the things that are driving the EXTREMES of how we treat "GIFTEDNESS" and "TALENT" in this Society:

We haven't had a good understanding of the BIOLOGY
We haven't had a good understanding of the WEAKNESSES that often come along with "GIFTEDNESS" and "TALENT"
- Executive Functioning is surprisingly one of those WEAKNESSES
We haven't had a good understanding of some of the HEALTH PROBLEMS that can come along with "GIFTEDNESS" and "TALENT" --- that are often related to DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION.
- PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS are related to DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION
- PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS and AUTO-IMMUNE DISORDERS are more common among people identified as "GIFTED" and "TALENTED"

A SOCIETAL Misunderstanding of what it means to be "GIFTED" or "TALENTED"

 can lead and generally does lead to a PERSONAL MISUNDERSTANDING of what it means to be "GIFTED" and "TALENTED"
SOCIETAL PRE-REQUISITES for "EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING" --- PRIOR to the EXERICISE of those BIG TIME STRENGTHS
- Can often lead to or exacerbate mental health issues.
- Nobody's saying deny reality --- but let's work on CREATIVE WORK-AROUNDS & ACCOMMODATIONS --- rather than FAIL TO DEVELOP THOSE STRENGTHS.

"Giftedness" is now recognized as part of "NEURO-DIVERSITY." --- how many doctors and lawyers view themselves as "GIFTED" but not necessarily "NEURO-DIVERSE."

"Impostor Syndrome" often mentioned by CELEBRITIES --- is now being openly discussed by the LEGAL PROFESSION.

On the other hand, if you are "GIFTED" and at the BOTTOM of this SOCIETY --- your weaknesses may have been MORE THAN RECOGNIZED --- but NOT YOUR GIFTS & TALENTS --- and that is often MAJOR LEAGUE STRESS for someone who already has SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION.

Former President Bill Clinton

Former President Donald Trump

We're accommodating a lot of people at the TOP for EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING CHALLENGES --

We Need to Make Accommodations Across the Board, AND
Foster a MORE BALANCED VIEW of STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES.

DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION may explain both High Intelligence & Bad Executive Functioning in PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

9/23/2021

Orchid has been quite the INTELLECTUAL ADVENTURE --- trying not only to understand the LAW but to understand the SCIENCE and my EXPERIENCE as well.

It is in large measure INCORRECT and/ or INACCURATE UNDERSTANDINGS that undergird much of the current MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

For Patients --- "I'm SMART --- I couldn't possibly have a Mental Illness"
For Clinicians --- "You have a Mental Illness and Executive Functioning Deficits --- claims of SPECIAL ABILITIES sound grandiose."

The more we understand the DEVELOPMENTAL ASPECTS of PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS --- the more those two positions can be reconciled.

For the PERSON, the CLINICIAN, EDUCATORS and the SOCIETY ---

The Sine Qua Non (essential condition) of INTELLIGENCE is "GOOD" EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING

Except the Most "HIGHLY INTELLIGENT" People in the Society are often Neuro-Diverse and they don't have "Good" Executive Functioning

How Did these "BAD" Executive Functioners become "Highly Intelligent" -- they CHEATED --- they have more "REACTIVE CELLS."

at least that is according to the University of Michigan with regard to "BIPOLAR DISORDER"
and the National Institute of Mental Health says ADHD, Autism, Depression, Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia --- Share Common Genes and are BLURRED
The Immune System and Inflammation (especially DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION) appear to be involved in most PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS
Many people with PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS find they may have more susceptibility to AUTO-IMMUNE ISSUES (The "Tallest Tree in Forest of Poly Auto-Immunity" --- being THYROID DISORDERS)

HIGH INTELLIGENCE & HIGH EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING OFTEN DON'T GO TOGETHER

9/20/2021

Eddie Murphy

I remember thinking in High School --- we need Affirmative Action for BOYS.

But at that time --- the ENVIRONMENT I was in wasn't perfect BUT it suited me better than that SAME ENVIRONMENT suited some others.

Further, I thought MY ENVIRONMENT was ALWAYS going to suit me --- ROUGHLY.

Now I find that I'm the one who needs some AFFIRMATIVE ACTION because this ENVIRONMENT isn't suiting me --- and I'm SENSITIVE (biologically and emotionally) to the MISMATCH.

When we think about what's needed for often HIGHLY REACTIVE / SENSITIVE PEOPLE --- a BIG PART of that is an ENVIRONMENT that suits them and a VALUED PLACE IN THE SOCIETY:
- That's often developing
  - Athletic, and/or
  - Creative, and /or
  - Intellectual Gifts
- And Providing some WORKAROUNDS and ACCOMODATIONS for Executive Functioning Issues

Further, one of the BIG LIES is that people with INTELLECTUAL GIFTS have PERFECT EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING & EMOTIONAL REGULATION--- That's not been my EXPERIENCE and it's not been my OBSERVATION.
- That DISCONNECT is DRIVING a lot of the problems at the TOP and BOTTOM of this SOCIETY

Take On Talents: Gifted and Talented and Executive Functions

I'm not sure that it is always --- "Oh, things came so EASILY and these EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS just didn't get EXERCISED."

I do think for some, many, maybe most people --- it is starting out with EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING CHALLENGES --- and Developing SPECIAL ABILITIES -- that are often related to some type of GREATER SENSITIVITY to the ENVIRONMENT:

Such as GREATER BODY AWARENESS
GREATER VISUAL or HEARING AWARENESS
ANALYTICAL ABILITY Related to the PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
ABSTRACT THINKING & INTEGRATION

Further, some of these people with these "SPECIAL ABILITIES" are finding that they are UNIQUELY VULNERABLE TO PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS and they already have HYPER-CONNECTED BRAINS.

Gifted Learners and Executive Functioning

"It isn’t uncommon for high-ability learners to struggle with executive functions"

Appearances Are Often Deceiving

9/20/2021

So Neurotypicals do misunderstand Neuro-Diverse people.
But the people at the top of our society are often NEURO-DIVERSE
They don't need or don't think they need more NEURO-DIVERSE people.
- They need NEUROTYPICALS with those traditional Executive Functioning Skills.
- This is changing significantly in the Tech Industry --- but not every neuro-diverse person's area of advanced ability is engineering.

Of course, this goes to the DIVERSITY in NEURO-DIVERSITY.

Image Credit: Epic Assist
"The World Needs Neurodiversity, but Employers Still Don't Seem To Get It" (2020)

Honing our skills at SUPPORTING NEURO-DIVERSE people in the WORKPLACE and in ENTREPRENEURSHIP is likely to have many spill over benefits to the Society at large in both:

Goods and Services, and
Workarounds and Accommodations that could benefit a wide range of people

A lot of people use ramps who aren't in WHEELCHAIRS and a lot of people could benefit from these WORKAROUNDS and ACCOMMODATIONS in the Workplace & Entrepreneurship --- even if they don't identify as NEURO-DIVERSE.

Neuro-Diverse people at the bottom also need NEUROTYPICALS with those traditional Executive Functioning Skills.

Technology can help some with this
Pooling resources --- of some type could help for both VIRTUAL and IN-PERSON Assistance.

Image Credit: Syntactics, Inc.

One of the big challenges for our society is that NEURO-DIVERSE people are getting pretty COMMON --- and I would submit that is because of widespread INFLAMMATION in the population.

They Know NOT What They Do --- and the NEED to CHANGE "SYSTEMS"

9/20/2021

We're really BIG into PUNISHING INDIVIDUAL BAD ACTS and THEORETICALLY COMPENSATING INDIVIDUAL PLAINTIFFS

When we're talking about COGNITVE DIFFERENCE / DISABILITY in the JUSTICE SYSTEM or for that matter in the SOCIETY generally ----- that is COMPLICATED.

When Jesus said the ROMAN SOLDIERS --- "know not what they do" in crucifying Him --- Jesus didn't mean that the ROMAN SOLDIERS didn't appreciate that nailing Him to a cross would kill Him --- the ROMAN SOLDIERS were INTENDING to kill Jesus.

Those ROMAN SOLDIERS met the LOW BAR of "INTENT" in our CURRENT JUSTICE SYSTEM.

"The Three Kingdoms --- Heaven, Middle Earth and Hell" --- in Thailand

Dante's "Inferno" by Gustave Dore

What we really need are: SYSTEMIC OPTIONS

LAWSUITS CAN DRIVE THAT
SO Can Policymaking
So Can EDUCATION
So Can Research and TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH & MEDICINE

Creating Innovation. Image Credit: Sojitz Corporation

Image Credit: Reuters

For our SOCIETY, we're in a MESSY MIDDLE GROUND --- where we KNOW:

*BAD BEHAVIOR is OFTEN (MOST

Of THE TIME) driven by COGNITIVE DISABILITY

Further, it is often NOT JUST ONE COGNITIVE ISSUE.
Understanding of these COGNITIVE ISSUES is either AMAZING or PATHETICALLY PARTIAL --- depending upon what one wants to do with that knowledge.
- COGNITIVE DISABILITY is IDIOSYNCRATIC and driven for many if not most people by DEVEPOMENTAL

INFLAMMATION --- plus --- LATER ACQUIRED INFLAMMATION --- plus --- GENETICS --- plus --- EPIGENETICS.

Some people have more SEVERE BRAIN INJURY because they started out with ADHD, they acquired a TRADITIONAL MENTAL ILLNESS --- and they have been using SUBSTANCES to try to deal with all this.

OUR TREATMENTS are often AMAZING and PATHETICALLY PARTIAL at the same time --- We NEED INDIVIDUALIZED, PRECISION MEDICINE --- and we're not quite there yet in many cases.

OUR CARE OPTIONS are not quite there yet --- EITHER

Colorado's Mental Health Continuum of Care Hell

Unmasking & Challenging the Social Mirror

9/18/2021

I can relate to Paul Micallef and the need to "UNMASK."

Orchid is serving several functions one of which is my "unmasking."

A BIG PART of that is to allow me to take on some of the TOUGH ISSUES I see--- and get out my own weaknesses as soon as possible --- so maybe people will wonder about that --- but it is not coming as an initial SHOCK.

When we talk about "INVISIBLE DISABILITIES" -- we often need to understand that it is "INVISIBLE" to the person themselves.

How do we really SEE our STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES --- somebody tells US we have a STRENGTH or tells us we have a WEAKNESS.
Further there are HARD-GRAINED IDEAS that if someone has particular "weaknesses" (especially in EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING) --- they couldn't possibly have Higher STRENGTHS or even STRENGTHS that are higher than the person without the same level of EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING DIFFERENCES or DIFFICULTIES.
- Those hard-grained IDEAS are often shared by the person themselves.
- So they are often working as hard as they can to IMPROVE or if that doesn't work or work well enough --- CONSTRUCT a FACADE for OTHERS.
- Or maybe for some people -- it can be so PAINFUL --- a lot of emotional energy is being used to CONSTRUCT A FACADE for THEMSELVES.

BUT IF We're In a HIERACHICAL Society --- it is NOT a TWO-WAY STREET about who gets to LABEL "STRENGTHS" and "WEAKNESSES"

Further, this is COMPLICATED. The Black Community talks about BLACK on BLACK VIOLENCE ---- well, there's NEURO-DIVERSE on NEURO-DIVERSE Emotional Violence and certainly there is a high percentage of NEURO-DIVERSE people in the JUSTICE SYSTEM and plenty at the TOP OF THIS SOCIETY.

This blog today was originally to be about how INADEQUATE UNDERSTANDING of NEURO-DIVERSITY HAS "DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES"

That "INADEQUATE UNDERSTANDING" has by and large been in every segment of our Society, including large swaths of the Mental Health Profession.
The American Psychiatric Association Foundation has recognized that better TREATMENTS are needed for "PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS."
The National Institute of Mental Health has recognized that better DIAGNOSTICS and TREATMENTS are needed for "PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS."
Research funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and subsequently promoted by NIMH concluded that:
- ADHD
- Autism
- Bipolar Disorder
- Depression, and
- Schizophrenia
- WERE NOT DISTINCT, but WERE BLURRED (2013)

I can relate to Paul Micallef and the need to "UNMASK."

(See Paul's video on the Night Gallery).

Orchid is serving several functions one of which is my "unmasking."

A BIG PART of that is to allow me to take on some of the TOUGH ISSUES I see--- and get out my own weaknesses as soon as possible --- so maybe people will wonder about that --- but it is not coming as an initial SHOCK.

When we talk about "INVISIBLE DISABILITIES" -- we often need to understand that it is "INVISIBLE" to the person themselves.

How do we really SEE our STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES --- somebody tells US we have a STRENGTH or tells us we have a WEAKNESS.
Further there are HARD-GRAINED IDEAS that if someone has particular "weaknesses" (especially in EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING) --- they couldn't possibly have Higher STRENGTHS or even STRENGTHS that are higher than the person without the same level of EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING DIFFERENCES or DIFFICULTIES.
- Those hard-grained IDEAS are often shared by the person themselves.
- So they are often working as hard as they can to IMPROVE or if that doesn't work or work well enough --- CONSTRUCT a FACADE for OTHERS.
- Or maybe for some people -- it can be so PAINFUL --- a lot of emotional energy is being used to CONSTRUCT A FACADE for THEMSELVES.

Image Credit: Nature

Asperger's from the Inside
(Paul MiCallef)
Unmasking: 3 Steps to Take Off the Mask

This is really to contrast / show the commonalities between two groups we think of as opposites --- CREATIVES or Athletic people and Engineering Types --- ADHD vs. Autism.

These categories are at the very least blurred, and I don't think are going to hold up for too many more decades.

They both have differences in Information and Sensory Processing and they are both HIGH LY VULNERABLE to Psychiatric Disorders.

I think one of the BIG STRESSORS is that often what is being paired is HIGH ABILITY in some SUBSTANTIVE AREA and an UNEXEPECTED DIFFERENCE or DEFICIT in some or more aspects of EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING.

Neuro-Diverse people need their own STANDARDS OF SUCCESS -- if it is just the SOCIAL MIRROR --- that can be both HARD & DISTORTED.

The "Odd Couple I'm referring to is ADHD & AUTISM

Lex Morningstar
"What Happened to the Lost Generation of Women with ADHD."

And Nobody Finishes all their "PROJECTS" --- there are at least sometimes PRINCIPLED REASONS why the "UNFINISHED PROJECT" is being put to the "BACK BURNER." ---even if the person with ADHD didn't go through all the proper channels to do that --- IT WAS AN EXECUTIVE DECISION,

I think often people with ADHD are putting things to the BACK BURNER for the same reasons everyone else does, LACK OF RESOURCES, CHANGE in PRIORITIES
But that Lack of Resources and Change in Priorities can be different for NEURO-DIVERSE people than NEURO-TYPICALS.
- The problem is THE NEURO-DIVERSE PERSON isn't BELIEVED (if they even know they are NEURO-DIVERSE) or they are BELIEVED --- and DEEMED INHERENTLY UNFIT.

What I can really relate to is being with the "THEORIES" and "IDEAS" and my mind and senses GOING ALL THE TIME.

I can also relate to being someone ---- a Woman ----who is expected to be ORGANIZED and ISN'T.

Of course, top that off with being someone who did well in school and is an attorney ---- those EXPECTATIONS are even higher that I'm going to have TRADITIONAL EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING --- and I don't.]

This blog today was originally to be about how INADEQUATE UNDERSTANDING of NEURO-DIVERSITY HAS "DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES"

That "INADEQUATE UNDERSTANDING" has by and large been in every segment of our Society, including large swaths of the Mental Health Profession.
The American Psychiatric Association Foundation has recognized that better TREATMENTS are needed for "PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS."
The National Institute of Mental Health has recognized that better DIAGNOSTICS and TREATMENTS are needed for "PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS."
Research funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and subsequently promoted by NIMH concluded that:
- ADHD
- Autism
- Bipolar Disorder
- Depression, and
- Schizophrenia
- WERE NOT DISTINCT, but WERE BLURRED (2013)

<<Previous

Forward>>

Colorado & Other States Exhausted the Health Care SYSTEM for Psychiatric Disorders Decades Ago

THE DRAMA OF IT ALL

World Mental Health Day ---We'd Like to See World Translational Research & Medicine Day

Divergence & Equality

Towards a More Balanced View of "Giftedness" and "Talent"

DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION may explain both High Intelligence & Bad Executive Functioning in PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

HIGH INTELLIGENCE & HIGH EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING OFTEN DON'T GO TOGETHER

Appearances Are Often Deceiving

They Know NOT What They Do --- and the NEED to CHANGE "SYSTEMS"

Unmasking & Challenging the Social Mirror

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