Experience vs Diagnoses in Mental Health

Everything must be labeled, these days.

Labeling is the keyword for every behavior in Research, nowadays.
It serves as diagnostic criteria, I agree, despite penalizing patients’ knowledge and experience.

The discrepancy is about Disclosure: employers still rely heavily upon Diagnoses rather than subjects’ experiences.

Sufferers always provide the best insight into the condition.
We are all unique even within the same diagnosis.
Listening to the individual fosters accommodating options.

ADHD is more versatile, with specific positions welcoming the disclosure.
There is still no official Disability Report Form.

Most neurodivergent exhaust themselves to Masking disclosures.

ADHDers are in a slightly advantaged position.
They throw their diagnosis, as they describe it, like it or not, as result of Impulsivity.
The good news is Impulsivity being sought-after in fast decision-taking jobs.

ADHDers should research which jobs value Impulsivity before applying, while breaking the Worry-Paralysis typical of Introverts.
Introverts have plenty of initiatives, they get lost in rumination, they are not less productive than Extroverts who should give testimony, to the extent of taking Introverts physically to prospective employers, when friends or family.
Online Addressing can play a role, nevertheless.

Giving Testimony is rewarding in ADHD. 
One of the biggest obstacles in Mental Disorders is lack of Camaraderie, or Distrust.
Building Community is my main goal.

Impulsivity as a Gift.

The first priority of ADHD is Staying Alive.
Impulsivity is one of these gifts.
It is not meant as Arrogance, never, something all NT should know.
It is the desire to be listened to, like watching a movie together.

Impulsivity is not permanent. It abates when needs are met.
The reason a rewarding job is often more satisfactory than an insensitive family.
ADHDers crave Camaraderie. I can’t watch tv alone.

After all, talking of Arrogance, who scores higher…? The NT refusing to share our favorite drama once a week or us?

Altogether, latest research defines Impulsivity/Compulsivity as Fear of the Unknown.

Looking forward to enjoying a movie with my wife is an Incognito.

I don’t fear tomorrow, I m a Believer.
I fear tonight, despite Jesus being with me all the time.
Again, living in the Present Moment is the most feared experience, since we focus on the task at hand, forgetting Jesus’ Presence.


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Trauma Dumping in ADHD

Introvert vs Extrovert in ADHD.

Individuals on the same spectrum do share basic traits however, each person has their own personality.

In ADHD/ASD, we can identify two main groups, Introverts and Extroverts.
The popular belief is that all ADHDers are overly emotional, these are the most hyperactive and social, hence visible.

I’m an extrovert always looking for company, particularly in Entertainment.
I value friends a lot, although I spend most of the time with my wife at home.

Watching tv still remains the top priority before bed.

This doesn’t ensure common tastes everytime.
I favour docudramas, she’s a variety type.

She often deserts me for online watching.

I dread watching TV on my own.

Entertainment is Sharing to me.
I acknowledge that is selfish behavior, though I can’t help with it.
I know where it stems from: Trauma Dumping.

My parents never watched TV with me.
I relive that experience by mirroring on my wife, despite not having it disclosed to her. Either arguing or turning the TV off follows suit. Better than watching alone.

On the contrary, I m ecstatic when she joins me.
I’ll have to tell her soon or later by reaching a compromise.

Trauma Dumping is the result of Emotional Dysregulation.
And tonight, my favourite drama is airing.
Waiting in anguish.
I’m scared.



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Self-Reinforcing Dopamine in ADHD

ADHD requires lots of Self-Awareness.

We know that any decision is executed at Prefrontal level in ADHD, an advantage in emergency situations, a disadvantage in analytic settings.

This scenario highlights the importance of Self-Awareness in ADHD.

ADHDers have poor judgment.

While this is an indelible benchmark, there are techniques to control the Impulsivity.

Training is the key, and it can be lengthy.
Keep in mind that nothing happens without Reward in ADHD, and not everyday is rewarding.

Managing boundaries and schedules is a starting point towards achieving Self-Worth and Analytical skills. 

ADHDers feel omnipotent, until they burn out.

Counseling is almost indispensable in the initial addressing phase. 
Self-Reinforcing Discipline is the first counselor’s responsibility. 

ADHDers don’t have Discipline in their vocabulary, literally.
Once the patient is disciplined, they can work on their own abilities.

Self-Reinforcement 

Reinforcement best describes ADHD therapy.

ADHDers function on Stimulation and Reward only, primarily a pharmacological approach to date.

However, new complementary therapies are understudy, targeting the Brain Reward Systems regulated by Dopamine.
More brain regions associated to dopamine are being identified in addition to the long established Hippocampus.
The Hippocampus/Hypothalamus connection has qualified the latter for Reward.

The general name for the Brain Reward System is the Mesolimbic Dopamine System, leaving no doubt about the predominant role of this neurotransmitter in multiple cognitive and motor functions.

Latest research shows the versatility of dopamine.

Dopamine release can be stimulated by voluntary cerebral activity like Visualization of the future in what is been coined as Mental Time Travel.

People are usually stuck in the Past.
Living in the Past is living in Death, especially if marked by trauma.
The same trauma that we project in the future, a destructive cycle named Chronic Catastrophizing.

On the contrary, looking to the future as the realization of our expectations, anticipates reward, the Self Reinforcement Hypothesis, followed by the Operant Conditioning that consolidates reward by releasing dopamine.

The all process Self-Reinforces behavior in ADHD, disciplining the ADHD brain.

Discipline will be the final product in the cure of ADHD.









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Over-scheduling and exhaustion in ADHD

ADHDers are people-pleasers.

Saying No is more difficult than saying yes in ADHD.
YES has a rewarding effect in ADHD, since we please the recipient.
Pleasing is always reciprocated, a double-edged Reward.

ADHDers will take countless commitments until burnout.

The attitude can fit in Time-blindness for Reward.
I said multiple times “There is no time in ADHD”.

Declining a request takes time and effort.
Altruism and Empathy run high in ADHD too.

ADHDers are heavily dependent on medication and counseling.
The condition is NOT a gift, Reward is always followed by Crash once medication wears off, the reason subjects don’t want to sleep.
Despite that, plenty of sufferers describe the disease as fantastic, sister Autism likewise.
I certainly don’t.

Most importantly, I know when to say Yes or No.

Commitments are not Pleasers.
Every commitment comes with boundaries.
ADHDers struggle to say No because they don’t know their boundaries.

Boundaries are gentle means to say No.
They re-enforce our Commitment.

 Boundaries vs Pleasing.

  • I’m very interested in your offer, although I need to balance family and job. I would consider a part-time position. 
    COMMITMENT 
  •  I’m available for daily overtime.　
    PLEASING. Unrealistic, exploitative.

The message to ADHDers is simple:
Know your limits and schedules.

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Honesty in Mental Illness

A common stigma in Mental Health is that sufferers are Chronic Liars, a very offensive misconception.

It doesn’t take a lot of effort for educated people to discern that the mentally ill can’t lie.
Their ‘Distorted Reality’ is Shame, a desperate attempt at Protection.

The Neurotypical should be supportive towards Shame, rather than accusatory.
Still a long way to go.

The bad news is that Shame evolves with time. 
The last stage is Isolation.
Although it is never too late to reach-out, the more opportunities are lost both professionally and relationally.

I would also suggest sufferers to take action by self-educating.
I said multiple times that Masking is a short-lived failing technique.
You have nothing to lose by disclosing your mistakes asap. Even the toughest boss will be more sympathetic in the short run than in constantly hiding.
Easy said than done.

There are techniques to gather courage.

You’ll notice that I refrain from using the word “Lie” by referring to synonyms like Shame, Hiding, Protection, Mistakes, Masking, Disclosures, Timing… these unproductive Behaviors are not malicious Lies, despite perceived as such by most Neurotypical.

Buying Time is vicious and exacerbating.
Drop the Mask immediately.
Just think that the more you wait, the worse the consequences.

You have only to benefit from Honesty.
Honesty is always valued. It comes with Humility and Commitment, particularly in the workforce. 

Layoff is possible, although to your Wellness, typically good referenced for a more specific position supported by your employer, in this instance. 
It meant that job was detrimental to you and other more suitable doors will open.
It happened to me, with my Supervisor addressing me to my current satisfactory job directly and a warm shake-hand.
Job-centers have Disability departments offering Job-seeker s Allowances.

DON’T PANICK.

You’re never a failure as long as you try.
You know what medication works best for your disinhibitions, talk to your psychiatrist into adding a extra pill just to abate Shame for that new job-interview.
You’re not alone. You can do it.

And may God s love be with you 

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Internalizing vs Externalization in Autism

The connection between Mind and Body in Autism.

Autistic adults generally embody their feelings and are unable to externalize them, a condition called Alexithymia. 
The most recognizable sign of Alexithymia is Rumination, a form of anxiety characterized by body-language in the struggle to communicate internal discomfort.
Subjects may assume a Speaking Posture just to shutdown seconds later.
Rumination is more likely than Meltdown in autistic adults, if not more painful.

The Body/Mind connection 

The majority of adult autistics process emotions primarily physically.
Muscle spasms, hypertension, to mention some.

Alexithymia either prevents verbalization of emotions or conveys mismatched messages, causing friction towards the unaware neurotypical.
This is due to the high expectations for conformity conflicting with Masking.

The sufferer can’t recognize their internal emotions, a process referred to as Interoception. An example would be feeling hungry instead of thirsty.

This is possibly the darkest scenario in Autism, moreover the hardest to predict for humans.

AI Medicine 

AI has now entered every field of life, Medicine nevertheless.

Regardless of the different applications, the universal mantra is “AI will arrive wherever Humankind will not”, the greatest misconception to date, given the fact that humans created AI.

Current AI models can’t “synthesize” internal body-data.
AI models work perfectly in processing external data only.
To say, AI would describe a sequence of dots representing a man as a constellation.
In lay words, it can’t be used in recognizing emotions in Alexithymia.

We can compare AI lack of Internal Embodiment with Autistic Internal Embodiment, to conclude that AI poses serious danger in Autism as of today, by consolidating delusional External Embodiment.


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Sensory Processing Disorder in ASD/ADHD

Big Festivities like Christmas and Easter are as over-craved as overwhelmed in Autism and ADHD.

Holiday-overwhelm in Autism and ADHD is well documented, although new findings shed more in-depth details on general sensitivity towards major events.

Autistic/ADHD Meltdown is now included in Sensory Processing Disorder, an extremely complex, subjective pathology related to Senses.

SPD can affect anyone, in a specific way.
For this reason, I will explore the topic from an AuDHD perspective, particularly involving one of the eight senses, Proprioception.

Proprioception stands for Body Awareness, both mental and physical.
An autonomous system telling us where our body parts are in Motor Coordination and Memory, henceforth associated to Dopamine Circuits.

Sensory Responses define SPD.

The Sensory Responses of Autism/ADHD are:

  1. Over-responsivity
  2. Under-responsivity
  3. Sensory Craving 
  4. Sensory Avoiding 
  5. Sensory Overload 

Although ASD and ADHD are co-morbid, we can specifically select 1-4-5 to ASD, 2-3 to ADHD.

Over-responsivity subjects are overly sensitive and react aggressively to overwhelm.

Sensory Avoiding subjects kind of dissociate from external stimuli.

Sensory Overload coincides with Meltdown.

Under-responsivity/Sensory Craving are typical of ADHD and codependent. Subjects crave Stimulation for Reward, hence they are in a state of paralysis if not stimulated.

How to treat Proprioception.

Dopaminergic standard medication always helps however,  “meeting expectations” is fundamental to Proprioception.

Exercise plays a role in motor function only.

My expectation of going home is exacerbated by the Easter Season right now.
I’m still trapped in a non-Christian world in a Sensory Craving state.








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Lack of Sleep and Hormonal Imbalance on Emotions

Emotions are controlled by hormones.

Sleep disorders are gaining significant momentum in Mental Health.

Stay-at-home people affected by mental illness, tend to switch the day for the night, based on their delusional claim that the night has a calming influence.

Although there are professions requiring 24/7 coverage, our bodies are programmed to sleep at night.
Shift-workers normally compensate with Melatonin supplements.

Sleep is characterized by two main patterns: ‘Sleep pressure’ and  ‘Circadian Rhythm’: the former drawing us into deep sleep, NREM, the latter waking us up, REM.
In popular culture, these two independent reactions are erroneously referred to as “body-clock”.

Hormones’ production drops with darkness and peaks with light, therefore keeping us awake during the day.
People who don’t sleep during the night on a regular basis, are at high risk of cardiovascular and mental disease.
Melatonin and Cortisol are the most disrupted hormones, since they drop at night. As result, the adrenal glands go into overdrive, releasing them in excess during the day.

Adrenal hormones follow the Circadian Rhythm.

The Circadian Rhythm can’t be altered.

The outcome is gloomy: High stress-hormone Cortisol combined with forced suppression of Melatonin, resulting in Depression and Schizophrenia among additional physical conditions.
Low-energy is commonly associated with Anaemia, although it is a main symptom of depression and irregular sleep.
Oxygen deficiency is the main factor in anaemia-induced Fatigue.

The correlation is evident nevertheless, with Depression discovered to be of viral nature too, like some forms of Anaemia.

I believe Medicine is too selective, nowadays, especially Mental and Physical Medicine.

In countries like Japan, there is an hospital for each branch of Medicine.
Patients are ‘shipped’ through hospitals for every new emerging pathology.
The figure of GP is virtually disappearing.
Good Healthcare is the collaboration between specialists.

My take is that governments prefer to invest in disability benefits rather than research.
As a matter of fact, the disable is still seen as poor-economy.
Low-energy is synonym of low-productivity.

Quality Sleep is the first step to recovery.

I’ll never tire about stressing the importance of the collaboration between specialists. Selective Medicine has proven misleading and aggravating.

Worry affects most peoples to a varying degree.
It is often accompanied by Fear, the so-called ‘Fight or Flight’ effect, previously referred as a coherent defense mechanism.

Medical science is constantly evolving.

Worry and Fear are now included in Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
The ‘defense mechanism’ has been debunked: Worry and Fear turned out detrimental and purposeless. Diagnoses always overcome cures.
This results in an ever increasing number of peoples visiting Holistic ‘doctors’ and abusing substances.
In other words, ‘self-medicating’.

Several conditions are not listed in the DSM, despite taken into consideration by Holistic Mental Health practitioners. Inculturation is a major factor in the birth of new diagnoses.

I thought to elaborate these attitudes after finding out more mental-health implications in Projecting.
Before entering psychology field, Projection was synonym of Planning.

Just recently, Projection has taken a very different connotation: despite being not yet recognized as a diagnosis, most therapists treat it as delusional.

The condition first emerged from a revised linguistic model.
Projecting and Planning were used interchangeably, until theologians claimed a detrimental dimension to Projecting.

Anxious people in particular, kind of hallucinate over envisioning their future by deluding themselves into believing their dreams or nightmares will always become reality.
They don’t consider that circumstances change over time. 
They project.

Planning is realistic and motivating, in combination with Regular Sleep.

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