Brain fog and Anhedonia

Follow-up on Forced Learning

Learning has two main components: the restorative Cognitive Engagement and the detrimental Cognitive Overload.

In today’s session, I will elaborate on the drawbacks of Cognitive Overload.

The Memory Threshold

The Brain has a limit to the amount of information it can process.
It varies between individuals and it s not related to IQ, though Cerebral Metabolism, the ability to store memories.
It is highly dependent upon Sleep, the reason some people function with less than  6 hours per night, while neurodivergents typically require 9 hours.
Ironically, the neurodivergent often sleep less than the neurotypical, contributing to Cognitive Overload.

Cognitive Overload is destructive to ND s

Everyone can experience Cognitive Overload.
While symptoms are basically the same, the real challenge is Recovery.

No matter how long, Recovery is always possible for NT s, whereas the condition almost becomes chronic for ND s.

 Symptomatology of Apathy 

Although there are several symptoms associated to Cognitive Overload, Apathy best describes them all together.

The medical definition of Apathy is the full loss of Interest towards all aspects of life without Shame, like total lack of Self-care in public.
It goes beyond Anhedonic MDD-the highest level of depression characterized by the inability to experience pleasure-and Expressive Aphasia, the inability to express thoughts.

Bottom line: Full-blown Dissociation.
There is no cure other than serodopaminergic maintenance.

That being said, does Competition pay off?
No way.
I value Sanity over Authority.

/by

The Misconception between Emotions and Anger in ADHD/ASD

Intense emotions in ADHD

ADHDers always skyrocket the initial Response to disappointment, just to regret it later.
NT s interpret the reaction as uncontrollable, scary, dangerous Anger-Outburst, inevitably.
Put it bluntly, several feelings are expressed in a single inflated Emotion.
We know why.

The Prefrontal Execution of Thoughts in ADHD

ADHDers don’t elaborate their Thoughts, they act on Instinct to Fear, Preservation, Challenge.

They think their loud Cry for Help will solve all issues at once, targeting the peak of the iceberg. 
They don’t consider that the peak of ice will avalanche backwards towards them with all their negative amplified energy.

That being said, we’re talking Emotionally.
Some pseudo-theories circulate that firing multiple Emotions at the same time turn into Anger.
I confidently dismiss the notion.
I believe in the inability to separate Emotions in ADHD, turning them in Emotional Outburst.
The general definition of Outburst is a sudden, loud, uncontrollable display of Feelings.
I don’t consider Anger a feeling. Violence, maybe.

The Relationship Between ASD Traits and Moral Harassment

The intense fixations and rigid routines characteristic of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) can sometimes cause friction with those around them. Even without any malicious intent, this behavior can be misunderstood as “moral harassment,” which can emotionally overwhelm the other person.

When you’re unintentionally misunderstood as engaging in “moral harassment”.

  • Strong convictions and black-and-white thinking : My routines and personal rules are non-negotiable, and I feel intense stress when they are disrupted. As a result, I may end up harshly criticizing others or forcing my views on them.
  • Difficulty in reading emotions : Because I have trouble picking up on the nuances in people’s expressions and words, I sometimes end up hurting others by repeatedly saying things that come across as cold or insensitive.
  • I have no intention of controlling the other person : The key difference from typical emotional abuse is that there is no underlying malicious intent to “control the other person and gain the upper hand.”

My wife often tells me, “This is moral harassment.”
I have absolutely no intention of doing that. It seems that when I just want to get my point across, or when I’m feeling anxious or scared, I tend to raise my voice.

What are your concerns in your marriage?




/by

The everlasting search for Harmony in the brain is the lead to new treatments

The new era of Mental Health

Current treatments for Mental Illness are turning out underperforming in view of new research and options.

Not a breaking-news, to tell the truth: Psychiatry was predicted of getting absorbed into Neurology by this decade.
The practice is virtually still alive, although headed towards supervised hospital settings’ treatments.
Former illegal drugs are found to be effective for MDD within one hour infusion, compared to months with traditional antidepressants, if not ineffective at all.

Pros and Cons of Hospitalisation.

Hospitals provide a safe environment for patients.
The Cons are reduced independence, although results outweigh it, apparently.
Patients must visit the hospital every few weeks, since the infusions require bimonthly boosters on average.
Conversely, traditional antidepressants may work in the long-term.
Hospital treatments are still implemented for regular therapy-resistant subjects, though many want immediate relief.
Pharmaceuticals didn’t downplay by pushing new drugs into legalisation.

The Dosage Controversy.

So, something very suspicious is coming to light, and the mischief would qualify for pure Plagiarism.
Most Recreational Drugs on the Black Market, these days, were developed for medical use in the 60/70 s.
The 80 s marked the beginning of Prohibitionary use of these chemicals by Governments, in so passing the monopoly to powerful criminal organizations which tampered with them.

Nowadays, the Drug business has gotten out of hand, with the introduction of poisonous chemicals.An example are opioids: 1g. powder sold as heroin, contains 4% heroin and 96% fentanyl.

Latest findings show the benefits of recreational drugs in Mental Illness at appropriate doses, starting with Cannabis, Ketamine, Psychedelics, Cocaine, Amphetamines, to mention the most common.
Ketamine has already been given FDA approval in hospital settings for the cure of MDD. Cannabis is long available by prescription in alternative to benzodiazepines.

Have we been deceived about drugs all the time?
We’ll never know. What is certain is that we are up to something big.
Pharmaceuticals are fast to adjusting for profit.
What I envision as a critical moment is the survival of pharmacies, already seeing significant declines in sales, particularly in psychotropics, their main source of income until recently.
My hope is that current hospital formulas will become available to pharmacies after safety trials. 

Let’s see what happens…

Mental Harmony 

Neuroscientists are unveiling what they coined “Search for Harmony of the Brain” for new treatments.
Evidence suggests the Brain being set for Wellbeing. We would mess up with it through Negative Thoughts and Emotions.
In other words, we self-sabotage with Life Experiences. Mental Illness would be the battle between our self-fabricated delusions and the Brain-fight against them.
Current medication is symptomatic only.

Brain Stimulation 

Several Noninvasive Cerebral Electrodotal Stimulation procedures  are already underway, although Stimulation can also be performed with former no medical means like Music.

Music is now fully acknowledged as therapy, either by passive or active exposure.
We all speak Music. 
Musical waves can be passed under sedation to resistant patients, or selected voluntarily.

Scientists discovered that Music anticipates Rewarding, Repairing Emotions by a 16 seconds timeframe.
Active listeners know what genre works best for them.
We see it in movies, where we envision the outcome of the next scene by the soundtrack. Here is the connection between Music and Imagery.

The theory is that regular listening will abate Negative Thoughts.
Thoughts are naturally negative when resulting from Rumination, since we can’t see the future, what is referred to as “Fear of the Unknown”.
Musical Emotions are not necessarily Predictions, though Harmonic Desires activate Reward Systems and enhance Motivation, a powerful weapon for MDD.

Silence is losing its momentum as Calming therapy.
Unless Silence is Music, a rarity in our society.
I would define Silence as “Sound of Nature”.

The new era of Mental Health has begun.

/by

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.









/by

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.

/by

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 

/by

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.


/by

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.








/by

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.

/by

Memories vs Learning in the Neurodivergent

Non-neural Support Astrocytes complement Neurons in Memory/Motor Function.

The generic belief is that all Brain cells are Neurons.
Too easy to be true.
There’s a bunch of non-neural Glial cells in the brain.
Astrocytes belong to this category and the most influential in removing old synapses obstructing the acquisition of new skills.
They have their specific individual structure linked to the MEGF 10 Receptor, where inactive synapses are discarded.
Once again, Dopamine is the precursor of the whole process, with Astrocytes translating dopamine’ signals into learning.

Learning is strongly dependent on Memories and Sleep.

There are two Sleep Patterns: the initial NREM, marking the gradual transition from Wakefulness to Deep Restorative Sleep, and the Rise-leading REM, gradually reconnecting us with neural activity.
The REM phase is crucial for Memory and Emotional Consolidation.
Based on this model, lack of sleep is a major contributor to Amnesia and Mental Illness, disrupting Learning.
In fact, “Learning” is being replaced by “Memory” in Neuroscience, with the Hippocampus as the primary source for Memory-organisation and consequential Reward, confirming the multifaceted nature of Dopamine, the Hippocampus main fuel. In turn, the Hippocampus would qualify for both Learning and Reward Systems within the Limbic Center.

Neuroanatomy is fully interconnected.

Motor skills consolidate during NREM phase.
They are associated to Memory skills, since both are pre-cursed by Dopamine which signals Astrocytes the Synapses to remove.

This is the fundamental principle of the finding: 
Motor Skills Learning requires Neural Circuits Restructure by removing inactive Synapses during  Deep Restorative NREM Sleep.
If Learning is a Memory, we can confidently predict the interactions between Motor and Memory skills’ performance.

Resources 

The study is being conducted by the Institute of Basic Sciences under the supervision of Associate Director CHUNG Won-Suk, noting: “Learning depends on a precise circuit rewiring process that involves not only forming new synapses but also removing unnecessary connections.”

Astrocytes are the most numerous Supporting Neuron’s Cells, highly involved in Memory, to the extent of bordering Neural Networks like the Hippocampus and Amyloid Cortex in modulating fearful memories.
The Hippocampus alone cannot select all kinds of happy memories from traumatic experiences, as just recently endorsed.

Neuroscience is extremely compartmentalised with hundreds scientific teams working independently, so that new information is shared on a daily basis.
New cerebral regions and associated subcategories are discovered daily. 
Journals of Neuroscience struggle to stay up to date, an example of how limited our Brain knowledge is to date.

Astrocytes are promising targets for PTSD on the upgrade to Neural Cells.

/by