Tag Archive for: Masking

Self-harm

There are hundreds of theories about Self-harm, although all speculative and individual. The most reliable evidence is provided by sufferers themselves as of late.

Self-harm is always an underlying condition, only fact we know for sure.
It is also extremely versatile.

In my experience, it’s a desperate attempt at self-control and discipline.
One must be aware to self-harm.
Self-harm is carried out dysfunctionally for a purpose.

In my case, the most common form of self-harm is face shaving.
I’m not talking aesthetics here, though true Obsession.
Shamefully, the Beauty Industry has found a multimillion business in ‘grooming’ with so-called ‘safety razors’, shaving tutorials, etc., to the point of replacing fully fledged dermatologists.

Shaving is an imposed societal rule.

Shaving is mandatory for public employees.
Clean-shaven is synonym of smartness, so that every man is indirectly compelled to shave.

Don’t believe to proud ‘bearded models’, they know deep inside that they have shaving phobia. They try to mask it by sporting ridiculous  ‘designer beards’.

Those who can’t afford to go unshaven, self-harm with painful razor cuts.
This becomes a compulsion, a punishment.

Females have other ways of self-harming, despite my take on the commonality: self-punishment in order to conform to a society that still shuns neurodiversity.

How OCD impacts Self-harm.

OCD is characterized by hurting repetitive physical and mental behaviors.
Repetition is always harmful for the body: overshaving, overwashing, overthinking, rituals…

Scientists identified the triggering Signal of OCD in the Orbitofrontal Cortex, part of the Reward System. Once again, dopamine is involved in OCD in addition to anxiety.

The OCD brain uses more timescales to carry on tasks, making every task more demanding. This extra energy causes the brain to dissociate from Sequences like dressing up, so that each step is processed individually and repeated several times. It takes double time for OCD people to start their day by stopping and thinking about the next step. Severe cases resort to Counting, e.g. 1- biological needs 2- wearing socks 3- shaving 4- choosing clothes, 5- coffee, etc…whereas the Neurotypical would follow an uninterrupted daily Sequence.

Can you see the correlation with ADHD Worry-paralysis?
Could OCD be Worry-paralysis?
From my ADHD perspective, it could.

SSRIs are weak in abating OCD.
Dopaminergic compounds prove more effective in combination with Brain-stimulation’s TMS treatment.
Nonetheless, OCD is rampant in ADHD and Autism.

TMS-Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation-is the safer noninvasive replacement of dirty old ECT, originally designed for MDD. Only recently, TMS has been introduced in the treatment of OCD.
MRI scans show decreased neural activity in Clinical Depression and OCD.
TMS delivers magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells.
The results are mostly successful within 4/6 weeks.

It is now evident that the brain functions on Stimuli and Interconnectivity between all regions.
The last frontier will be understanding what causes hypo-stimulation in the Neurodivergent Brain.
A lengthy study as the million components of Neuroanatomy.

The race has just started.





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Emotional Dysregulation

Autistics and ADHDers have greater empathy than average. Excessive empathy leads to RSD.

RSD stands for Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria, a symptom of Emotional dysregulation. 
The definition speaks for itself altogether, Dysphoria is Greek for Pain.
Empathy is an Emotion.
Emotions can be processed by Willpower in the neurotypical brain.

Emotional dysregulation has many implications, most commonly Neuronal Signal-disruptions.
Put it bluntly, the brain misinterprets or annihilates perceptions.
A notable example is an inconsiderate tv/radio volume, typical in old age.
In young adulthood, the phenomenon borders chronic Apathy.

However, let’s focus on RSD for now.

RSD is in fact the antonym of Apathy, or too much sensitivity.
Sensitivity in excess is paralysing.
The most visible attitude are healthcare workers: a good doctor, nurse, paramedic, must show empathy to patients, without getting emotionally involved.
This supports my personal theory that Sensitivity has a different set-up in Emotions.

Autistics and ADHDers strive a lot to mask for performance, a short-lived technique leading to Rejection feelings.
We make use of empathy for Acceptance, ultimately resulting in Rejection.

For once in a while, it is worth analyzing how the Neurotypical brain works.

Neurodivergents rely heavily upon their personal background, henceforth lacking impartiality of judgement, in my case being overly intrusive.

The Neurotypical brain values a lot privacy, something I interpret as lack of trust, another definition of RSD.I do recognize the evasive responses of the neurotypical: although they’re not intended for arrogance, I perceive them as painful rejection.
Even more so as Neurodiversity Advocates, we are passionately uninhibited to disclose our innermost thoughts, while expecting likewise from our interlocutors.

We don’t have to assume that neurotypicals are issue-free.
They are just smarter at dealing with problems on their own, therefore neither need help or sharing, yet another interpretation of Rejection in RSD.
‘Pretending’ to be altruistic when not necessary, is outrageous and immoral.
The stereotypical “How are you?” has become a complementary greeting, it doesn’t hurt anyone and is sufficient. They will let us know otherwise if close friends, most likely through body-language.
Know that Language is 70% bodily and 30% verbal.
Distressed body-language is a neurotypical request to reach-out.
That’s when we should calmly push-through.
Everybody has temporary Suffering.

Sensitivity is a spiritual gift, we must learn how best to use it to our benefit and neighbour’s.
In person-meetings over media-chats are preferable between Neurodivergents and Neurotypicals, whenever possible.




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