Any Room For Neurodivergence?

Hello again and it's been a while with my previous post on further additions of autism along with more intriguing discoveries over time I've been developing thanks to my latest round of counselling sessions with my psychiatrist, psychologist and an eFriend counsellor. And with 2 weeks since I've stopped my current medication, I'm satisfied nothing bad has been going and I hadn't been too tired and being more switched on and sleeping better. Whether being off the medication helped, I'm not a hundred percent sure but I'm not too worried lately.

As the late months have gone by, I've been able to accept my attributes and bear in mind my barriers which could potentially add needless stresses if I didn't. And lately, I'm turning my attention to neurodivergence which is what this post is all about. This'll be a great opportunity to emphasise it as there apparently isn't much attention in Australia. So what is neurodivergence all about?

Neurodivergence is all about a person's brain functions differently affecting their functions with strengths, challenges and unusual behaviours compared to normal people. I'll now highlight the strengths and challenges.

The strengths.

*    Strong creative abilities

*    Unprecedented abilities to focus

*    Understanding complex concepts

*    Exceptional memories (particularly autistic people)

The challenges

*    Communications with other people

*    Sensory issues

*    Feelings of not blending in

And finally, neurodivergent conditions not only include autism and Aspergers but also consists of ADHD, dyslexia and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Here's something to illustrate neurodivergence.

I've taken this example after encountering this particular scene from Angela Anaconda and with that show, Angela who's the main character has struggles particularly with other characters she can't stand such as Nanette Manoir, Mrs Brinks and even her older dim-witted brothers. Whenever she's in a personal rut, she brings up thoughts and with her exquisite imagination, she puts whoever is giving her bothers in their bad situations particularly Nanette.

With this part, we can now recognise the creative part of neurodivergent people. Other than bad situations, there are typical occurrences in life like for example having to drink a lot of water in summer days. And as I come across anything I've seen on TV whether it's a show or movie, there are scenarios that can pop up as we go with our daily lives. I can remember on the closing days of summer at work, I've chugged my bottle of water a handful of times which is like Forrest Gump drinking 15 bottles of Dr Pepper which I can remember.

And here's this particular scene.

And yes, I can relate to this situation when I'm thirsty. I've even chugged glasses of water but I hadn't gone crazy with other drinks such as Badlands Chugs having a couple of gallons of soda to chug away.

With regards to Dr Pepper, there are a few mentions with other beverages which get my mind running rather bonkers.

With sarsaparilla, I think to myself with the ring of pronouncing it, I've made a strange connection with southern Americans drinking that. With soda being big in America and southern accents, you'll get the picture. Earlier, I thought of Louis Armstrong who by the way was originally born in Louisianna and thinking of sarsaparilla as well but there was also a time I came across some LOL drinks. There's a raspberry flavoured variant but strangely, it's named 'razbri' which to me a black American would pronounce. I even said that and that is a completely random discovery that has occurred.

In regards to caffeinated beverages, coffee and cola can do me without much of a big deal but I'm not too savvy with energy drinks. With those, they're loaded with stimulants and a load of sugar. Anyone drinking these could experience hypertense thoughts which wouldn't too wise for autistic people along with having to frequently go to the toilet. I would picture someone drinking a can of an energy drink but being more tense then screaming intermittently and an exaggerating thought of feeling like an axe wielding maniac.

Although there's one time of curiosity with autistic people consuming some caffeine. I myself consumed some caffeinated drink such as coffee then having my brain function improve, I came across this article which pleasingly supports this idea.

Caffeine And Autism: The Important Connection (totalcareaba.com)

But now, we shall move on. Another example is a piece of my thought process being rather unorthodox in Australia's culture. I'll use the AFL which is our own football league. There's one reference I've made in regards to one of the players Ben Brown.

Whereas some commentators refer him as 'Big Ben', I came across a reference they hadn't even thought of but using his number being 50 and then I've coined 'Ben 50'.

And earlier as I came across Ben Tennyson, the main character of you guessed it, Ben 10, you'll get what I mean. Even my dad recognised that reference but it would be so awkward if other AFL fans wouldn't get an idea particularly at any pub you can think of.

Next up, there's a strange feeling of no teeth along with dentures.

As I came across Bob's Burgers, it seems weird where characters talk without showing any teeth but there's one time I came across a spot of awkwardness when I had one tooth removed.

It was 2 years ago when a molar I've had inherited a root infection. I was given a choice of getting a root canal done or get an extraction. I opted for having a tooth removed as I wasn't willing to get a root canal done due to the hefty expense and little guarantee on how the tooth will last. As I decided to go ahead with the extraction, it'll all be over and done with although greatly uncomfortable.

After that, I was given a briefing about care after the tooth extraction. I've been told I shouldn't move my mouth erratically as there's some bleeding but strangely as I've discovered as I was driving back home, thoughts on any character from Bob's Burgers talking had got me giggling but it wouldn't be wise to do so. It was also unfortunate I had to miss going to the Motorclassica in Melbourne but health is top priority.

And finally, there's one example I turn an ordinary moment into a more funny but obscure moment with the case I've participated at the 2009 Debutante Ball run by the school at the time.

So the deb ball was alright but later out of my amusement, I've pictured myself in the particular outfit doing a rather outrageous dance to a pop song. Pop music to me tends to be rather hot, sexy and also connects with relationship concerns and after watching Mr Bean's Holiday, there's a scene Mr Bean mimes and dances to any song particularly Boombastic by Shaggy.

With my case, I thought of Rude Boy by Rihanna.

And if you're curious about my deb partner, it was Zoe. She was a friend of mine at a time but we hadn't intended to date one another.

But now, I'll cover challenges neurodivergent people encounter. Neurodivergent people aren't regarded as greatly social outgoing and I'll have to admit I can relate. And some I've spoken to feel the same way. Even when I was growing up and not understood too well, I hadn't had a great deal of friends and I've never dated anyone. And then I've reached adulthood and I was greatly insecure but also not knowing where to go to meet new people after a lack of a social life.

Going to groups can get me overwhelmed and drained as I feel like putting a lot of energy talking to people I don't know and then felt left out. Going to a pub to meet people has been a little better but still daunting and then having to put up with music and a lot of talking from other patrons wouldn't be too good due to some sensory issues but night clubs, don't ask.

There are also situations that can be greatly uncomfortable particularly when I was young having to go to places which can be terrifying such as a scene from Rain Man with Charlie along with his autistic brother Raymond boarding a flight. However, Raymond has been procrastinating about chances of air traffic accidents and then screaming for dear life. So then, Charlie had to resort to driving all the way to his house.

I hadn't been too bad lately as I was able to cope but there are things that can make me feel uncomfortable particularly when I hadn't had many friends and currently dateless.

But I came across this video of people's extreme phobias which reminded me of any uncomfortable situations I've been in.

Since I first watched it, that reminded me when I was a teenager when I came across an ad campaign for Type 2 Diabetes awareness and that involves a guy running away screaming with typical fears of sharks, spiders and clowns which are rare but with 2 million Australians at risk of Type 2 Diabetes at the time it was aired, that would be a significant thing to be scared about. That aside, I've been able to meet up with people with things I'm into with cars and art chiefly and I've decided I'll go with it along with new people and current I know.

And now, I've covered as much as I can with neurodivergence. As much as I greatly accepted these whole aspects, the same cannot be said with the rest of society particularly in Australia. It doesn't help how we're in a conservative society and not accepting and different and new concepts as such but there are cultures that can open up other neurodivergent people. In a way, we're diamonds in the rough. However, I like to use comparisons using species of trout.

So you have the typical brown and rainbow trout here.

And then, here's the golden trout which we don't normally see. And being unique as well, this sums up a number of neurodivergent people particularly in this society.

I felt like using trout when I used to live in a regional area of Gippsland and fly fishing is one of the hobbies that exists.

And now I'm 34 years old and well past the new millennium, there isn't much attention to neurodivergence sadly but I'm breaking in as much as possible with my art, getting into cars, doing this blog of mine, sought counselling sessions and growing confidence to be more vocal on what's wrong with other people and a lot seem to be on the same page and that makes me feel good inside as well as having a bigger better belonging in our current society. The rest I feel should take note and learn.

I thought up of this title after I used this for my inspiration. With regards to closing the gap for indigenous Australians, there seems to be slow progress but there would be a decent gap for neurodivergent people as well. And a greatly fascinating ask would be whether anyone indigenous would happen to be neurodivergent but who knows?

See you next time!