Meltdowns, Myth-busting, (Un)masking, And More
My seven most popular stories from the past two months
Brief update
It’s been a very interesting couple of months. My Facebook page has really grown, I hosted my first webinar, and I have taken on quite a few more clients engaging my advocacy and support services.
This means I’ve had less time to write, but I am really enjoying meeting fellow Neurodivergent (ND) folks.
I’ve met ND clients who are tired of the same old advice that doesn’t work for our unique brains, so we come up with strategies that will actually work for them. I’ve met parents who really want to advocate for and support their children in a neurodiversity-affirming way, and professionals who want to grow.
The online ND community is amazing and supportive. So many fellow ND content creators work together to uplift one another, to create safe spaces for ND people to learn from one another and share experiences. I feel very fortunate to have found my neurokin.
7) Supporting loved ones through meltdowns
You’re doing everything right.
You’ve read all the books on parenting and emotional co-regulation. You’ve provided a safe space where they can calm down when they are dysregulated, and have learned to stay calm no matter what.
You’re doing everything right and still things are not getting any better.
Now what?
Supporting Loved Ones Through Meltdowns
6) Why I consciously unmask with all my clients
How professionalism is performative, and why I let my ND quirks loose when I’m working with clients.
I’m capable of masking to the point of nearly “passing” as a slightly quirky, fidgety neurotypical.
I could put on my professional mask and look much like every other coach, tutor, therapist, or advocate my clients have seen before.
Except those professionals and clinicians haven’t always been helpful, otherwise this prospective client wouldn’t be reaching out to me.
Why I Intentionally Unmask My Neurodivergence With All My Clients
Also…
I want to communicate through my actions it is safe for them to be their true authentic selves, and “weirdness” will be embraced and celebrated.
5) Naughty or neurodivergent?
Oh, supernanny.
Jojo made a(nother) big mistake.
(Why some labels are more useful than others).
Yeah, I’m gonna need you to stop pathologizing childhood while refusing to actually identify and accept divergent neurotypes.
4) Dispelling Autism myths
This one’s for the neurotypicals. If you’re Autistic, you’ve likely heard all of this before, but feel free to grab a cuppa and make yourself comfortable.
Autism stereotypes and misinformation are much too prevalent, so I’m doing my small part by dispelling a few of those myths.
3) Autistic and ADHD differences
Differentiating Between ADHD and Autism.
While ADHD and Autism have a lot of similarities, many of the traits which seem the same have very different underlying contributing factors.
Because neurology is so complex, there is a vast spectrum of traits and individual experiences.
Expanding on a previous piece, I (attempt to) explain how Autism and ADHD are similar and how to tell them apart.
2) HSP is still code for Autistic
Most “Highly Sensitive People” are actually just heavily masked Autistics.
At the beginning of this year, I wrote a piece entitled The “Highly Sensitive Person” is Code for Autistic, after reading a popular psychology article which claimed to differentiate the two, then described all the ways in which they are the same thing.
At the end of September a new article surfaced. It was even worst than the last, so I simply could not let it go unaddressed.
The Highly Sensitive Person Is Still Code for Autistic
1) Autistic PDA: Our Pervasive Dive for Autonomy
My top article from the past two months was about PDA, referred to in clinical terms as Pathological Demand Avoidance.
My article asks: Is the PDA Autism profile helpful, or does it further pathologize Autistics?
Autistic Pervasive Drive For Autonomy
I also draw upon work by other Autistic scholars who have offered other, better, names for PDA. My two favourites are the Pervasive Drive for Autonomy, and Rational Demand Avoidance (RDA).
Honorary mention
This article is doing very well, but I only published it four days ago, so it hasn’t a chance to compete with the others.
Self-Care That Does Not Involve Yoga or Meditation
More like this
My Top Stories From August And September
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© Jillian Enright, Neurodiversity MB