I don't think our brains were built for the kind of society we live in. As the pressure to be productive members of society crushes us down, our brains rebel. We need creativity and time to be creative.
Ah ha ha, this cheered me up no end. I've had a few weeks of navigating people who keep telling me I've behaved badly, but I know I haven't and they know I haven't and they know I know that they know I haven't, and I'm exhausted and anxious and wondering how the hell other people manage to navigate these weird behaviours by "normal" people all day, every day in "normal" work environments. I just want the autumn storms to come and to be left alone under a blanket thanks. 🙏🏼
I’m fine really it’s largely publishing industry twatting around, and a tiny bit of personal. I think June and July have just had some weird energy and I'm hoping it’ll pass by August
Oh yeah June and July are mega weird. All the big planets change place at once, which basically never happens, so everything is weird af. (I'm not an astrologer but I do try to follow along a bit.)
Lolll, as a person who literally just gave up and put a referral form in for ADHD because i can't figure out how to be normal, this is a very needed read! they already said i'm autistic 15 years ago or so, but i got to the stage where i was like 'ok i accommodated the fuck out of that and i'm still malfunctioning..??' but you hit the nail on the head with how objective weird our situation is cosmically speaking and how very aware of that i am... why isn't everyone aware of it?!?!?! it's really weird!!!
Yeah it is the same thing about being sane in an insane world… I think we are all struggling with this stuff and it probably helps to know that? Then again, I could be wrong 🤣
Finally! Someone who gets the human brain. If one more person tells me they’re special because they’ve got a tism of some kind I’m going to scream. Has no one realised yet that it’s a way for big pharmaceutical companies to make even more money? I know, drug energetic, creative children? What an astounding idea. That way, we can dumb them down & squeeze them into a tiny box marked ‘compliant’ which makes them pass stupid exams designed in the dark ages to measure one type of intelligence. I love you for sharing this.
Agree in general, but I definitely have known people who benefit from the drugs! I guess most people just self medicate. Tbh I would try the drugs myself if I could. Would be lovely to have a nice quiet brain for once!
I just don’t agree with medicating children, unless it’s absolutely necessary. The human brain doesn’t develop fully until we’re 26. Most drugs are given out without trying outdoor activities, sport, art, crafts, woodwork etc. most kids will be rid of symptoms by spending their days outdoors in nature.
I mean, I have no idea if that's true, but in the UK we tend not to give kids the adhd meds anyway, which I think is wise. I expect many adhd symptoms could be relieved by reducing screen time, first and foremost. For kids and adults!
100%. I know of at least three teenagers who were given meds in the UK. They’ve now been on them for 8 years. None of them were taught coping mechanisms as a first step or advised to reduce screen time or go outside. Straight to pharma.
Yeah I think teenagers now are so much more limited than I was back in the day. No one was helping me regulate my emotions or deal with life but equally no one stopped me from playing out, walking by myself in the woods, disappearing to read for hours at a time. Teens nowadays only have screens where they're left to their own devices. Which is absolute madness.
And this ADHD brain doesn’t care if I’m believed or not. Childhood trauma alone altered my chemical makeup, and I still believe I was neurodivergent even before.
I wish I could invest in a paid subscription, but I’m currently in the process of canceling all my paids due to financial challenges.
I’ll be back though and you’ll be at the top of the list! Or somewhere near it 😁🙏🏽💪🏽
Very wise -- the loops are ridiculous. I'm glad you're doing okay, I've been wondering what you've been up to. If you're ever around in the Black Country or Shropshire area, let me know. It'd be great to catch up :)
I fall into the undiagnosed box ... Autistic and ADHD and bipolar and possibly schizophrenia too. I think it would frustrate me too much to realise I had a medical explanation for moments I regret and was judged harshly for in the past, and to dwell on how little my needs were met as a child, I certainly don't want to balance myself out with drugs. I am crazy and I am better for it.
Well apparently ADHD is effecting me as my therapist said so obviously it’s that rather than my brain trying to figure out how to work due to having a chunk removed. But I shouldn’t assess myself and overreact! The effects of brain tumours being removed from particular places look like ADHD. But it isn’t! Unless that’s caused ADHD… 🤔🤪
Thanks Georgina. I’ve been thinking about ADHD, surprisingly, and The Brain Tumour Charity has described various aspects which won’t change due to where it was, the description has rather cleared my head!
That's good - clarity is useful! I also had a brain injury incurred when I was 11 which in many ways changed the course of my life (as far as I can tell!) Difficult to know what causes what, but it helps at least to have a clear picture of where you are now.
That would not a simple injury at all and brains are rather incredible but always effected by injuries one way or another. I’ve improved gradually over a few years but still can’t do some things and certainly have time limits! This may read sensibly (maybe not…!) but flipping heck it’s taken several attempts to write what I want - can’t spell anymore! 🤓 I’m glad your head is a clearer!
I have my moments! I'm 54 now, so I've adapted over the years and honestly it's impossible to tell what is brain injury, adhd, trauma and genius ;) Probably a confusing mix of all of them!
You are obviously a genius just like me! It is difficult to understand what’s going on up there but as time trundles along we adjust sometimes aware sometimes not. I’m 57 and had to deal with health issues adding up (can’t do maths anyway!) to this most difficult health issue. The tumour started with a seizure which I had in the kitchen and woke up with my hand in the bowl of cat food! It took them a while to find out it was epilepsy. But that is a side effect of tumours. It certainly isn’t simple to know what’s what!
Blimey that sounds so scary! Honestly it sounds like you're doing great and have done a brilliant job figuring it out. It can't be easy, but I hope you can keep on trucking 💪🧡✨️
Lol so funny. I've been convinced of my Inattentive ADHD for years but honestly, the symptoms feel like an obvious reaction to the modern world that I'm just like, meh. How could you NOT have ADHD 😂 They're the weirdos
I so enjoyed reading this. "Having a sense of humour helps, too, or so I’ve heard." Fantastic writing—relatable. My world is radically weird. I used to love rice crackers, but as of late, they taste like cardboard. No similar fix. Thank you.
Oh my goodness, crisps. I’m recently on the pathway for ADHD and I think about crisps all the time. The crispiness of them. I do love the mouthfeel of chocolate too, but I’ve got a pash on Bahlsen Pick Up biscuits right now and it’s the crispiness of the biscuit that sends me. It has to be hand cooked crisps, preferably furrows. What’s your favourite?
ADHD is the least of my problems and I was dx with a bunch of things by Dr. Cohen at Yale University back in the late 70s. But, since my IQ was high it was clear that I'd sail through life and enjoy all the good things life had in store.
I don't think our brains were built for the kind of society we live in. As the pressure to be productive members of society crushes us down, our brains rebel. We need creativity and time to be creative.
💯 absolutely! I have never wanted to be a productive member of society and I am also completely unfit for that role.
Ah ha ha, this cheered me up no end. I've had a few weeks of navigating people who keep telling me I've behaved badly, but I know I haven't and they know I haven't and they know I know that they know I haven't, and I'm exhausted and anxious and wondering how the hell other people manage to navigate these weird behaviours by "normal" people all day, every day in "normal" work environments. I just want the autumn storms to come and to be left alone under a blanket thanks. 🙏🏼
Those people sound like absolute twatbadgers and I'm sorry you're going through it. You have my number if you want to talk about it xx
I’m fine really it’s largely publishing industry twatting around, and a tiny bit of personal. I think June and July have just had some weird energy and I'm hoping it’ll pass by August
Oh yeah June and July are mega weird. All the big planets change place at once, which basically never happens, so everything is weird af. (I'm not an astrologer but I do try to follow along a bit.)
This is good to know, because it seems like it hasn’t only been me.
I mean, I've probably misremembered the exact reasons but astrologers are calling this an unprecedented cosmic situation. Definitely not just you!
I really think twatbadger needs an entry in a dictionary if it doesn’t have one already
Lolll, as a person who literally just gave up and put a referral form in for ADHD because i can't figure out how to be normal, this is a very needed read! they already said i'm autistic 15 years ago or so, but i got to the stage where i was like 'ok i accommodated the fuck out of that and i'm still malfunctioning..??' but you hit the nail on the head with how objective weird our situation is cosmically speaking and how very aware of that i am... why isn't everyone aware of it?!?!?! it's really weird!!!
Yeah it is the same thing about being sane in an insane world… I think we are all struggling with this stuff and it probably helps to know that? Then again, I could be wrong 🤣
maybe we are all just suffering, in different ways, from different levels of honesty about the Situation (the Situation being: existence).
Almost certainly the case.
Finally! Someone who gets the human brain. If one more person tells me they’re special because they’ve got a tism of some kind I’m going to scream. Has no one realised yet that it’s a way for big pharmaceutical companies to make even more money? I know, drug energetic, creative children? What an astounding idea. That way, we can dumb them down & squeeze them into a tiny box marked ‘compliant’ which makes them pass stupid exams designed in the dark ages to measure one type of intelligence. I love you for sharing this.
Agree in general, but I definitely have known people who benefit from the drugs! I guess most people just self medicate. Tbh I would try the drugs myself if I could. Would be lovely to have a nice quiet brain for once!
I just don’t agree with medicating children, unless it’s absolutely necessary. The human brain doesn’t develop fully until we’re 26. Most drugs are given out without trying outdoor activities, sport, art, crafts, woodwork etc. most kids will be rid of symptoms by spending their days outdoors in nature.
I mean, I have no idea if that's true, but in the UK we tend not to give kids the adhd meds anyway, which I think is wise. I expect many adhd symptoms could be relieved by reducing screen time, first and foremost. For kids and adults!
100%. I know of at least three teenagers who were given meds in the UK. They’ve now been on them for 8 years. None of them were taught coping mechanisms as a first step or advised to reduce screen time or go outside. Straight to pharma.
Yeah I think teenagers now are so much more limited than I was back in the day. No one was helping me regulate my emotions or deal with life but equally no one stopped me from playing out, walking by myself in the woods, disappearing to read for hours at a time. Teens nowadays only have screens where they're left to their own devices. Which is absolute madness.
Thank you for this! I wrote a similar piece (without the satire) https://autumnwildroses.substack.com/p/against-neurodivergence?
OMG this was a joy to read! I am in stitches!
And this ADHD brain doesn’t care if I’m believed or not. Childhood trauma alone altered my chemical makeup, and I still believe I was neurodivergent even before.
I wish I could invest in a paid subscription, but I’m currently in the process of canceling all my paids due to financial challenges.
I’ll be back though and you’ll be at the top of the list! Or somewhere near it 😁🙏🏽💪🏽
Thanks so much! Appreciate you being here!
I have no idea where my keys are. How're you?
Kerry! Hello! I'm doing okay. How about you? Lovely to see you on here. I'm not anywhere else online these days so am completely out of lots of loops!
Very wise -- the loops are ridiculous. I'm glad you're doing okay, I've been wondering what you've been up to. If you're ever around in the Black Country or Shropshire area, let me know. It'd be great to catch up :)
Definitely! Would love to see you and catch up. Will let you know xx
Great! Meantime, I'll keep up with your antics and lost keys etc. here :),
I fall into the undiagnosed box ... Autistic and ADHD and bipolar and possibly schizophrenia too. I think it would frustrate me too much to realise I had a medical explanation for moments I regret and was judged harshly for in the past, and to dwell on how little my needs were met as a child, I certainly don't want to balance myself out with drugs. I am crazy and I am better for it.
That's legit. I don't think a diagnosis necessarily means you have to look at your life that way, though. And yeah, like the Cheshire Cat said… 😸
Well apparently ADHD is effecting me as my therapist said so obviously it’s that rather than my brain trying to figure out how to work due to having a chunk removed. But I shouldn’t assess myself and overreact! The effects of brain tumours being removed from particular places look like ADHD. But it isn’t! Unless that’s caused ADHD… 🤔🤪
Oh wow that sounds like a tricky thing to deal with! Hope you are doing okay, adhd or not!
Thanks Georgina. I’ve been thinking about ADHD, surprisingly, and The Brain Tumour Charity has described various aspects which won’t change due to where it was, the description has rather cleared my head!
That's good - clarity is useful! I also had a brain injury incurred when I was 11 which in many ways changed the course of my life (as far as I can tell!) Difficult to know what causes what, but it helps at least to have a clear picture of where you are now.
That would not a simple injury at all and brains are rather incredible but always effected by injuries one way or another. I’ve improved gradually over a few years but still can’t do some things and certainly have time limits! This may read sensibly (maybe not…!) but flipping heck it’s taken several attempts to write what I want - can’t spell anymore! 🤓 I’m glad your head is a clearer!
I have my moments! I'm 54 now, so I've adapted over the years and honestly it's impossible to tell what is brain injury, adhd, trauma and genius ;) Probably a confusing mix of all of them!
Well if you keep trucking too can I cadge a lift? 😁
Obvs 🧡
You are obviously a genius just like me! It is difficult to understand what’s going on up there but as time trundles along we adjust sometimes aware sometimes not. I’m 57 and had to deal with health issues adding up (can’t do maths anyway!) to this most difficult health issue. The tumour started with a seizure which I had in the kitchen and woke up with my hand in the bowl of cat food! It took them a while to find out it was epilepsy. But that is a side effect of tumours. It certainly isn’t simple to know what’s what!
Blimey that sounds so scary! Honestly it sounds like you're doing great and have done a brilliant job figuring it out. It can't be easy, but I hope you can keep on trucking 💪🧡✨️
Lol so funny. I've been convinced of my Inattentive ADHD for years but honestly, the symptoms feel like an obvious reaction to the modern world that I'm just like, meh. How could you NOT have ADHD 😂 They're the weirdos
Ha, exactly!
“Biscuits” 😂😂😂😂😂
Loved the essay by the way!
Thank you!
I so enjoyed reading this. "Having a sense of humour helps, too, or so I’ve heard." Fantastic writing—relatable. My world is radically weird. I used to love rice crackers, but as of late, they taste like cardboard. No similar fix. Thank you.
Thanks! I recommend mini yoghurt coated rice cakes from Sainsbo. Or plain salted lentil crisps.
Oh my goodness, crisps. I’m recently on the pathway for ADHD and I think about crisps all the time. The crispiness of them. I do love the mouthfeel of chocolate too, but I’ve got a pash on Bahlsen Pick Up biscuits right now and it’s the crispiness of the biscuit that sends me. It has to be hand cooked crisps, preferably furrows. What’s your favourite?
Ooh they sound nice. I'm coeliac so biscuits aren't always available. I like plain salted lentil crisps the best. Boring but reliable!
innit x
😎
Absolutely Georgina. I’ve had people suggest that I have it, but my response has always been, “oh great, another thing to add to the list”
The world has gone mad and we are naturally all struggling, to various degrees. And yes, it’s a hard no to kale crisps.
Yes, thank you! So disappointing when people I like and respect try to tell me about kale. It is not food.
ADHD is the least of my problems and I was dx with a bunch of things by Dr. Cohen at Yale University back in the late 70s. But, since my IQ was high it was clear that I'd sail through life and enjoy all the good things life had in store.
Haha is that sarcasm I detect, perchance?