Huge chicken

The term neurodiversity was coined by Judy Singer in 1998. A lot has changed in the two decades since that first essay about neurological differences was published in The Atlantic . The neurodiversity movement has burgeoned through grassroots organization among people interested in social change. It's gradually making space for itself in government, research, and education . As Steve Silberman argues in his book Neuro-Tribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity , “Neurodiversity advocates propose that instead of viewing this gift as an error of nature—a puzzle to be solved and eliminated with techniques like prenatal testing and selective abortion—society should regard it as a valuable part of humanity’s genetic legacy while ameliorating aspects of autism that can be profoundly disabling without adequate forms of support.” Philosophically, the neurodiversity movement is based on what we might call cerebral pluralism—the idea that each brain is … [Read more...] about Neurodiversity: The Movement

I had barely begun my annual read of the Harry Potter series when I was struck down by the flu in late January.  I had a cough, minor temperature swings, dream sweats, and I was couldn’t leave my bed for anything but the toilet or the easiest meals.  Gumbo soup, pre-cooked chicken in bottled vindaloo sauce, hot and sour soup; the nursing skills of my usually destructive dog; Harry Potter and watching ballet documentaries on my phone entertained me between long naps. I got tested earlier this week.  I didn’t have COVID-19 , even though I was pretty sure I didn’t.  Only the cough and sweats fit.  I could taste that spicy food (it helped me cough), I could smell myself getting riper with no energy to stand up in the shower for 15 minutes.  It was a run-of-the-mill flu but oh, my, I was bored in that gray space of 2 ½ weeks. The impeachment trial of Donald Trump made me human.  I watched it on my phone in real time, read everything I could Google, watched documentaries about Q, … [Read more...] about Donald Trump and the Deathly Hallows

Source: Photo by Godstime Linus from Pexels Breaking your habits down into these fundamental categories can help you understand what a habit is, how it works, and how you can break it. This is known as the habit loop. Primarily, a cue is developed, which, when activated, triggers a craving. The craving then motivates a response, which provides your brain with a reward, which satisfies the desire, and ultimately becomes associated with the cue. Together, these four things end up forming a neurological feedback loop that eventually allows you to develop automatic habits. Fortunately, there are many ways that you can destroy your bad habits and keep them away for good. Which one works best will depend entirely on your individual circumstances and specific inclinations. 1. Quit Cold Turkey You can eliminate bad habits by not indulging in them, not even for one day, starting now. Unfortunately, this is much easier said than done. It can be incredibly challenging to get rid of … [Read more...] about 5 Ways to Overcome a Bad Habit

Source: The Creative Exchange/Unsplash More and more young people are suffering from eating disorders , according to shocking figures put together from government data by the Observer newspaper. 1 According to their analysis, nearly 20,000 under-18s were referred, for the first time, to NHS eating disorder services last year, a rise of 46 percent from the previous year. Of course, this is hugely concerning. Experts interviewed for the article mentioned the particular impact on young people of isolation, uncertainty and loss of control over their lives. Karen Street, officer for mental health at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, commented, in respect of the rise in cases at universities, that being stuck behind closed doors in virtual isolation was ‘an absolute trigger for an eating disorder.' She then went on to say, ‘These aren’t going to go away. Once you’ve developed an eating disorder, you’ve now got an illness. It doesn’t just suddenly get … [Read more...] about Eating Disorders Need Not Be Chronic ‘Illnesses’

I have a confession to make: I like mixed martial arts (MMA) and the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). Yes, I get that, as a psychologist who is a huge advocate of peace, compassion, kindness, and well-being, this doesn't make a lot of sense. One might understandably call me a hypocrite, especially if you have read some of my other blogs! I can accept that. Maybe it's just a rationalization to say that we are all hypocrites in ways. None of us lives up to our own ideals. Also, we are tempted to judge others, and sometimes ourselves, in dualistic, all-or-nothing ways. Thus, when I say I like the UFC, that seeming contradiction or hypocrisy might be enough for many readers to judge me harshly and discount anything I say. I hope you don't though! To be quite honest, I do feel a certain level of cognitive dissonance about my enjoyment of UFC (and American football). I'm still trying to understand these contradictions within myself. Let me provide a little backstory that … [Read more...] about What UFC Fighters Can Teach Us About Getting Along Better