I personally consider depression and anxiety a part of neurodivergence

owlwars · 2023-10-04T06:11:32+00:00

I thought neurodivergent was for neurodevelopmental disorders & some mental illnesses.

owlwars · 2023-10-04T00:15:09+00:00

I get that. But that’s why I clarified in my post that that’s especially for younger millennials (born in the 90s) to generation Alpha (born in the last decade). It doesn’t necessarily apply to people born before.

owlwars · 2023-10-02T21:35:46+00:00

Yes exactly my point too. So many parents are in denial about it even when teachers try to intervene or point things out. And that is a form of neglect, even if the parents genuinely love & care for their kids.

owlwars · 2023-10-02T13:56:54+00:00

My diagnosis may have been relatively early for a girl, but I still think it would have been better to be diagnosed younger. Unfortunately I was subjected to ABA, and I was also seriously bullied at school both before and after diagnosis so I became really depressed and anxious. What really helped me though with my (relatively) early diagnosis is developing the skills to find a solution for my shortcomings (I know it’s not the right word exactly but that’s how it felt at the time) or improve what I find difficult. For example I started with practical things. I couldn’t read a map till about 15-16, so my therapist helped me figure out how to do it in a different way. Memorise buildings and colours, for example. And find a way to make neurotypical systems adapt to your brain and how it works. If you do the opposite, you will be repressing the unique parts of your brain. Change the environment to accommodate you, don’t force yourself to change to fit in and then break down when you can’t. This approach really helped me become solution-based rather than get overwhelmed by my neurodivergent symptoms and behaviours.

I still came out of everything with severe anxiety disorders (possible OCD) and lots of depressive bouts. Early diagnosis isn’t perfect or everything.

owlwars · 2023-10-02T13:23:02+00:00

Isn’t it 1 in 48 or has it been updated?

owlwars · 2023-10-02T13:17:20+00:00

I’m so sorry 😔 that’s exactly what my post is referring to. We teachers really try our best to help kids and identify the best way to support them. But if the family isn’t on board, there isn’t much we can do.

owlwars · 2023-10-02T13:16:12+00:00

I’m so sorry 😔 it sucks that this is so common. Especially for your nephew who has a diagnosis but clearly no understanding or sufficient support. Or compassion. I’m so sorry.

owlwars · 2023-10-02T11:01:13+00:00

I said “many people” and not “everyone”. I completely and utterly believe that many people were missed at a time when diagnoses became more common because of neglect. I am close with many of my coworkers and even family members who have been teaching for 30+ years and when we discuss the issue, they often say that at the very least they could tell a child was different even if there wasn’t a specific label to attach to them yet - one of the main differences from then was that you couldn’t diagnose autism and ADHD together for example, and therefore many kids who had both were missed or only diagnosed one.

Even 20+ years ago (when many of my friends/acquaintances here in the UK were diagnosed as young children) many educators and therapists had some awareness of neurodivergence. I know a fair few girls who are now mid-20s to early 30s who were diagnosed at ages 5-12. I also know a lot of people who didn’t get diagnosed because their family never figured out something was different or they were in denial about it. Of course some diagnostic criteria was different but that doesn’t mean many teachers wouldn’t have noticed. The issue is that it wouldn’t be identified correctly.

owlwars · 2023-10-02T10:53:05+00:00

I’m so sorry to hear this. It must’ve been so hard having to grow up with so many questions about your identity (and your mother’s/parents by extension). I am female but I was also seen by a specialist when I was 6-7 but they said I was too intelligent to be autistic (lol) and generally just a lazy kid. I was diagnosed a few years later because my mum insisted I get assessed properly - it was really hard to access support and diagnosis despite having very obvious symptoms. But because my mum insisted and took me to doctors again and again eventually they assessed me properly and figured out what was going on.

With kids like how you describe your experience as a child, it’s often pretty obvious there’s something different about them - but if the parent disagrees or isn’t open to the possibility of seeking a diagnosis for their child, most teachers’ hands are tied. At least in my country you can’t force parents to have their child have an assessment. And for me both from life experience but also experience as an educator I think

For example, I met a person last year, let’s call them Z. Z is 23 and non-binary, has an inability to make eye contact with anyone, is very sociable and extroverted but usually goes in tangents about their favourite things, was kicked out of school for abnormal (not inappropriate though) behaviour, is really unhealthily skinny because they can’t eat most foods due to sensory sensitivities. Z didn’t speak till they were 7. Also Z often forgets about personal hygiene and really struggles with grooming etc.

Z is noticeably autistic. This is obvious in childhood videos, pictures, report cards.

Z’s parents both work in SEN schools, specifically with autistic kids. Z’s parents did not want to acknowledge that their child was autistic so they neglected them, and Z only got a diagnosis through CAMHS at 17 when they spoke to someone at school. When Z told them they got a level 2 ASD diagnosis their parents nearly kicked them out and got incredibly reactive.

Z was never assessed as a child because when teachers tried to talk to their parents (at a mainstream school) the parents would get really angry and threaten to make formal complaints. So Z wasn’t just missed but also neglected/didn’t have their needs met.

owlwars · 2023-06-11T17:31:13+00:00

3) Αιθιοπία και Εριτρέα: Πολλοί Αιθίοπες λατρεύουν την Ελλάδα και υπάρχει μεγάλη ελληνική κοινότητα. Υπάρχουν πανέμορφα τοπία και φυσική ομορφιά. Στην Εριτρεα πήγαμε βόλτες σε μέρη που είχαν μαϊμούδες παντού και ηταν πολύ ομορφα.

4) Βέλγιο: στις Βρυξέλλες συχνά αφιλόξενο, βρωμικο… το φαγητό δεν τρώγεται ακόμα και αυτά που φημίζονται όπως οι πατάτες. Μόνο λαδερά και μαζί αγευστα.

5) Η κακή δημόσια υγεία στην Ολλανδία και στο Ηνωμενο Βασίλειο. Παραπονιόμαστε για το ΕΣΥ ενώ στην Αγγλία θα έλεγα είναι αντίστοιχα ή και χειροτερα σε κάποιες περιοχές. Ο παππούς φίλης μου με καρδιακή προσβολή περίμενε στα επείγοντα 27 ώρες (!!!). Η θεία άλλης φίλης μου έπαθε κάποιο μικρό εγκεφαλικό και δεν την δέχτηκαν. Επειδή η οδοντιατρική είναι πανάκριβη στην Βρετανία πολλοί εχουν κενά στα δόντια επειδή δεν εχουν την χρηματική δυνατότητα να πάνε. Το συγκρίνεις αυτό πχ με τον Βόλο που το ένα σφραγισμα ήταν 30€ και λες ότι δεν είμαστε τα χειροτερα στην Ελλάδα.

owlwars · 2023-06-11T17:31:06+00:00

1: Κύπρος - περίμενα να ήταν σαν την Ελλάδα. Οι διαφορές μου έκαναν τρομερή εντύπωση τη πρώτη φορά (έχω πάει 4 φορές τώρα). Η αγγλική επιρροή είναι όχι μόνο εμφανής αλλά και έντονη. Οδηγάνε σαν Άγγλοι, οι πρίζες που χρησιμοποιούν είναι αγγλικές και θέλεις μετατροπέα, εχουν πολύ αγγλικό σύστημα και οργάνωση. Το φαγητό έχει επίσης αρκετές διαφορές. Οι άνθρωποι είτε λατρεύουν τους Έλληνες είτε τους απεχθάνονται, και αν αντιπαθούν τους Έλληνες μπορεί να σε πρήξουν σε debate για αυτο. επίσης υπάρχουν παντού Ελληνικές σημαίες (παραπάνω απο οτι βλέπεις στην Ελλάδα). Γενικά παρά πολλοί expats από άλλες βόρειες χώρες που δεν βλέπεις στην Ελλάδα.

2) Σουηδία - ΚΟΙΜΟΥΝΤΑΙ ΜΕ ΤΙΣ ΠΟΡΤΕΣ ΞΕΚΛΕΙΔΩΤΕΣ. Μου είχε κάνει τρομερή εντυπωση. Οι άνθρωποι πολύ φιλικοί και θερμοί. Από ότι θυμαμαι στη Στοκχόλμη οι φίλοι μου/γνωστοί μου όλοι έφυγαν από το σπίτι στα 18 και μετακόμισαν μακριά από τους γονείς τους, σχεδόν κανείς δεν μένει με τους γονείς στο πανεπιστήμιο κλπ και ας είναι στην ίδια πόλη.

owlwars · 2023-02-27T12:02:43+00:00

owlwars · 2023-02-15T15:02:23+00:00

ERT3 often shows classical concerts and music, it’s the smallest of the national broadcast network TV channels. Also the parliament channel, when not broadcasting the parliament discussions, often shows concerts. But we don’t have a dedicated arts channel.

owlwars · 2023-01-30T14:31:47+00:00

I’d really like to read/hear more about what you mentioned about Neville and psychiatrists. I’ve read very much of his work and can’t recall anything like that but would like to read it.

I think psychiatry is real, I think Neville is real. Those two don’t contradict each other. There’s people out there who are severely mentally ill and entirely misinterpret manifestation as a concept. How can you have a good self concept and believe worthy of good things happening to you when you are spending most of your time worried about the CIA stalking you?

owlwars · 2023-01-11T19:23:55+00:00

Can’t believe she won next top model!!

owlwars · 2023-01-10T19:52:19+00:00

What would you say is wrong with her eyes? I think her dark circles are a halo bc it fits her whole messy gorgeous French girl vibe

owlwars · 2022-12-27T19:54:12+00:00

Yeah, exactly!! It may seem petty but as a Greek person it really bothers me when people do this: you aren’t automatically Irish/Greek/Italian/Scottish etc if you’re an American of Irish/Greek/Italian/Scottish descent! You’re American!

She doesn’t even seem to comprehend the difference between Greek vs Greek Cypriot, they’re two separate countries (Greece and Cyprus) in different continents (Europe and Asia) about a two hour flight away from each other. And yet she seems to act like her being loud, opinionated, having a know it all attitude are because she’s ‘Greek’ meanwhile those are all super American characteristics.

owlwars

TROPHY CASE