dignity condition and brain wiring
Back in 1990, when I first started taking anti-depressants, talking about clinical depression and meds outside of a doctor’s office was taboo. There was this stigma attached to drugs like Prozac, and it prevented many people from getting the help they needed.
Fast forward 30 years, and that stigma has all but vanished. Maybe social media helped. Or maybe Eli Lilly flooded doctors’ offices with free samples. Probably both.
We’re witnessing the same thing happening right now with menopause. Every woman my age and older was told exactly nothing by her mother about what to expect, physically or otherwise. Even 10 years ago, women were whispering to each other in private about hot flashes and brain fog. Now there are weekly menopause articles in fashion magazines, and new start-ups trying to collect our data/symptoms so they can sell ads against them.
Also no longer taboo: Talking about ADHD and neurodivergence. I’m lumping these two together for a reason; bear with me. On TikTok, I’ve seen people open with “I have ADHD” or “I’m autistic.” Sometimes I listen to their stories. And sometimes they will share thoughts or feelings that I, too, have thought or felt. Usually about anxiety in social situations.
So last night I googled ADHD and read enough to learn that no, I do not have ADHD.
But am I autistic? Neurodivergent? On the spectrum? (I don’t even know what language to use here.) A quick web search brought up page after page of online quizzes and tests. I took three of them:
According to this one (Clinical Partners UK), I experience many typical signs of autism, and am “borderline.” I can pay them £2250 if I want a full assessment.
According to another one (Health Central), “there is a mild indication that you have symptoms common among people with adult autism.”
And according to the third (PsychCentral), where I scored 21 out of 40 points, I need further evaluation.
All of this is top-of-mind because I spent half the day volunteering at A Wider Circle (nonprofit site) for the first time.
Imagine a space the size of a large furniture showroom. Maybe 20,000 square feet. Mostly below ground. Organized but filled floor to ceiling with donated goods: Furniture, mattresses, toys, housewares, books, art, baby gear, and clothes. For almost four hours, I sorted clothes, shoes, purses, and ties. Hung up or stored what they could use — things in “dignity condition” — and bagged up what they couldn’t for the “overflow” section.
Cars kept pulling up to the loading dock and dropping off more bags and boxes of clothing donations, which the “heavy lifter” dudes brought back to my station — all the while telling me it was a slow donation day. Oh, and there was no air conditioning. I was sweating more than I do while playing tennis, using my sleeves to wipe my face. I worked my ass off and loved every second of it. Which makes me wonder if that is “normal.” Because I can’t think of a single person I know who would have enjoyed the work I did this afternoon.
So I want to read some books about neurodivergence and mild autism. If you have any recommendations, please send them my way? As always, you can reply directly to this email and anything I share will be anonymous.
Links
The Amish quilt exhibit at the Smithsonian American Art Museum is just incredible. There is so much more to Amish quilts than just a mess of little triangles. I was not expecting to like them so much. (Smithsonian)
“Countless men — otherwise respectable husbands and fathers and brothers and boyfriends, perhaps even yours — never bother to wash between the cheeks when they bathe.” (Slate)
But they’re paying money for filler in their junk. (The Cut)
“O’Neills, the go-to brand for Irish football shorts, does offer a range of lengths, from long length to absolute ho.” (GQ)
“Ever wonder what happened to Erykah Badu’s ex? We called Tyrone.” (The Grio)
I was gonna skip Glasgow when I go to Scotland. Now it’s at the top of my list. (Digg)
Baby boomer about to give donotreply@homedepot.com some hard truths. (Hard Times)