It’s a long-standing stereotype that neurodivergent people tend towards the political left, but is it true?
Some claim that this is not the case at all and cite examples of famous right wingers who have been diagnosed with Autism or ADHD. In response, others counter that these particular individuals may be outliers in terms of public figures, but are actually reflective of a larger trend. When you examine the numbers closely, it turns out that people on the autism spectrum, for instance, are more likely to be liberal than conservative or moderate.
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Personal experience also confirms this claim. Neurodivergent people may have differing opinions about other aspects of society and human nature, but a few commonalities seem to stand out. Many neurodivergent individuals believe that a person should be judged on the content of their character rather than the color of their skin, for instance.
In addition, they tend to have less of an appetite for conformity and authority in general, instead preferring quiet contemplation or constructive debate. In other words, they tend to be more liberal and progressive.
Example:
Many who fit this description find themselves frustrated with the current political climate in America. Donald Trump won an election he had no business winning because voters were tired of the status quo and wanted something different even if it was uncertain or downright scary. Yet that doesn’t mean neurodivergent people are anti-Trump per se, it just means that they are less likely to buy into the demagoguery of people who thrive on pitting groups against each other.
This is not an exhaustive list of traits associated with neurodivergent people – it is merely a sampling. The point is that, when you put all these factors together, a trend begins to emerge. The numbers may be small but they are representative of a larger movement based on the idea that the government should not unnecessarily inhibit citizens from achieving their goals or limit access to health care.
In other words, neurodivergent people tend to be more liberal because they have a different view of what it means to be a human. They don’t just want to have a voice, they want to use that voice to have a say in how their government operates and what it is supposed to do on behalf of its citizens.
What does this mean for the future?
That all depends on whether neurodivergent liberals can influence enough of the rest of the population to enact change.
With all the violence in today’s society, it may become easy to feel as though you are not safe. Whether it be walking down the street or standing up for yourself at school, it is important to stand up for yourself if something doesn’t seem right. It can be hard to speak up when you’re afraid of being ignored, ridiculed, harassed, assaulted, or even killed. The best thing you can do is practice how to defend yourself before a threatening situation arises.
If that isn’t possible, then you need to learn how to stand up for yourself now – here are some suggestions on how:
1) Be aware of your surroundings and what’s going on around you so that you have time to plan an escape route if necessary.
2) Figure out the best way to get help. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. Otherwise, find someone with authority that is close by and ask for their help.
3) Set a timer on your phone or watch before you start yelling; this way, you’ll know roughly how long it took for someone to come save you, which can give you an idea of what to do next time if the same thing happens again.
4) Tell people what’s going on – You are not alone! Let others know what’s happening so they can try to either stop the problem themselves or protect themselves from getting hurt as well. Don’t be afraid of looking foolish… taking care of yourself is more important right now than worrying about what others think.
5) Trust yourself! You know you deserve to be treated with respect, so don’t let anyone make you feel like you are wrong for speaking up. Some cases of violence against women stem from not trusting themselves and their instincts… don’t let this happen to you!
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If a threat is imminent, one thing that can help is to shout out a phrase such as “NO!” or “STOP!” Have your voice project through the air while staying firm and confident in your tone. It will take a lot of practice if you’re not used to yelling, but the more often you do it, the easier it will get. This shows that you mean business and won’t just stand there being victimized. Once the threat is gone, DO NOT turn your back on them and start walking away. You never know when they will change their mind and come for you again. Get to a safe place where there are other people and wait for the police if necessary.
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This next step applies only if escape is impossible:
1) Be aggressive! If someone has cornered you or is threatening you with violence, don’t hold back – stand up for yourself! Make noise by kicking, stomping, screaming, whatever it takes to get the attention of others around you (or at least let him/her know that you won’t be an easy target). Your safety is more important than worrying about what others think of you yelling in public. They probably already think you’re some helpless victim anyway, so what do you have to lose?
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2) If you feel like the attacker is getting ready to hit or stab you, then it’s time to defend yourself. Make sure that he/she knows that this is not going over well with you and make them think twice about whether their actions will be worth any consequences they might face – such as legal problems, lawsuits etc… The best way to do this would be a physical attack of your own like pushing, punching (though this could get you into trouble), scratching and even biting (this shouldn’t draw blood).
There are three reasons for doing this:
It will throw him off guard
It will let him know he won’t just get away with whatever he has planned, and
It shows that you are not weak (in some cases, it could be worth your while to make him think this). No one wants to hit or stab a person who fights back.
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You might feel like you’re overreacting because you’re afraid, but remember that feeling is there for a good reason! If you stay passive, then the threat still exists and will continue to grow if nothing changes. You can’t just allow someone else to mace, knife, shoot or beat you up – stand up for yourself!
These tips should help you figure out how to stand up for yourself but keep in mind that there are other things involved… such as learning what triggers certain feelings so they don’t escalate into something more dangerous, learning self-defense techniques and looking out for the signs of a potentially violent situation.
Bullying is a touchy subject for many people. I am not talking about the kid on your street corner calling you names. I am instead referring to something much more serious, like cyberbullying or physical bullying (poking, pushing, etc.).
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First Step
The first way to deal with bullies is to tell an adult. This can be a relative, friend, teacher, or even the principal of your school. If these adults don’t do anything to stop the bully from his/her antics, this will certainly not help matters.
Another way to deal with bullies is to stand up for yourself and fight back! Don’t let them push you around and intimidate you. Stand up to them and tell them they’re wrong.
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Now, I know what some of you may be thinking:
What good will that do? The bully is just going to push around someone else! That’s true. But then again, the bully might stop picking on you and start picking on someone who isn’t so outspoken about it! Also, if a bully realizes that you aren’t going to be a push-over, he/she may think twice about picking on you again.
Now, here’s the real secret:
Guys and girls don’t tend to really fight back against bullies. Instead, they talk behind the bully’s back, run away from the situation, or ignore the bully altogether. All of this just makes the bullying worse, especially if the bully sees that s/he can get away with it because nobody will confront her or him.
And don’t worry… If you tell an adult about something like this, they won’t be mad at you for fighting back! They’ll instead try to deal with the bully(s) too.
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One more thing to remember:
If you’re being bullied, it’s important not to blame yourself for what is happening to you. Sometimes bullies are just mean because they have no friends or something like that. It’s not your fault!
So now that you know how to deal with a bully, let’s look at some examples.
Example #1: You are walking to school, and a bully approaches you… What do you do?
Here’s what I would do: First, I’d tell the girl or guy that they’re being mean. If that doesn’t work, then I’ll stand up for myself and start standing up for myself. I’ll yell back and tell her or him that they’re not going to push me around anymore!
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Example #2: A bully is bothering you at school… What do you do?
Here’s what I would do: First, I’d talk to the principal of my school about it. If the principal doesn’t do anything about it, then I’ll tell my teacher. If talking to the teachers won’t make the bullying stop, I’ll find someone who can protect me (they could be another adult, like a police officer).
Example #3: The bully is being mean online… What do you do?
One thing you could do is ignore the bully altogether. If the person doesn’t stop after a while, then I’d block them so they can’t contact you anymore.
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Example #4: A friend of yours is being bullied… What do you do?
If your friend isn’t confronting the bullies, then they’ll probably appreciate you if you do so for them. If your friend does confront the bully, sometimes the results can be bad.
Example #5: A bully is bothering you at school… What do you do?
Here’s what I would do: First, I’d talk to the principal of my school about it. If the principal doesn’t do anything about it, then I’d tell my teacher. If talking to the teachers won’t make the bullying stop, I’ll find someone who can protect me (they could be another adult, like a police officer).
Another thing you could do is find out if there are any other victims. If there are, maybe you can all confront the bully together!
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One more thing…
Sometimes bullies will back down if confronted, and they realize that their bullying is not working. They might even realize that what they’re doing is wrong and apologize to the person(s) they bullied. If this doesn’t happen, or if the bully starts to apologize only to turn around and bully other children, then seek out an adult for help.
Lastly…
If you are being bullied, don’t blame yourself! It’s not your fault… Sometimes bullies pick on people who are too shy or scared to stand up for themselves.
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If you think that someone close to you might be a victim of bullying, it’s good to talk to them about the above information. Create a plan together! You can also ask others if they have been bullied or know anyone who has been bullied and see what methods worked best for them.
For example, maybe having one friend with you when confronting the bully will make him/her back down—or maybe blocking the bully’s phone number/email/etc. It makes him/her back down if he/she is being mean online.
Remember that there are lots of ways of dealing with bullies! Be creative, too – you don’t have to use all of the above methods… Maybe you can come up with something that works just as well or better!
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And if that doesn’t work, there are many other solutions. If one method seems to not be working, try another method, do something different entirely… But remember, you have the RIGHT to stand up for yourself. You have the right to say “no.” You have the right to defend yourself against threats and violence. And you have the right to get help from someone who can protect you if needed.
But remember, even though bullies are wrong, being mean doesn’t feel good either! Even if you’re angry or upset, don’t take your anger out on someone else! If standing up for yourself is hard, then maybe try writing things down or drawing things out to help you feel better.
I hope this information helps you deal with bullies!
You can also seek other methods of dealing with bullying by talking to an adult, looking online, asking your friends… Be creative, and don’t be afraid to try new things! But whatever happens… Hopefully, the bullying will stop soon. And hopefully, you’ll be able to find a way to protect yourself!
Remember, don’t blame yourself for the bullying, and remember that it is never your fault. It has nothing to do with you and everything to do with the bully’s problems. You have every right to defend yourself and stand up for yourself. Don’t be afraid – you can do it! You can find a way to bully-proof yourself and protect yourself. And you can also try to make the world a better place by sharing your knowledge with others like I’m doing now 🙂 Might as well have a little fun while spreading kindness 😀
I hope this information helps you deal with bullies! Remember that there are lots of ways to deal with bullies, so whatever method works best for you, go for it! But remember, even if the bullying doesn’t stop, don’t blame yourself… It’s not your fault. And you can build up your strength and courage by helping others with their problems.
But whether or not the bullying stops – thank you for reading. And I hope you’re doing well 🙂
Bullying has become a very serious problem in today’s society. While Bullying is usually associated with the stigma of schoolchildren, it can happen at any age and in all sorts of situations. The following article will aim to explain the definition, causes, consequences, and methods to curb bullies.
One should begin by defining what exactly is meant by the word bully. Merriam-Webster defines a bully as “a blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who habitually badgers and intimidates smaller or weaker people.” Thus, Bullying can be defined as repeated acts of intimidation intended to create feelings of discomfort in the victim. A bully may not necessarily threaten his or her victim but typically uses coercion to accomplish the goal of intimidation.
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Bullying is a worldwide issue that affects millions of children and adults in some way. According to stopbullying.gov, “Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time.” This definition explains that Bullying is a regular occurrence between individuals of different ages and typically involves aggravating another individual on a regular basis.
Bullies tend to have specific traits in common. According to an article published by Psychology Today, “Bully victims are more likely to be physically weaker than their tormentors, a new study of U.S. Army soldiers shows, providing the first evidence that physical size may factor into children’s risk for being bullied.” In addition, bullies typically have some sort of charisma or charm that makes them difficult to confront.
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Another major cause of Bullying is social media. Social media websites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are ideal platforms for bullies. Websites like these give bullies the ability to anonymously target their victims without fear of being reprimanded. Social media can also be used in harmful ways to demoralize others, even when the victim is not present. Cyberbullying is defined by stopbullying.gov as “the use of computers, cell phones, and other devices to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person.” Cyberbullying can happen at any time during the day. As a result of this ease in which information is spread, cyberbullying has become extremely common.
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The consequences that come with Bullying can be extremely severe. According to stopbullying.gov, “A lot of Bullying takes place outside the view of adults and often goes unreported. Kids who are bullied are more likely to have health complaints. They may have headaches or a loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy.” In addition, victims of bullies frequently suffer from depression and anxiety. According to the article from Psychology Today, “In follow-up questionnaires administered three months later, the victims reported an average of almost two additional symptoms of anxiety and depression—and their mental health problems were rated as being more severe.” In some extreme cases, Bullying can result in death. According to stopbullying.gov, “Suicide was the third leading cause of death amongst young people ages 10–24 in 2012.”
Finally, there are several methods to curb Bullying. The most obvious is reporting the bullies to a teacher or authority figure. In addition, you can spread awareness by informing others of what Bullying is and how it affects its victims. A simple conversation can motivate others to take a stand against bullies.
Bullying is a major issue that affects millions of people worldwide. Bullying consists of acts of intimidation intended to create feelings of discomfort in the victim. Individuals who bully typically have specific traits in common and often use social media as a means to demoralize their victims. Consequences for bullying victims can be extremely severe, in some cases resulting in death. There are several methods to curb Bullying, but the most effective way is getting other individuals to take a stand against it.
Neurodivergence is a blanket term for a neurological condition that causes deviations from the norms of typical behavior. Neurotypical refers to someone who behaves in accordance with these norms, and this is how they are defined throughout the remainder of the article.
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Whether it’s autism, attention deficit disorder (ADHD), or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), neurodiversity should be embraced by all people, including those who are neurotypical. It is important for society to recognize the differences between each individual and allow everyone to contribute in a way that they can and want to.
However, it appears that this respect isn’t returned by all neurotypicals. There are loads of examples that show neurodivergent being treated poorly by their peers, from the pillorying of Steve Silberman to the mocking of a man with autism at a Donald Trump rally.
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Neurodiversity is a condition that many people have and do not choose. This is often the case with neurotypicals as well; many of them have conditions or disorders that they do not choose. Employers don’t hire people because of dyslexia, diabetes, depression, anxiety, ADHD, OCD, etc.
Yet, these are conditions that society would never be able to function without – it would be a bleak and empty world if everyone was neurotypical. This is why it’s incredibly difficult for those with these conditions to live functional lives, as many of them face struggles every day that the average person does not fathom. It requires a greater degree of empathy than society as a whole has been able to give thus far.
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The pillorying of Silberman is a good example of the lack of empathy within a neurotypical society. Steve Silberman has Asperger syndrome. Asperger’s is not typically something that would be obvious to someone who doesn’t know him, and if it were, they probably wouldn’t care. However, he is a bestselling author who has written a novel called Neurotribes, which explores the condition and the responsibility that we have as a society to accommodate those with autism. When it won awards, many neurotypicals jumped on the bandwagon of shaming him, accusing him of self-congratulation, self-pity, name-dropping, and only writing his book because of his own self-interest. It was beyond ridiculous, and their responses to him were heartless and cruel.
One man even said that Silberman should be sterilized, which is an absolutely horrendous thing to say about anyone, let alone someone who has dedicated much of their life to neurodiversity. This is not the only example of this kind of behavior; there are hundreds, if not thousands, of more accounts of neurotypicals bullying those with autism.
The amount of disrespect shown by these people is astounding. Neurodiversity affects every single person on this planet, and yet these people feel like they can bully someone who has it without suffering any repercussions. They feel that they can mock someone with autism at a Donald Trump rally, not realizing that this is exactly the kind of behavior that leads to fascist sentiment taking over politics. It’s despicable and insulting – it should be treated as such by society as a whole.
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Society needs to give Neurodivergents the respect that they deserve and to stop shaming them for their conditions. Not only this, but we need to recognize how these conditions can be detrimental to their lives and open our minds to personal growth so we can adapt to neurodivergent people – who we will most likely meet in our lifetime.
Conclusion
Society has the ability to be accepting and inclusive. However, it is clear that they need to adapt more in order to accommodate Neurodivergents in today’s society.
My journey on the spectrum has been an adventure so far, even though I only found out last year that I have been stumbling in the dark for 42 years. I am still learning about the Neurotypical perception of autism and ADHD and OCPD, which they write about in their books and papers. It does not influence me at all because I have lived ‘it’ since day 1.
Is the current education system really good for people with ADHD? Many of us struggle on a daily basis in school because we can’t keep still, can’t focus on what the teacher is saying, and only have one thing on our mind: being done with school already. After going through many years of this hell, it’s time to look into whether the current education system is actually able to help people with ADHD or if it just drags us down.
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Diagnosing a child with ADHD has become very common within the past few years. The symptoms are an inability to concentrate, impulsivity, and overactivity. According to statistics from the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 11% of children between 4-17 years old have ADHD. That is 6 million kids in the US alone, and more are being diagnosed each day.
The first two years of school are crucial for a child’s development, according to many specialists. But if you can’t sit still through an entire lesson simply because your brain doesn’t work that way, you will find yourself struggling throughout all those years of education. With this newfound knowledge of ADHD, I would say that it’s time to take a second look at our current education system.
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Doctors claim that children who are allowed to learn at their own pace have better grades than those who attend regular classes within the public school system. However, there aren’t any schools specialized in teaching students with learning disabilities, so most people with ADHD or similar disabilities are forced to go through normal classes.
“It was really sad to see that most of my friends couldn’t participate in class because the teacher moved on before they were done with what they had to say,” says Sarah, who is diagnosed with ADHD and was bullied throughout school because she often didn’t finish her tasks on time. Many times she had to stay after hours, even though she had already done all her homework, simply because there wasn’t enough time left for the next lesson.
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As a result, Sarah now suffers from a lack of self-esteem and lack of confidence which makes it hard for her to socialize at times. She also feels like she had missed out on many opportunities during school simply because she was forced to learn when her brain simply wasn’t able to.
ADHD and Autism are very common in kids and teens these days, and the system we have isn’t giving them a chance. Schools should be able to provide each student with their own pace of learning, allowing them to excel just as much as normal students. The current situation forces people with disabilities such as ADHD and Autism into a corner, away from everyone else, where they can only watch the fun while feeling left out themselves.
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Reading about how it is so terrible for people diagnosed with ADHD in school made me burst into tears. I really hope that one day I will get offered an education better suited for my needs. What do you think? Shouldn’t kids get to learn in a way they can actually focus on? What do you think is currently wrong with the education system, and how could it be changed for the better?
What are your thoughts on this subject?
In order to make things easier for people with learning disabilities, we need to change our current school system. We need schools that offer students different kinds of programs depending on their diagnosis. Kids who struggle most should get help and opportunities to excel just like everyone else and not be bullied during all those years of school simply because they don’t fit into what our society has labeled “normal.”
Is the current education system bad for people with ADHD? Yes, I think so…
Inattentive, hyperactive, and impulsive children often suffer from a lack of attention. This is because those with ADHD have an imbalance in certain neurotransmitters within their brains which help control how they behave as well as their focus. In the brain, there are two main neurotransmitters that play a role in ADHD: norepinephrine and dopamine. Norepinephrine helps regulate arousal in the brain, while dopamine is responsible for focus and attention. When a student with ADHD takes drugs that raise levels of these neurotransmitters, they are often able to concentrate better and behave more appropriately.
Ritalin or Adderall
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It has long been known that stimulant medications such as Ritalin or Adderall can help to treat symptoms found in ADHD. The problem is that these medications ‘help’ the neurotransmitters get used up faster, meaning they would need to be taken more often or in higher dosages. Stimulant drugs work by binding to dopamine and norepinephrine transporters (DATs) which are proteins on neurons that take neurotransmitters away after they have been released. Blocking the reuptake of these neurotransmitters, therefore, means more dopamine and norepinephrine are available to bind to receptors in the brain, leading to increased focus and concentration.
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The most common stimulant drugs used for ADHD treatment work by blocking DATs. Drugs like methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamine (Adderall) are very effective in treating ADHD symptoms, but they also block the reuptake of two other neurotransmitters: serotonin and norepinephrine. These drugs increase the levels of all three neurotransmitters, dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, although to varying degrees.
Medications that increase dopamine levels in the brain are typically effective in reducing symptoms of ADHD. A study at Stanford University found that children with ADHD had fewer symptoms when they took doses of methylphenidate. The findings were based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, which showed reduced levels of dopamine transporter binding in participants.
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The study at Stanford used a technique called functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure the amount of dopamine in specific regions of the brain. In participants diagnosed with ADHD, brain scans showed that drugs like methylphenidate did result in a significant increase in dopamine concentration. This is important because an excess or shortage of dopamine can lead to hyperactivity or inattentiveness. In fact, according to a study done by Harvard Medical School, drugs that increase dopamine concentration have been used for decades to treat schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease.
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Methylphenidate can be an effective drug in treating ADHD symptoms because it blocks the dopamine transporter, making more dopamine available within the brain. However, for this to work, the drug needs to cross the blood-brain barrier. A study at Cardiff University found that administering drugs that are too ‘large’ or have a complicated chemical structure often has problems crossing this protective layer of cells. According to the study, one factor that affects how well drugs can cross into the brain is their size and complexity.
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Methylphenidate is a psychostimulant medication that is used for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. The drug works by increasing levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, which results in increased focus and concentration. Methylphenidate can be effective in treating ADHD symptoms, especially in children. However, the drug may not be able to cross the blood-brain barrier as easily because it is too large or complex.
My Experience?
I take Contramyl XR 36mg every morning. It has saved my life because it ‘calms’ my brain. This allows me to focus on whatever task I am working on, and since I work from home, this is highly beneficial.
