Words: Matt WraggIn my head I think of these pieces as my annual mental health columns. With that kind of timeline I usually spend some time trying to shape my thoughts into something that makes sense - a beginning, middle and end. Where I started, what happened, how it ended.
For the past few years that has happened naturally - my first was a year out from my nervous breakdown, so I had enough time to get through the worst of it and attempt to offer some hope from the other side. My second and third years were a continuation of the same theme, steps towards what I hoped would be going back to a life that didn’t look too different from before. They were milestones about which I could hopefully make a point and try to leave the reader with something to think about.
This year I have been staring at a page trying to write something for months, but nothing comes. Right now I don’t know how to talk about what I’m going through, how to package it all up in 1,500 words and tie it off with a bow.
Last Autumn, a month or two after I wrote my last column, I found out that I am probably autistic.
Blindsided doesn't start to cover it. It is not underselling it to say that I had never seriously thought of myself in those terms. After all, using Google MD, it is too easy to convince yourself that you have at least four cancers and a malignant personality disorder, and as someone with a diagnosed anxiety disorder I know to stay well away.
High-functioning was the word my psychologist used. Reading a little, I guess I would probably fall into what used to be called the Aspergers camp, although I also identify with many of the traits that would once have been codified as Pervasive Development Disorder, today I believe it is snappily referred to as Pathologic Demand Avoidance. I don’t like the urge to micro-classify things, it feels dishonest to me, so I tend to think of it as simply “autistic”, or on “on the spectrum,” if you must.
The one thing I am sure of is that when I try to explain this to people and they say, “Oh, you have light autism”, that does not feel right. There is little light about some of the moments from the past few years, but maybe that is unfair to the autistic people who can’t function in day-to-day life like I can.
Truth be told, I don’t even have a formal diagnosis. My (now former) psychologist did a good job of convincing me that there as no point in getting a diagnosis at my age. Because I don’t fit the criteria to be considered disabled, it was tough luck bucko. She did something of a number on me with this - dropping an atom bomb of a revelation on my life, then leaving me to pick up the pieces without so much as a pamphlet to guide me, and the fixed idea that there is not help coming.
How are you supposed to deal with the idea of finding out something like this near your 40th birthday? How do you reconcile this with half a lifetime of experiences?
One of the big differences I have found between anxiety and autism is that there is a lot more material out there for anxiety, practical resources to help you deal with the day-to-day. There are a lot more people talking about their experiences, and that does make a difference - I would love to have found a book, blog or podcast by someone who I can relate to. It would be nice to have a template for how to try and deal with things, rather than having to invent something each time.
Since my psychologist told me that she thinks I’m autistic, it has uprooted my whole world. It provides an explanatory narrative to my nervous breakdown, it explains so many events from my past that hurt me, it even explains things that I didn’t realise were hurting me. It may sound silly, but feeling like I have permission to admit that I find people confusing, to know that in social situations it is normal for me to struggle, has been such a weight lifted from my shoulders.
In the past, when a social situation went badly or stressed me out, I took responsibility for it. After all, if everybody else seems to know what is going on, it must be my fault things are going badly, right?
The narrative of autism feels like it is going to be enormously helpful in the years to come, because one thing I have learned over the past years is that learning more about how I am wired has helped me reshape my life in a positive way. But that comes at a cost, reassessing your life is no light or easy thing to do. The past year has been very tough and it is not finished.
On my weaker days, I hate the idea of being autistic. Because I see anxiety as a problem, one that I felt like I was on my way to solving. Stupid or not, I honestly believed that I could beat anxiety and get past it. Being autistic is permanent, there is no solving it, and I want to throw try my toys out of the pram in protest.
I try not to dwell on what I am dealing with in these pieces, but feel like I am falling down that trap because I don’t know what this is all going to mean for me. I don’t know how I am going to feel about it or how to explain it to anyone else. It’s just tough - but maybe that’s the point?
It would be nice to think that mental illnesses are nice, clean thing like a broken bone. You visit the hospital, get the x-rays and cast, and a few weeks later (with a little luck) you are whole once more. For me, I struggle with the idea that there was a simpler, happier state somewhere in my past that I want to get back to, but the truth is this is probably little more than a lie my brain is telling me.
Progress does not come in the shape of nice, clean trajectory where you feel better as the journey goes, the reality is that there will likely be phases where things get tougher again. What I do not buy into is the myth that mental illness magically conveys strength to its sufferers. I can only speak for myself, but throughout my tribulations I have never felt strong. The only thing I have ever done is put one foot in front of the other, take one day at a time. And that is where I am today, one step at a time, focusing on the process not the goal.
On my better days, I see that my idea of a happier past is rose-tinted bullshit. I have been speaking to a new therapist and have found some connections who can help me get a formal diagnosis, but quite honestly I am afraid of that process may bring so have been putting that off. On those better days I know that I need to keep going, because the evidence of recent years shows me that if I can keep learning more to deepen my understanding of how my brain works, then maybe, just maybe, the real happier days are yet to come. Although where I am today may not be much fun, I am closer to that goal than I was last year.
Maybe it's helpful to ponder that you already achieved a lot of amazing stuff in your life, the fact that you're here reaching all of us is testament to that, and you did all of that *before* you knew your diagnosis. So, in a way, whilst it's not a diagnosis you wanted, it could allow you to achieve even greater things.
Unfortunately things took a downturn then, with a breakdown in my marriage and stress at work. I ended up taking time off work to recover and it was a very challenging time. Long story short, I got the diagnosis, and it has been very positive for me since.
I would say that the benefits are in understanding yourself. I suddenly had a reason why I struggled socially, why I found certain environments challenging (anywhere noisy like bars and clubs), and why my relationships with others could suffer. I don't blame myself for that any more, and can manage my environment to allow me to function better. My wife and I understand that emotionally I can shut down if I'm overwhelmed, or that I'm just not that good at certain types of emotional support. That resolved lots of the issues we were having and everything got back on track... Plus it gives me a get out clause to not do grown up family stuff I don't want to do, or just avoid all the adults and spend my time playing with my kids! I have made reasonable adjustments at work to help me out too... I don't really feel any negatives have come out of the process?
Don't get me wrong - there's still tough days or days where you wish you were nero typical, and everyone's personal experiences are different, but just to tell you my experience so that you don't dismiss a diagnosis without the full information about how it could help you.
I wish you all the best. Happy to answer questions if you want to pm me too...
Finally, I quite like this article. It made me realise why I love mtb so much, and I genuinely believe it to be one of the best sports for anyone autistic - you don't have to keep conversation going all the time, and it always gives you stupid stuff to chat about!
www.mbr.co.uk/news/mountain-biking-mental-health-371357
I’m also inclined to think that the diagnosis itself kind of shouldn’t change anything in your self perception especially for older people - the diagnosis is a description of (some of the factors that make you) who you are; who you are does not change based on the diagnosis. You’re still the same person with the same history, personality, qualities, flaws and characteristics regardless of whether you have a diagnosis. Maybe it makes it easier to “forgive” yourself for some of the difficulties you have/had though? And I guess it offers somewhat of a path forward towards learning more about whatever tools and mechanisms may help you.
I’d be super appreciative of any input you have, as it is very hard for me to get inside the head of a young kid who doesn’t communicate in a similar manner to me.
Impossible to say if your intuition is right or wrong, but I feel like these shallows must be navigated very carefully
How does riding your bike make you feel? Does it help? If my bike has a name it’s The Slayer of Sadness, or maybe The Defeater of Depression. Ridng regularly is such an important part of maintaining my mental health.
What I will say is that, as this page is testament to, everyone has some issues or knows someone who has issues with mental health. Usually it's minor but not always. Overwhelmingly though, when you open up to people you'll be amazed how many people are sympathetic. Talking always helps, and if you aren't sure who to talk to there's lots of support agencies or there, or even just shoot the sh*t on here!
All the best!
I can recommend the reading of the following book: Traité du zen et de l'entretien des motocyclettes (Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values)
My brother in law is 44 and though his family “knew”, he didn’t get his formal diagnosis until well into adulthood. He is here with my sister in law for a visit and I continuously try to work on how to engage with him in a relevant way and to help him engage the world in a meaningful way. It’s difficult when the world is built for the “majority”.
Bonne santé Matt.
Sure an ADHD kid may have it tough and develop BPD... but there's a strong probability that it's because one or both of his parents also have ADHD ! And an autistic kid may get bullied at school and have no family support, but maybe his parents have ASD as well, and the whole family is more or less alexithymic, and so the "emotionnal language" is just kinda absent from this family, leaving the poor kid with no way to communicate on his issues.
So it's not about blaming the parents and creating tensions in the family (sure if there's a narcissist it's better to take a bit of distance), it's about helping them as well.
Some will still tell you that you can't have autism if you can look someone in the eyes, or that medication of ADHD is turning kids into vegetables.
Then if you have anxiety they'll give you anxiolitics, but if it's an ADHD induced anxiety that's a psychostimulant you need... so you'll take meds for years without any real progress cuz' that's just not the right diagnosys from the start...
So you never know if youll be lucky enough to find a good psychatrist, or a bad one (but I'd say it's not just France).
So if you want a good psychatrist for ADHD for instance you should try to contact an ADHD association that can point you to a good one in your region, same for autism, you should try to contact an organisation that has a repertory of autism specialists.
When you read about medication, it's about finding the right one, and the right dosage. So when a psychatrist tells you "take this, good bye",
In case of doubts about ASD, ADD or whatever after your own research, I'd suggest to do a neuropsy check up first, with a neuropsychologist, as a neuropsy should logically NOT have a psychoanalysis background and instead have a cognitive/neuropsy background. I don't think it would give you a definite diagnosys but it'll help you have a better idea.
My own experience of mental health is that it is a messy shifting topic that can be as barbaric as surgery. We trust the professionals to make us better in the long run, accepting that we may be wounded by their actions in that goal, but at least with surgery there is more procedure to control consent and being informed to make those choices. With mental health, the being informed is the cut of the scalpel.
I like your resolution of focusing on the process rather than an end goal, as expectations can be debilitating, and as you said, may not even be real or achievable, depending on how much your brain may have manipulated your past.
I think this is where MTB fits in with the story, it certainly does for me. Not that a bike ride is a magic wonder-pill that will cure all woes, but an opportunity for respite from your own mind.
That said, a bike ride will only work if you temper your expectations. Training your brain is like training your body; no one ride will fix anything, every ride will come with a mix of progress and setbacks, and pushing too hard will always lead to injury.
Keep safe, hope you find yourself in a happier place than you were before, wherever it ends up being.
Yeah, MTB helps, but I tend to think of what I use to soothe myself as a toolbox - few jobs can be accomplished with a single tool, it's better to be able to grab five when you need them: MTB (well, sport), meditation, therapy, walking, breathing, diet, fasting, herbs, supplements are all in there for me.
A couple years ago my world came crashing down with several traumatic and life-changing events happening, my depression and anxiety was out of control, and a mental illness I later found out was obsessive compulsive disorder suddenly began to take over every waking hour of my life. I’ve been receiving professional help for the last 2 years and I found out I am autistic, have ADHD, OCD, and cPTSD.
Before all of this, I never allowed myself to consider that I could have a disorder because growing up, my parents would always invalidate and scrutinize any struggles I came to them with. And that became how I treated myself too. I thought, “I can’t be depressed. If I had real depression I would know it because it would be so much worse than this”. Then I start therapy and I am told I am experiencing very severe clinical depression with psychotic features. I honestly couldn’t believe it.
All those years I went without help and I took responsibility for every single thing that I struggled with. Beating myself up, calling myself weak and lazy and stupid. Feeling horrible about myself.
It has been absolutely life-changing learning that this is not all my fault. I hear this happening in your story too and I’m very happy for you. You deserve grace in your tough situations, and you deserve to give yourself tons of credit for managing life as well as you have. Seriously. You should be very proud of yourself.
For those who find out we are autistic later in life like us, it often happens as a result of a very serious burnout, crisis, or nervous breakdown. Autistic traits and struggles are often amplified during periods of high stress. Unfortunately that seems to be what it takes for a lot of us to be able to see those autistic traits in ourselves. So if it helps, you might be able to look at these tough years with a silver lining that you were able to learn a lot about yourself and you’ll come out on the other end more equipped than before to handle future struggles and build your life the way you want and the way that works for you as a person with unique needs.
Side note, if you haven’t learned about autistic “masking” yet, I recommend looking into it. I found it very helpful to understand.
Proud of you, and keep taking life one step at time. I’m standing with you in solidarity.
Cheers 3
I suggest you read Tony Attwood "Guide to Asperger", it's kind of the reference book on high functioning autism.
And same for you significant other (and trusted relatives), as that may be where there's the more issues.
Also it's not only up to the autist to adapt, it's up to both people to kind of meet up in the middle.
Also, about 50% of people with ASD (autism sprectrum disorder) show signs of ADD, so looking into it may be good too.
One thing everyone should know (just to have a guess if they're not feeling one or someone else), is that he observed 4 coping strategies for people with undiagnosed autism :
-Reactive nervous breakdown (self-explanatory, maybe what happened to Matt)
-Escape into imagination (the lonely kid who's better in his own world, books, video games, or with an imaginary friend, etc)
-Chameleon, where the autist observes and imitates the other to "fit in", but sometimes at the cost of developping a "false self" and losing his own sense of self, which can probably lead to a depression. Girl may act as chameleon more than guys as there are more "social expectations" from girls)
-Denial and arrogance : Probably the worst one, as the autistic person exteriorises the cause of his struggles, so when there's an issue it's not him, it's the others. And "intoxicates" himself with this behaviour possibly turning into some quite toxic people who refuse to second guess, who always blame others, who misunderstand difference of opinion as deliberate intent to harm them, etc...
And I wouldn't be surprised if many people with some sort of BPD (borderline) are in fact people with undiagnosed ASD (autism spectrum disorder) or AD(H)D, and a life strong struggle of feeling different (I say some sort of BPD as BPD is supposedly caused by childhood traumas, but maybe feeling different all your life is in itself a form of trauma ?).
I have a friend who moved over the border from France to Switzerland so she could get more support for her son. I don't think things are great over here, but one hell of a lot better...
Thanks for the info.
I have no diagnostic but I surely am somewhere on the spectrum as my dad is most likely undiagnosed ASD/impulsive ADD with some behaviour akin to BPD, and I'd say my mom is ADHD but super-empathic.
Me I was not "weird enough" to warrant a diagnosys, but weird enough to be the lonely kid and miss out on most of my life for, with some sort of mental collapse which could have been the end of me.
Anyway, like you I find that I'm attracted to atypical people (friendly or romantically), I've seen a study on this, and the atypical people indeed had a high probability of being in a relationship with another atypical. But why, I don't know, except that we probably "fonction in a similar way", it almost looks like there's some invisible things going on sometimes.
About ADHD/ASD being the same, yeah I wonder this as well.
WHen you search the web for "ASD/ADD differences" you get lot of pages starting with "oh they're very different !" and ending with "ADD can look a lot like ASD and vice versa"...
So while I wouldn't guess if they're the same or not, I'd say the cause may be similar, but we'd need better dignosys, not just a label, more like some sort of "histogram equaliser" telling you where you're good and where you struggle (IQ, theory of mind, impulsivity, alexithymia, etc)
Sometimes they may also suffer from rejection sensitive dysphoria which is quit problematic.
My teenage son is autistic, suffers from exteme anxiety and PDA. Subsequently hasn't been to school for 4 years (lockdown didn't help here). Yet trying to get help from the local authority is near impossible. "He's fine in school". No he's bloody not, he just uses all of his energy to make it look like that and then explodes when he gets home. We're presently going through a zero-demand process to help him recover his self-esteem. Maybe one day we'll talk about tutoring, or even returning to school. But in the meantime if he is confident enough to eat a meal with us, or perhaps consider riding his bike, then thats a bonus.
Mental illness is still hidden away with nowhere near enough understanding in place to lead to the support thats required. Its all very well having "World mental health awareness day" but it takes personal experiences to really highlight the issues.
While there isn’t much info our there, there is some. The UK-based PDA Society is the best we have found. pdasociety.org.uk
The obsessive tendencies that make someone ride a bike 20-30 hours a week while working a full time job, or spending hours on bike maintenance mean that cycling is a sport that attracts those of us who are wired a little differently.
The solitude of cycling (even for road racers on a team) can also feel like a refuge from personal interaction.
I wish you the best on your journey Matt. It’s no coincidence you are an avid cyclist. Hopefully the cycling community will continue to be a refuge and place of healing for you.
It is for me.
Thank you for opening up and writing this Matt, and @BrianPark I hugely appreciated this article, even if your tracking metrics might score it lowly.
Excellent article.
This line resonated with me "It provides an explanatory narrative to my nervous breakdown, it explains so many events from my past that hurt me, it even explains things that I didn’t realize were hurting me. It may sound silly, but feeling like I have permission to admit that I find people confusing, to know that in social situations it is normal for me to struggle, has been such a weight lifted from my shoulders."
I still take personal accountability for my actions and my part in social interactions but having a better understanding of my deficits makes the whole thing alot easier; its no longer some un-explained puzzle that I struggle with, its an understandable challenge I can now work on.
My wife is a Marriage and Family Therapist, that's similar credentials to a phycologist but a different focus. I have been to multiple therapists LSW's, Psychologists and Psychiatrists have not provided much support, i feel they are better suited for people that are lower functioning.
I recommend everyone in a similar situation read the DSM-5 for yourself it is their bible for diagnosis and you should certainly read it for yourself.
As I interact with people I understand I am A-typical, but I have value, compassion, and community; I realize that most people of personality quirks and are A-typical in their own ways, which brings me back to "what is normal"
If you are kind and considerate, understand self reflection, and share a common bond, that's my criteria for friendship. Surprisingly there are tons of great people in my friends group despite none of them ever being mainstream popular of likeable.
f*ck the self imposed limitations we put on ourselves to be anything other than the best we can come up with.
P.s. Anxiety is a bitch ain't it, way harder to find your place inside your own head than it is to find your own place in society.
We are all different.
You are a unique human being.
Think of your capabilities.
Who would miss you if you were gone?
What would be missing on this world if you would not contribute?
This world is all about experiences. Stay curious, keep exploring!
Thanks for sharing, deep respect for your courage and openness.
You are not alone, my fellow seeker.
Eckhard Tolle "The power of now" has opened my eyes. But it is still hard to see.
Oh - and of course: Mountainbiking is worth to take a whole lot of shit!
I like a stereotypical man don't talk enough about feelings and mental health but I am starting to learn and I think it is making me "better". Articles like this are so important as between the article and the comments people realize that they are not alone with their own struggles with mental health. Thank you.
Thanks for bringing light to your experience, opening the conversation and reducing the polarity of it all.
Many people with autism (or other developmental disorders) often experience mental health problems (which the article touched on. Ie - anxiety, depression, etc), but autism itself is not a precursor to those issues.
A couple things. Opinions are just that, even those of professionals. You're WAY more than any diagnosis. Autism is just one of a number of neuro-types amongst us, with different advantages and deficits. Maybe explore the strengths in your ruminations?
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/673207/visual-thinking-by-temple-grandin
In a similar vein Mark Twain once said, "The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like, and do what you'd rather not." Supporting people close to me who struggle with anxiety has taught me that for all the calming reassurances and possible solutions I propose, it is up to the individual to take steps to improve (however unpleasant those steps are).
I hope that somewhere in this comment section there is a nugget of wisdom that may give you a moment of solace or encouragement. You aren't alone in your struggle and there are people willing to listen and share your load.
The more we all talk openly about our mental health and what is really going on inside, not just "oh I'm fine, mate" and move on, the sooner all of us can heal as a human race and be able to support each other. Love to you my friend and lean into this, embrace being you and that you are not "different" but rather just that you are you.
I am thankful for the fact that my daughter is born into a world that is far more caring and understanding than it's ever been. My parents used to be beaten with a ruler at school if they tried to write left handed! We're now in a place where differences are researched and there is lots of understanding and care out there. There's still a long way to go, but things are getting better all the time. There's even companies out there who actively seek autistic staff as they know that their differences suit the work.
Best of luck to you and your daughter, and well done fighting for the diagnosis - that's a tough battle!
My 7 yo son was recently diagnosed as being on the spectrum and my wife and i have landed on PDA as that really seems to fit his personality. We didn't like the term 'pathological demand avoidance' so we have renamed as Pervasive Demand for Autonomy. We found Kristy Forbes who is fuc&ing amazing. www.kristyforbes.com.au
Thanks for posting this article, and being a real human!
If you are lucky enough to have a MD/PA or NP that listens to you and cares for you and can give you the answers you need, don't take it for granted. Also, don't give up on looking for one - there are top notch PCPs out there, just like anything, it is important you feel a connection with them. That relationship is key to unwrapping the layers and getting hard answers and treatment that will help you navigate through tough times.
But since this is a MTB forum, I will add that at times the best SSRI is a long ride into the woods...
I’m not a huge fan of assigning a diagnosis, but it’s required for insurance and it needs to match the medications I prescribe.
After twenty years of diagnosing and treating mental health, I have found that medications are less efficacious than therapy.
In case folks were wondering, there is no medication to treat Autism per se, but medications can be used to treat ancillary conditions like anxiety, insomnia, and impulse control.
The most beneficial treatment is going to be therapy, the development of insight, and practicing skills learned by studying.
Anyone can learn to be a better person.
In reality, those models and the labels associated with them are probably not quite right for any of us. There isn't really a normal is there? But we do have things which we share in common which can keep us connected no matter where we are on that range. We have MTB and so here we are. Thanks for writing this!
The people who claim to fully understand human society and behaviors, and believe that is the “normal” way for all people, maybe they’re the ones with brain issues.
If ADHD is co-morbid it can be even worse.
Truthfully, at an individual level, being satisfied is the goal, but I do t think society has figured out a way to allow for different ways of being, so we hammer down on anything that varies to far from the norm.
I agree, the functioning labels are not helpful… while I may be functioning well in some areas I’m tanking in others, so the level and modalities of support likely look quite different for me compared to someone else on the spectrum. It’s really not as linear as high-to-low.
In my experience I've also found that having the cognitive ability has brought along with it its own set of challenges that can become disabling in their own demonic ways. I become my own worst enemy… although this could be my contradictory ADHD side that takes over from time to time.
That you’ve found success in many parts of your life without having the self-knowledge could only mean that you’ve already found so many different ways to cope and in some ways thrive… I mean, you get to ride bikes for a living?- wow! I almost wonder if having that knowledge earlier on might have meant limiting yourself from moving beyond those labels? We can never know for sure.
That forums like pinkbike are now providing the space to advocate for yourself and others alike could only mean that perhaps we’re moving towards better days in which we wouldn’t feel as though we needed to limit ourselves or be undermined by others and could easily find the support required to thrive.
I’m finding that having the self-knowledge has allowed for a great deal of self-compassion to develop, and I’m beginning to re-frame all of that emotional trauma that has occurred from various situations that left me feeling confused and in some cases downright angry. Relationships after all are a two-way street, the only unfortunate part of that equation is that we are in the minority and our world still has a great deal to learn about diversity and inclusion in so many areas. Privilege can be blinding, and I do say this from a place of privilege.
On another note, my partner is feeling rather envious of all the extra letters I’ve collected behind my name. They’re like a badge of honour since in most cases a challenge comes with a set of strengths and skills that naturally evolve. I may need to get my business cards reprinted.
Again- thanks for sharing your story so openly and honestly. I think it's great that we can just be real about it.
A PA is a Physician Assistant. PAs typically see about 85% of the patients that a physician would see, we go through very similar training as a physician, however we are not required to complete a residency, it is optional. PAs work in all fields of medicine and can diagnose, prescribe, and perform procedures. It's a good gig!
I feel like I'm low on dopamine, and riding fast down hills is an excellent antidote. Maybe it's also the experience of others who are seeking adrenal / dopamine / cheery chemical release through riding.
www.spectrumnews.org/news/pathological-demand-avoidance-in-autism-explained
Thanks for writing openly about yourself.
mhfaengland.org/mhfa-centre/resources/address-your-stress/stress-container-resource-download.pdf
I've done therapy for depression anxiety and rage and i don't know exactly what is my disease but there are many monsters in my past that i have to manage (family issues).
I'm 52 and just learning to make the best thing that made me happy and avoid anything that could wake up those monsters.
But they are still there.
Even though it’s kinda cringeworthy to see an uptick in people’s willingness to be open about their mental health, perhaps that’s what is needed to overcome the stigma?
Great. If I can fix it with a lifestyle change that’s even better. I’m a little more hesitant than most. I had 2 strokes after a vaccination in 2021. @sanchofula:
www.facebook.com/dominionofdirt
We all have a mind, so we all face mental health issues at some point, ignore the fact that the scope and severity is wildly different for everyone."
Ive recently learned the effects THC has on our endocannabinoid system and its pretty eye opening how it throws that system which so far off. THC affects that EC system like running a marathon affects your average runner. It over stimulates the system and needs ample amount of time to recover. Rather than giving the body that time to recover and balance itself again (the low) we smoke again and essentially run another marathon over and over and over. Im seeing it causing more damage than good for your average person. Being a pot head for over 15 years and now sober, its hard not to corelate a portion of the anxiety and depression in the world with how much weed we smoke. Its causing the imbalance.
Canada has legalized marijuana ~3yrs ago (?) and it's been a good step, but I also would like to see more research on the impact of use on young and developing brains, and how much is a safe amount to consume.
(You forgot: learn how to be grateful)
Give your time to others and make sacrifice (it is fulfilling). Spend less time worrying about what others think about you and live in the moment. Establish a healthy routine.
That said... That is the end goal of prying your way out of poor mental health. The steps to get there are not the same for everyone and are not always as simple as making those choices overnight.
Then consider that someone's poor mental health could be stemming from something that is out of their control - having a developmental disorder, having a chemical imbalance, being stuck in an abusive situation, having undergone significant trauma in their life. Now the steps to get there have become even harder.
My theory is that people aren’t “supposed to be happy”, anxiety is there for a reason, and it means we should be busier doing challenging things. . . Easier said than done though, especially if you’re a lazy POS like me.
I personally used Wellbutrin for years, and it seemed to help a lot, until I quit coffee and became MUCH less anxious/depressed.
Think of the happiest person you know. Most likely they are the most unselfish person you know as well.
If you are trying to obtain personal happiness than give up, you never will.
These factors can be sickness or infection during pregnancy, smoking or drinking during pregnancy, or other toxic chemical getting in the body, genetically it seem the later you have kids, the higher is the risk of genetic mutation (in both man and woman genetic material).
If one or both parents already have ADHD, the probability to inherit it to some degree is super high.
You’re talking about people with actual serious medical conditions as if they were imagining things or just had a bad attitude.
Although your comment serves as a great example of how little understanding the public has about the topic and how undignified the ones who are affected are often treated.