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Neurodiversity


Stress, the Amygdala, and Hyperneuroplasticity
a hyperneuroplastic brain is like a high-speed recorder. It takes a snapshot of stressful or threatening experiences and plays them back on repeat, long after the danger is gone. That rapid wiring can be life-saving in moments of real threat, yet it also explains why stress can leave such deep grooves, making it harder to shake habits of fear, vigilance, or avoidance once they’ve been learned.

Dr. Patty Gently
6 days ago6 min read
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Monotropism and Hyperneuroplasticity
Taken together, this lens shows that depth, adaptability, and vulnerability are not separate traits but interconnected expressions of the same neural architecture. Monotropism sets the direction of attention, and hyperneuroplasticity may help explain the magnitude and persistence of its impact.

Dr. Patty Gently
Aug 1610 min read
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Hyperneuroplasticity, Dissociation, and Tinnitus. Oh My.
Among hyperneuroplastic individuals, those who rarely or never dissociate seem more likely to develop tinnitus, possibly because their auditory systems remain in continuous engagement.

Dr. Patty Gently
Aug 129 min read
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The Complex Role of Histamine in the Hyperneuroplastic System (Beyond Allergies and Into the Systemic Web)
Elevated central histamine may also intensify sensory reactivity and lower stress tolerance, particularly in hyperneuroplastic individuals.

Dr. Patty Gently
Aug 912 min read
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Hyperneuroplasticity as the Umbrella Neurodivergence for Deep Neural Adaptation
For years, we've been handed diagnostic fragments. Each label attempts to describe a set of traits, challenges, or neurological styles. Yet beneath the variation, there is a shared thread running through many of these lived experiences, one that rarely gets named directly: a nervous system that adapts quickly, deeply, and often at great cost.

Dr. Patty Gently
Jul 99 min read
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Galvanic Systems: A Deeper Dive into the Metaphor, with Help from a Marine Engineer
And like ships designed for long, demanding journeys, galvanic individuals need regular maintenance, conscious design, and systems that help them stay afloat, without corroding in silence, sinking into hidden spaces, or wrecking against unattended shores.

Dr. Patty Gently
Jul 96 min read
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Rethinking Giftedness Through a Galvanic Frame
The word felt loaded with assumptions I never agreed to: exceptionalism, elitism, overachievement, even ease. None of these described my inner world...

Dr. Patty Gently
Jul 87 min read
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The Fullness of the Half-Empty Shelf
They did not cease to matter, but that I no longer needed their mattering to hold its form, or mine.

Reuven Kotleras
Jul 13 min read
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Something Borrowed
Queering was spoken like a ritual mispronounced, an invitation, not a memory of exile. It sounded smooth on tongues that had never bled for it. It was not fully understood that celebration belonged to those who had borne the bruise, not to those merely drawn to the glitter.

Dr. Patty Gently
Jun 282 min read
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What’s Wrong with Therapy (And What Isn’t): A Former Therapist’s Perspective
The human soul does not reorganize itself to meet billing cycles. Sometimes “what just is" resides in liminal spaces.

Dr. Patty Gently
Jun 248 min read
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The Autistic Mind: An Interplay of Monotropic Autologs and Autotrophic Monologues
Here, I propose a conceptual framework using two metaphoric constructs: the monotropic autolog and the autotrophic monologue. These concepts draw from both emerging research in neurodivergent cognition and lived experiences of autistic individuals, offering language for phenomena often overlooked or mischaracterized in clinical settings.

Dr. Patty Gently
May 217 min read
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Quick Guide to Overcoming Neurodivergent Burnout
This guide provides a quick way to grasp all the key elements of recovery from neurodivergent burnout, including examples of what these concepts might look like and how you might implement them.

Victor Wang
May 1342 min read
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When Nervous Systems Collide: Navigating the PDA–RSD Relationship Dance
What emerges from that work is not perfect harmony. It is rhythm—a negotiated, evolving balance between autonomy and connection.

Dr. Patty Gently
May 76 min read
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The Opposite of Normal Is Wrong: Putting a Finger on the Source of Self-Stigma
Is normal good? Self-stigma from not being normal can make healing or growth difficult. This essay reframes the conversation.

Youssef Sleiman
Feb 18 min read
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Exploring Narcissism and “Cluster B Shaming" Through a Lens of Attachment Trauma and the Rapid Resolution of Cognitive Dissonance
this is a call to reflection and compassion, aiming to foster healing for all

Dr. Patty Gently
Jan 35 min read
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Bloomers Gifted and 2e Adults: How It Came to Be
Recently, I posed the question: why are we called Bloomers? The responses were as varied as they were delightful

Dr. Patty Gently
Dec 20, 20242 min read
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Decoding Dysautonomia: A Symphony of DYSregulation in the Body
Each system in the body’s orchestra plays a critical role, and even when the conductor falters, balance and harmony can still be pursued.

Dr. Patty Gently
Dec 4, 202410 min read
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The Default Mode Network and Neurodiversity
The Default Mode Network (DMN) functions like the mind’s backstage, where reflections, memories, and internal dialogues come to life

Dr. Patty Gently
Oct 25, 20249 min read
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The Intensive Soul of Money: Learning Lessons that Add Value Beyond Bucks
growth and recovery become acts of self-care, where individuals can heal without feeling pressured to meet external expectations

Dr. Patty Gently
Oct 15, 20245 min read
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The Golden Rule Applies to Me!?
“Treat others the way you want to be treated," never quite worked for me because the way I want to be treated is so different...

Miranda Merrell
Oct 15, 20242 min read
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