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.

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.

Each system in the body’s orchestra plays a critical role, and even when the conductor falters, balance and harmony can still be pursued.

Grief isn’t just “missing” someone. It’s not a single feeling you can process and put away. It finds its way into every corner of your mind

The Default Mode Network (DMN) functions like the mind’s backstage, where reflections, memories, and internal dialogues come to life