Published on 12, July, 2020
Neurosplaining...By analogy with 'mansplaining', I guess; the act of telling a neurodivergent person how they experience their neurodivergence.
A new word for my vocabulary today, but wondered whether anyone else had heard it before.
I can't claim any credit for inventing this new lexical item here, but I like it and yes it does nicely sum up some rubbish we hear from others (sadly, often professionals as frequently as friends and family). I just came across it in a post on LinkedIn from a psychologist and neuroinclusion specialist. It's made my day. So, I thought I'd share.
My doctor neurosplains me every time he tells me I "suffer with autism". Or tells me he regrets that "he cannot cure my autism".
Has anyone neurosplained you recently?
Actually I have a good doctor - when I told him I thought I was ND, he was great, listened, didn't patronize, asked questions- and agreed with me.
I recognize that mine may not be a typical experience, I'm lucky there.
Mine wasn’t ND but they stuck to the script and weren’t pretending like they were something they weren’t.. which was nice because it was concise and clear..
Better than most then..
I had a full-on meltdown with another doctor at the same practice because she tried to force me to take antidepressants and then basically threatened me with 'potential' intervention if I didn't comply. She had decided that I was depressed and absolutely wouldn't listen to me telling her I wasn't.
I refuse to see her now.
My view is that many of my behaviors on that occasion should have alerted her to the true cause, but... no.
God! Horrific
That's true - I have to say that the doctor I see now is the first one to accept, understand and engage.
Some are genuinely interested in learning, developing their knowledge and ability in their profession. The rest just get the NICE handbook out..
And that's just one flow chart after another. Basically, anything they encounter that doesn't tick the boxes, they flounder.