So Feb was pretty awful as my cognition and language unravelled. I lost most of my reading comprehension and visual processing, and was just straight up mute for good stretches of time. Also BOO, very boo.

But it did illuminate I still have active inflamation in my brain the steroids were helping. YAY?

I have been a couple of weeks on a more appropriate dose and starting to feeling better, but the language stuff is still a struggle. Frustratingly so. Definitely BOO.

So the question becomes, how do I stay connected, mostly sans language, on a mostly text based platform.

I don't know which parts of my brain are the obstacles at this point, I have more access to language (w limited stamina), but I think there are executive function things like initiative and decision making that just kill conversation and engagement capacity for me. Weird. And frustrating. And isolating.

*invitation to infodump*

Am interested in anybody's thoughts on what appears to be acquired ADHD from long covid on top of the autism. My brain OT observed: losing a capacity in general PLUS losing the capacity in whatever part of my brain compensated for the autism wiring is a double whammy. I have to learn a whole new human interaction protocol, with a different brain.

Some of that will be hacks, but some of it will just be adjusting expectations, and maybe leaning into being more quirky.

@vlrny Don’t know for Covid, but for myself it was perimenopause that made me realized also ADHD (a few years after autism).

—-
ADHD replaced ADD as a more accurate term for a common neurodevelopmental disorder

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/add-vs-adhd

@adelinej ah yes, fekkin menopause. That will be in play too. Mah poor brain. :(

Edited my post to change ADD to ADHD, thanks for the lingo clarity.

@vlrny You are welcome. Didn’t know either for the new term before my official diagnosis.

I feel you, I began to have Covid symptoms 3 days after my second mastectomy. I was unable to think properly for 8 weeks.

The only thing that helps since (I am dealing also with non restorative sleep due to apnea in top of too many other things) is a sensory diet. My physio made me realize how much my sensory system was way too high due too Covid. In addition to my AuDHD hypersensitivities…

@vlrny Not now but check this, it’s a long article. I would love to be able to refine my already existing list of sensory preferences. Need also to update my sensory triggers.

(There are multiple articles on this blog about sensory overload/diet etc.)

https://neurodivergentinsights.com/sensory-preferences-the-complete-checklist/

@adelinej @vlrny May I offer https://www.tree.fm/ as my soundtrack of choice. Works for both focus *and* relaxation.

Also, today I put "shrimplicity" on on a background screen for managing overload. https://www.youtube.com/@Shrimplicityy .