An autism epidemic?
Have you noticed there is an ‘epidemic’ of children being diagnosed with autism/ASD and ADHD or other types of neurodivergence (e.g. dyslexia, dyspraxia, OCD, ODD, sensory processing disorder etc. etc.)?
What is going on? Are these serious disorders or simply diversity in neurology? Here I will share some of my perspective on what it means to be neurodivergent and why it appears to be increasingly common.
Sensitive beings
One key point to note is that generally children who receive these diagnoses are very sensitive, often in a multitude of ways. For example, they may have physical or emotional symptoms related to being sensitive to certain foods, medicines or chemicals in their environment. Many of these kids will experience gut problems and/or a multitude of other inflammatory conditions and imbalances in the body. Biologically speaking, these tendencies may be influenced by genetic factors such as SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) which can affect our biochemistry (well-known examples are related to methylation pathways, sulfation pathways and other detoxification pathways or the ability to metabolise specific foods or compounds e.g. caffeine). However, it is important to remember that these tendencies may or may not be expressed as indicated by the field of epigenetics. Therefore, the presence of genetic markers doesn’t mean that these issues can’t be prevented or improved by changes in diet, environment and emotional stressors.
The idea of being highly sensitive also encompasses energetic sensitivity. This may include being emotionally hypersensitive and/or empathic and easily influenced by the emotional and energetic states of others, subtle or otherwise. Close family members and friends are the most obvious influences, however this sensitivity can extend to what is occurring in society at large or the 'collective consciousness'/emotional soup we exist in. In addition to emotions, we may be highly sensitive to electromagnetic frequencies from man-made sources (cellphones, Wi-Fi etc.) as well as to fluctuations in the earth's Schumann Resonance and solar flares.
Brain differences
Children with diagnoses, particularly autism, generally have some form of sensory sensitivity or sensory processing differences. This relates to the way the brain processes sensory information, with there often being a tendency towards sensory overload due to a sensitive nervous system and 'atypical' ways of filtering information. Being sensory seeking in various ways is also a possibility (e.g. a drive to move, touch things, seek deep pressure), as the system seeks greater input in order to help it integrate and regulate. Increasingly, there is acknowledgment that connectivity between regions of the brain may be more of an issue in neurodivergent people than the basic structure or functionality of the brain.
To be clear, I'm not negating the fact that neurophysiological differences may often be seen in those presenting as ADHD/autistic. Scientific studies including brain imaging frequently show, for example, reduced activity in the right prefrontal cortex in ADHD and reduced synaptic pruning in those who are autistic. However, the underlying CAUSE of these differences during development is not necessarily clear and I expect varies greatly from person to person. For this reason, I find a model of looking at each person holistically as a sensitive individual interacting with a variety of physiological and emotional stressors to be most helpful.
To label or not to label?
Humans like to label and categorise, and with good reason - on a practical level this reduces confusion and increases efficiency. In terms of whether this is the 'right' thing to do with diagnoses such as ADHD and ASD, there are several major schools of thought. 1. People who diagnose these conditions and believe they are disorders that need to be fixed if at all possible. 2. People who embrace autism, ADHD etc. as natural neurological diversity (neurodiversity) which can be a disability largely due to lack of acceptance and accommodation from others. 3. People who don’t like to use medicalised labels and prefer to say these are the ‘new children’ high vibrational, crystal or indigo children etc. 4. Those who think there is nothing 'different' about these children at all and that they are simply poorly behaved, perhaps as a result of permissive parenting or family trauma. Naturally this is an over-simplification and there is cross-over and nuance of thought here, but you get the gist.
So who is right? I actually think all of these groups make some important points and it’s frustrating to see the siloed thinking, and, at times, downright aggression towards those who disagree. My personal opinion is that psychiatric labels are not discrete entities but rather umbrella terms for a broad range of traits which may be occurring for a variety of underlying reasons. Using autism as an example, different people will have different definitions of and perspectives on what exactly that means. As such, it makes sense that some people like the label and others do not. Labels are useful to the extent that they’re useful. For example, if you receive a diagnosis and it leads to greater self-understanding and self-compassion that’s great. Likewise if it leads you to strategies and interventions that improve your quality of life. If having a diagnosis for your child in the school system means they receive support as opposed to having a label of e.g. naughty, troublemaker, antisocial, lazy, weird etc. then that’s a good thing.
On the other hand, any label can be limiting if we attach to it too strongly and build an identity around it that we don’t want to challenge. For example, some proponents of the neurodiversity movement consider any attempts to alleviate symptoms or characteristics considered to be part of autism as being abusive, exploitative snake oil or even tantamount to genocide (?!) This stems from the perspective of autism being an integral part of the person's identity - just 'the way they are'.
I am wholly supportive of loving and accepting people as they are. However, if we support a person with for example, optimal nutrition and they change; perhaps becoming more communicative or less obsessive, calmer or ceasing self- injurious behaviour, it becomes clear that biochemical factors are at play and the person is now healthier. So, in this case have we erased the autistic person’s identity, or have we helped them to become a more thriving version of themselves? This question is of course relevant to all manner of holistic or allopathic interventions a person may undergo with the goal of improving quality of life. The individual in question may still want to call themselves autistic if that’s how they like to describe their unique traits whatever those are – maybe being sensitive, quirky, direct, releasing stress by stimming etc. etc.
Whether a specific symptom or trait is considered part of a diagnosis or as a co-morbidity that frequently occurs alongside the diagnosis, the practical considerations remain the same... does the person experience improved wellbeing?
The flip side of the dismissal of any attempts to assist neurodivergent people in a holistic way is to be so obsessed with curing or fixing someone that we don't see the beauty and magnificence of the human being and the gift they already are in the world. For example, there is understandably harsh criticism of ABA (applied behaviour analysis) therapy wherein behaviour is modified based on rewards and punishments and is essentially aimed at creating a facade of 'normalcy'. In certain situations, people may wish to learn how to 'fit in' socially for ease of navigating everyday life. However, with young children or non-speaking autistics, we may have no idea of how they're experiencing ABA - most who reflect on it later in life or once able to communicate report feelings of boredom, frustration, anger or shame.
In addition to opening us to potentially unhelpful interventions, an overemphasis on 'fixing' can easily lead to us not being truly present with loved ones, creating joyful relationships and experiences. Moreover, a sensitive child will easily pick up on 'fixing' energies with the most obvious conclusion they may draw being that they broken or defective in some way.
As with many hot button topics, the conflict between different neurodiversity 'camps' could be largely resolved if we release the need to be ‘right’ about something and really listen to the perspectives of others.
So, why so many and why now?
Setting aside definitions and semantics, it is interesting to speculate on the reasons for high incidence of highly sensitive or neurodivergent people. In particular, why do so many children appear to be struggling with their health and emotional regulation? Here's a couple of theories....you may have some others!
1. They are canaries in the coal mine, alerting us to the toxicity of our world: This may be physical e.g. environmental pollution, pesticides, pharmaceutical overuse, emfs, or emotional e.g. emotional trauma and disconnection from each other, the earth and the cosmos. All of these types of toxicity and trauma can travel through family lines as well as contributing to the energies experienced by humanity as a collective. Once we become aware of these problems, we may begin to make changes; and what better motivation than the health and wellbeing of our precious children...leading us to point 2..
2. They are agents of change. These kids are showing us where things aren't working, catalysing all sorts of shifts. In some cases, they trigger us to work on our own emotional healing, so we can show up for our kids, teaching us to be more present and less judgmental, presenting new ways to communicate and to love. They may also be encouraging us to grow healthy food, to clean up our homes and wider environments, to slow down, to consider new ways of learning and educating. From an energetic point of view, many of these kids seem to have trouble being fully physically present in their bodies and the dense energies of earth. Perhaps, when it appears they are daydreaming or disconnected they are actually working hard to make energetic shifts in the non-physical realms. Perhaps it is pertinent to ask how we help them integrate with the physical without casting aside the powerful beauty of their energetic sensitivity. What if a key aspect of this is the work we put into shifting our own energy and that of the collective so that our sensitive kids feel more at ease here on earth.
Magic is possible when we are we are willing to change and evolve. Ideas evolve, energetic systems evolve....neurology including the brain and the wider nervous system can also evolve.
So, how can I best support my highly sensitive child?
(Naturally this information also applies to adults)
1. Love and accept them just as they are (of course). Be honest about where you're at.
2. Find ways to holistically support them to be healthier and happier, to be more comfortable being present in their physical bodies, to be better able to express and share their unique gifts.
Keep in mind that changes can sometimes be dramatic, however, often it’s a slow evolution so as a parent it’s a marathon not a sprint. There will be ups and downs and it will be as much a journey of healing for you as for your child.
Things to consider in order to reduce stressors and improve brain/body integration and wellbeing.
1. Nutrition: What we eat is incredibly important, especially considering all we now know about the gut-brain axis. Each person has individual needs, however a good start is to remove artificial and obviously inflammatory foods, to introduce nutrient dense foods and to look at foods that may be difficult to digest or causing reactions. Common problem foods include gluten and casein, other grains or foods high in oxalates or phenols.
2. Reduce Toxicity: Our world contains large amounts of toxins: plastics, pesticides, household cleaners, heavy metals, flame retardants... the list goes on! It can be overwhelming to consider, but we can work on reducing our exposure bit by bit. It can be helpful to choose one area to start with e.g. household cleaners and personal care items or high pesticide foods and progress little by little. Even with our best efforts to reduce exposure, most of us would benefit from looking at some gentle ways to detoxify our bodies. Nutrition as mentioned above will be supportive, often including some supplements that support the body's natural detoxification processes. Simple measures such as getting outside in bare feet, breathing more efficiently, lymphatic massage or epsom salt baths can be hugely beneficial.
3. Coinfections: Children whose systems are out of balance with compromised gut health are more prone to experiencing chronic infections or overgrowth of certain bacteria or fungi in their bodies. Where this is the case, it's important to look at ways to get these situations under control as part of a holistic health care plan.
NB: For points 1 -3 above, it is strongly recommended to consult with a professional e.g. a naturopath, nutritionist, integrative medical practitioner etc. If you don't have access to this kind of support, start by sticking with the basics: Remove processed foods, eat organic whole foods where possible, try removing common food offenders e.g. gluten and keep a food diary. With regards supplementation some basics such as vitamin D, zinc, magnesium, omega 3s are generally helpful and quite safe - ask for advice from your local health food shop, especially if they have an in-store naturopath.
4. Neurological balance: Genetic tendencies, a sensitive disposition and a variety of physiological and emotional stressors can influence the development of the brain and nervous system.
Fortunately, there are things we can do to encourage improved balance and connectivity. Primitive reflexes are one important factor to consider: Many primitive reflexes develop in-utero and provide us with instinctive behaviours essential for birthing and early development. Ideally, these reflexes then 'integrate' into more mature cognitive processes. If suboptimal integration occurs, the associated behaviours and symptoms are varied and may include hyperactivity, lack of focus, sleep problems, urinary issues, sensory sensitivities, toe waling, reduced coordination, picky or messy eating... the list goes on! Fortunately, there's a lot we can do to assist including movement-based therapies and kinesiology or other modalities with a particular focus on primitive reflexes and brain development more generally. Movement based therapies and recreation can be immensely helpful for overall neurological balance, including being great de-stressors - think martial arts, dance therapy, poi or yoga amongst others.
5. Vision balance: This is really part of neurological balance, but I've given it its own category as the visual system is so important. Kinesiologists can help with some aspects of the visual system, however, for more in depth work or if lenses are needed you may want to seek out a developmental optometrist.
6.Energetic balance and emotional trauma: As previously mentioned, the emotional and energetic soup we develop in and that permeates our ancestral line can have a huge influence on us. Energetic assistance can be supportive, for example working with the meridian system, chakras and aura as well as delving into things like generational trauma. Although things like past lives are interesting and sometimes highly relevant, it is important to remember that the present moment is the key. The more we can become aware of our own energy moment to moment, the more effectively we can assist others.
How can I help? Kinesiology for sensitive kids
When it comes to children, muscle testing can be an incredibly useful way to prioritise the ways in which you assist them, particularly if they aren't able to communicate clearly what is going on with them.
For example, you may have a child experiencing volatile mood swings and you have multiple theories about what might be going on.....but you're not sure how best to invest your time, energy and money.
Perhaps the child is experiencing sensory processing difficulties that could be aided by use of swings, or deep pressure, or different clothing. Maybe they are very emotionally sensitive and picking up on other people's emotions as if they are their own. It could be that they are negatively impacted by too much screen time, or certain foods, or environmental factors like mold. In some cases, primitive and postural reflexes may be retained or under-developed affecting the stress response.
Perhaps a kinesiology session focused on brain connectivity and calming the amygdala would be beneficial, or work to balance the chakras.
As you can see, there are a multitude of possibilities, and although a kinesiology balance is by no means a diagnosis, it does provide a really useful starting point in terms of the lifestyle factors and energetic work that may be most beneficial. If I think that you would benefit from seeing another practitioner instead of or as well as a kinesiologist, I won't hesitate to let you know.
Although your child has their own unique journey on this earth, their energy field is very much intertwined with yours as their parent or caregiver. Accordingly, I encourage you to consider energetic support for yourself as well as your child(ren). This is not to say that you are to blame for the way your child presents or that you have to be responsible for it all. Family healing is a co-creative journey that is not aided by feelings of guilt or blame. In fact, having a highly sensitive child can be an extraordinary opportunity to heal your whole lineage!
With this in mind I offer packages for one or multiple sessions with both you and your child at a significant discount. If you would like to involve additional members of the family please enquire about custom packages.
Disclaimer: Note that this article is for educational purposes only and not intended to be a scientific article. I accept no liability for any suggestions implemented and as a kinesiologist do not diagnose, treat or prescribe. Please see your medical professional.