Internet Self-Care Day for neurodivergent brains

MHA Admin

Wed, 08/21/2024 – 13:02

When it comes to screen time, most experts agree: less is more. Time in nature, connecting with people we care about, and other screen-free activities are certainly beneficial for our health. But for neurodivergent brains, a more nuanced approach to internet self-care is needed to make space for the complexities that come with living in a world built for neurotypical brains. Sometimes, more screen time may actually be a self-care practice for neurodivergent people.

“Cyberloafing”

In his book “Laziness Does Not Exist,” Dr. Devon Price explores the concept of “cyberloafing”, a term that describes playing on your phone while you’re supposed to be at work or doing something productive. While employers may look down on this practice, it may actually be beneficial, especially for neurodivergent brains.

Dr. Price, who is neurodivergent himself and is an advocate for neurodivergent well-being, says “cyberloafing” plays an important role in task-shifting. Many people may turn to their phone after they have completed a difficult or boring task.

For folx with ADHD, this novelty-seeking can give their brains the amount of dopamine they need to move forward. This is especially true because people with ADHD often must expend significant cognitive effort to complete tasks that their interest-based nervous system does not find rewarding.

Self-Regulation

For the neurodivergent brain, the world can be an extremely overstimulating place. From honking cars to busy classrooms, neurodivergent youth and adults are bombarded with challenging sensory experiences at every angle.

Based on their lived experiences as autistic adults and parents, influencers Orion Kelly and Taylor Heaton discussed the benefit that screen time has on their lives and their children’s lives. Both Heaton and Kelly agree that they don’t strictly limit screen time for their neurodivergent children because it is such a helpful tool for emotional self-regulation. (They do, however, limit what their children are watching to ensure the content is appropriate). They also agree that as neurodivergent parents, screen time for their children gives them the time they need as parents to regulate themselves. This helps them to be calmer, more present parents.

Screen time is also useful for self-regulation during autistic burnout. Autistic burnout is when an autistic person experiences extreme exhaustion, loss of functioning, and reduced tolerance to stimuli. This usually happens when an autistic person is pushed past their limits emotionally, cognitively, socially, etc. When this happens, screen time may be the only thing someone has the energy for. Engaging in special interests via Youtube or other online platforms can be especially helpful for recovery. The internet may also allow for alternative modes of communication, which can be helpful if someone is non-verbal during burnout.

How Much is Too Much?

So, screen time can support neurodivergent brains. But how much is too much? Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help guide you in deciding what boundaries you may want to put in place if you feel you need them:

Are the screen time limits I am placing on myself based on society’s expectations, or based on my own needs?
Is my screen time getting in the way of things I want/need to accomplish?
How does screen time make me feel, emotionally and physically?
What need is screen time fulfilling in my life? (Examples: Does it allow me to connect with others in a more accessible way? Does it help me self-regulate after a stressful day?)
If I am using screens more often than usual, what information does this give me about how I am feeling? (Example: If I often turn to screens to destress, and I am using screens more often, maybe I am under more stress than usual.)

Neurodivergent self-care often looks different from neurotypical self-care, and it is no different when it comes to internet usage. Allow yourself to use screens to support you if you need it without shame. Take time to think about if you want to create boundaries around screen time, ensuring these boundaries are based on your needs and not society’s expectations.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Capital City Emergency “Level II” Trauma & Wellness Center will house a “state of the art” Outreach Community Resource Center, that will provide case management, mental health community advocacy, and oversight from the M.I. Mother’s Keeper mental health advocates. 
 
The Capital City Emergency “Level II” Trauma & Wellness Center will offer patrons access to immediate coverage by general surgeons as well as coverage by the specialties of orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology and critical care.
 
Our goal is to help people in the best way possible in an effort to preserve and to save more lives in the Nation’s Capital and beyond.

Follow Capital City Emergency Trauma & Wellness Center's success:

Sign up to receive updates

Add your signature by clicking each petition below.

Emergency

Code Red
Gunshot Victim
Life Threatening Wounds
Physical Assault Victim
Severely Injured Auto Accident Victim
Burn Victim
Epilepsy/Seizures
Cardiovascular
Choking & Breathing Obstructions
and more…

trauma

Child Sex Assault Victim
Domestic Violence Victim
Drug Overdose
Rape/Sex Crime Victim
Suicide Watch
Trafficking Victim
Nervous Breakdown
and more…

Mental Health

At Capital City Emergency Trauma & Wellness Center patrons with mental health emergencies that include life threatening situations in which an individual is imminently threatening harm to self or others, severely disoriented or out of touch with reality, has a severe inability to function or is otherwise distraught and out of control, will have access to quality and psychiatric emergency services and referrals.

Physical Health

Whether your life threatening medical emergency involves excessive or uncontrollable bleeding, head injury. difficulty with breathing, severe pain, heart attack, vision impairments, stroke, physically collapsing, or seizure related, rest assured that our professionals will properly assess and evaluate the level of response that will be most needed to help provide stabilized care solutions and minimize complications as well as reduce early mortality.

Holistic Healthcare

We offer healthcare solutions that will support the whole person which includes their physical, psychological, emotional, social, & spiritual wellbeing. Research supports that because your mental state can affect your overall health we support and offer the inclusion of complimentary and alternative medicine(CAM) practitioners and naturopathic doctor recommendations and referrals as a part of our Outreach Community Resource Center’s care regimen and support.

Rehabilitative

Emergency care can typically result in traumatic injuries for which rehabilitation becomes an essential component of care in trying to achieve the best long-term outcomes for the patient. In addition to speeding up recovery times and helping to prevent further complications, rehabilitative care also helps to support a patient’s self-managed recovery once discharged from our facility. Our Outreach Community Resource Center works closely with our trauma center’s discharge department to assure that patrons requiring these services are linked with qualified professionals who will be accountable to the standard of care required to help the patron be successful in their recovery.

Social Services

Our “state of the art” Outreach Community Resource Center intends to promote “expansive” beneficial community enriching services, programs, case management, & linkage to “approved” partner resources and supports in all of the following intended areas and more:

Social Services

  • Clothing
  • Food Pantry
  • Housing/Shelter
  • I.D. Credentials
  • Senior Wellness Check
  • Toiletries
  • Transportation
  • Etc.

Extended Family Services

  • Child Care
  • Credit Counseling
  • Family Court Services
  • Legal Aide

Career Training

  • Apprenticeship programs
  • Computer/Graphics Training
  • Culinary Program  
  • GED Courses
  • Hospitality Training
  • Job Etiquette & Grooming
  • Resume’ Prep
  • Sales Training
  • Software/Technology workshops
  • Small Business Training

Return Citizen
Program Partner
(Bridging the Gap)

  • Case Management
  • Temporary Boarding/Housing
  • Transitional Program Registration

Prevention/Intervention Outreach,
Workshops, & Programs

  • After-school Behavioral Health Program
  • Civic Engagement / Volunteer Sign-up
  • Fatherhood Rites of Passage
  • Gun Violence Town Hall Forum
  • Life Coaching & Coping Strategies
  • Marriage Counseling Workshops
  • Medicare Informational Workshops
  • Mentorship Training
  • Parental Classes
  • Support Groups
  • Town Hall Discussions
  • Violence De-Escalation Training
  • Voter Registration

Nutritional Outreach

  • Cooking Demonstrations
  • Dietary Programs
  • Exercise Classes
  • Recipe Sharing Workshops
  • Meal Prep

Community Outreach

The Healthy DC & Me Leadership Coalition is partnering with the M.I. Mother’s Keeper Mental Health advocacy organization to provide outreach services on the community level as an aid in reducing the existent health inequities that many District citizens are facing as a direct result of the presence of debilitating social determinants and the lack of culturally appropriate care choices and realities for community members residing in marginalized and lower-income communities.

It is the vision and intentions of the M.I. Mother’s Keeper Mental Health Advocates organization to help improve the quality of living for citizens living in our Nation’s Capital and beyond by overseeing the delicate linkage to services and by maintaining higher standards of care accountability for deserving citizens of the Nation’s Capital.

For more information or to enroll as one of our service providers, please email us at:
info@healthydcandme.org