It might not have been ~~neurodivergence~~ Autism (or it alone). If he had OCD, the prospects of ships not returning might have caused significant distress (obsession) and going to check gives relief (compulsion).

I'm more interested how he was "cured".

[–] GalaxyBrain@hexbear.net 26 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Is OCD not neurodivergent?

[–] crime@hexbear.net 29 points 2 months ago

It is — "neurodivergent" just means having a mind that functions in ways which diverge significantly from the dominant societal standards of “normal.” It can be largely or entirely genetic and innate, or it can be largely or entirely produced by brain-altering experience, or some combination of the two, e.g. autism, brain injury, or heavy psychadelic use. (paraphrased from Dr. Nick Walker's Neurodiversity: some basic terms & definitions)

[–] ComradePlatypus@hexbear.net 14 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Yeah you're right, I could have phrased that better. OCD can be both mental illness and/or neurodivergence. What I'm saying is what if it was the former, causing significant psychological distress from the obsession and compulsions.

[–] GalaxyBrain@hexbear.net 9 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It's been a thing near the front of my brain after reading the comments on a ds9 episode review of all things. It was for the episode where Bashir meets the other genetically altered people and the reviewer calls them 'autism coded', and the comments rightfully point out that not all neurodivergence is autism and when the term neurodivergent is used people tend to immediately associate with autism and that can be shitty for neurodiverse people who aren't autistic. They also point out the characters in the episode all kinda have their own thing but their behavior is closer to people who have been abused and shut away from society because of their mental differences cause well, early 90s writers experience with neurodiverse people probably tended to have some of that going on since they're all ivy league grads from the 70s and 80s.

[–] ComradePlatypus@hexbear.net 9 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

That's certainly fair. I was trying to use it more broadly, as people with ADHD or dyslexia can still hyperfocus on trains, boats and plains too.

But I did just outright forget that OCD can be considered neurodivergence instead of mental illness, in part because I've seen many people with OCD in my work who are on the mental illness end, the "I can't sleep because I need to flip switches in a certain pattern or else my family will die" situations.

Edit: Of course how much of mental illness is neurodivergence and how much is a separate thing I understand is also a contentious debate. Is it all? none? Specific things like bipolar or schizophrenia? Personality disorders? Etc