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    • Spectrum & Cycles

    Chronicles of an Atypical Mind — Unfiltered and Unapologetic

    Personal stories, science-based articles, and resources on autism, bipolar disorder, and atypical cognition.

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    Illustration of a euphoric person in the midst of an extreme creative flow
    AutismBipolar disorder

    Double-edged creativity: when autism and bipolar disorder intertwine

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    This article follows the one describing graphorrhea. In August 2019, the manager of Nintendo-Master.com (which I had completely redesigned and then left five years earlier) calls me for help: the site is collapsing in terms of traffic, plagued by a whole range of bugs, and needs another overhaul. I have just been hospitalized for the first time and have developed a full manic episode. Out of love for the site, I jump at the opportunity: it’s time to put my skills to use again. En garde!

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    Complete puzzle with the Bipolar/Giftedness pieces and the multicolored infinity symbol for autism
    Autism

    Journey #3: The Diagnosis of Autism 

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    My autism diagnostic journey began relatively early: the first atypical signs were spotted by my mother’s doctor when I was 18 months old. Apparently, I was sorting and organizing toys instead of playing with them in his waiting room. He then told my mother to keep an eye on me. And then… nothing for 20 years, before I received my bipolar diagnosis, was identified as very highly gifted thinking it explained my atypicalities, and finally discovered the missing piece — autism — at age 25.

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    Illustration of a cup of coffee with a stack of filled pages and a notebook with writing (symbolizing the daily work of raising awareness)
    Bipolar disorder

    World Bipolar Day: raising awareness in one day for something that lasts a lifetime

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    Today is World Bipolar Day. And honestly, I don’t really relate to it. I’ve never changed my profile picture to add a small ribbon, I’ve never used it as an opportunity to raise awareness, and I’ve never taken part in events around this day. Although I understand that it may be meaningful for some, I’ve always struggled to see the value of these awareness days.

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    Character sitting in front of a TV with a split screen showing identical images
    Puzzle with one empty square and two pieces showing: a bipolar mask and a fast-brain symbol (giftedness)
    AutismBipolar disorder

    Journey #2: Identifying Giftedness

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    “What do you think about the outcome of these tests?” the neuropsychologist in charge of my IQ assessment asked me. I will always remember that moment. At that instant, I hoped that identifying giftedness would be enough to rule out the bipolar cause. So I answered, naturally, that I suspected a confirmation of giftedness. I was right. I was formally identified as very highly gifted by a neuropsychologist… and I believed it would resolve all my difficulties.

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    Woman at her desk, night is falling, she is surrounded by bubbles and clocks, and her desk is tidy
    Autism

    Early warning signs of autistic burnout

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    Autistic burnout may seem to occur suddenly. However, it is often preceded by progressive signs. These signs resemble those of burnout once it is fully developed, but they appear more slowly and in a less intense way. They are mainly distinguished by their gradual onset and their milder expression compared to burnout when it becomes fully established. This topic is rarely discussed in the literature, even though it helps warn of an approaching autistic burnout.

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    Illustration of graphorrhea with dozens of written pages coming out of a computer
    Bipolar disorder

    Manic graphorrhea: writing as I breathe

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    Manic graphorrhea is a compulsion to write that can occur during a manic or hypomanic episode to someone affected by bipolar disorder. Thoughts flow so quickly that it can become difficult, or even impossible, to stop writing. For some people with bipolar disorder, this acceleration of thought turns writing into an almost vital need. I know that feeling well: during my manic episodes, I sometimes felt as though I was writing as naturally as I was breathing.

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    NeurodiversityTechnomindJournal

    My relationship with AI (and GPT as a therapist)

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    For about a year now, ever since I started using GPT, I’ve received various criticisms about my mentions of AI. They are varied: some question the way I use it to bring my imagination to life in my illustrations; others comment on the “psychological” feedback from GPT that I quote; and still others question its role as a proofreader. The topic is timely, so I thought I would clarify a few of these points.

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    Puzzle avec deux cases vides et une pièce avec un masque heureux/triste (bipolaire)
    Bipolar disorder

    Journey #1: The Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder

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    My diagnostic journey began at 21. Well, technically, I saw a psychologist when I was 6. After only a few sessions studying me, she concluded that nothing could be done with me and the follow-up stopped. Stellar professional work, you might say (sarcasm). I still remember refusing to follow her instructions because they seemed absurd to me. At 16 and a half, I gradually developed grandiose ideas, I chained projects together, I drew, I wrote, my grades dropped. That turned out to be my first manic episode, sprinkled with a touch of psychosis. It was also the beginning of a long epic.

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    A woman sitting in the dark with a faint light coming from outside, with thought bubbles around her, tidy desk
    Autism

    10 signs of autistic burnout

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    Autistic burnout is a common syndrome experienced by many autistic people at least once in their lives. It often occurs after years of sensory overload and masking—that is, the constant effort to hide or compensate for autistic traits in order to meet social expectations. It manifests as extreme fatigue, but also through a range of cognitive, sensory, and emotional signs that distinguish it from depression or occupational burnout.

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