Listen now (58 min) | In episode 68, Chris and Emma debriefed about Chris’s session from NAGC 2023 titled “Overexcitabilities and Dąbrowski’s Theory: Correcting the Course in Gifted Education.” We covered the five common myths or misunderstandings about the theory of positive disintegration that were addressed in the presentation.
Fun fact: my first concert was Faith No More (opening for Billy Idol- I was 12, so there more for FNM and my mom was a super Billy Idol fan- comeback tour post motorcycle accident, it was a weird time 89-90?)
Two big takeaways for me:
1) this is a wonderful primer to a lot of "backstory" within the community and helpful to frame different areas of real or perceived confusion when ("regular")folks begin discussing/researching the theory. It provides so much context for growing, applying, living the theory. The Theory itself is going through its own PD, yes?
2) Our internalized (and externalized) ableism. I use words like strength + superpower to combat the pathology narratives and perhaps don't always recognize the ableism inherent in that. I've long lived with the adage "every strength is a weakness, every weakness a strength" so I feel justified in my usage but would love to find better terms to hold the joys and sorrows of the complex dimensions of OE (and my assorted grab bag/magic hat of divergences). I loathe toxic positivity but same for nihilistic drudgery. How to hold multiple truths with more inclusive language without gate keeping and tone policing...
Thanks, as always for giving me more to think about and igniting my passions in new ways!
Thank you so much for sharing your takeaways, Bee, as always. Fun fact about me... my first concert was Mötley Crüe in 1985, at the beginning of 7th grade. 🤘 Faith No More was another band from my youth, and it's fun to share these things when we can.
I do think we're going through a disintegration with the theory and our D community right now. We can only hope it's positive, and I believe it will be. We could do another whole episode on this at some point, and I think we should.
I love the way you put this: "would love to find better terms to hold the joys and sorrows of the complex dimensions of OE (and my assorted grab bag/magic hat of divergences)." Yes! 🙌 I feel the same way. We'll get there.
Chris & Emma. I have listened with fascination to your discussion. Whilst I have lived with my own neurodivergence, mostly without knowing it, for my whole life I have been grappling with the overlaps of giftedness and OEs as well as autism and ADHD in the last couple of years. I lost my son, as you know, a long time ago now, when there was so little understanding of or support for his struggles around his neurodivergence. I am currently stepping into trying to see my own experience though a positive disintegration lens. Thank you so much for what you are doing here. I am deeply grateful to feel there is solid ground here to support my quest.
Davina, thank you for sharing this. The loss of your son is something I hold with deep respect, and I hear what you're saying about the lack of understanding and support. The insistence on drawing clean lines between giftedness and disability has real consequences, as it determines who gets seen and who gets support. TPD offers something different because it doesn't require that separation. Intensity, struggle, and development can all coexist in the same person, and that coexistence is meaningful. I'm grateful that the podcast feels like solid ground. It's meant to be exactly that.
Fun fact: my first concert was Faith No More (opening for Billy Idol- I was 12, so there more for FNM and my mom was a super Billy Idol fan- comeback tour post motorcycle accident, it was a weird time 89-90?)
Two big takeaways for me:
1) this is a wonderful primer to a lot of "backstory" within the community and helpful to frame different areas of real or perceived confusion when ("regular")folks begin discussing/researching the theory. It provides so much context for growing, applying, living the theory. The Theory itself is going through its own PD, yes?
2) Our internalized (and externalized) ableism. I use words like strength + superpower to combat the pathology narratives and perhaps don't always recognize the ableism inherent in that. I've long lived with the adage "every strength is a weakness, every weakness a strength" so I feel justified in my usage but would love to find better terms to hold the joys and sorrows of the complex dimensions of OE (and my assorted grab bag/magic hat of divergences). I loathe toxic positivity but same for nihilistic drudgery. How to hold multiple truths with more inclusive language without gate keeping and tone policing...
Thanks, as always for giving me more to think about and igniting my passions in new ways!
Thank you so much for sharing your takeaways, Bee, as always. Fun fact about me... my first concert was Mötley Crüe in 1985, at the beginning of 7th grade. 🤘 Faith No More was another band from my youth, and it's fun to share these things when we can.
I do think we're going through a disintegration with the theory and our D community right now. We can only hope it's positive, and I believe it will be. We could do another whole episode on this at some point, and I think we should.
I love the way you put this: "would love to find better terms to hold the joys and sorrows of the complex dimensions of OE (and my assorted grab bag/magic hat of divergences)." Yes! 🙌 I feel the same way. We'll get there.
Chris & Emma. I have listened with fascination to your discussion. Whilst I have lived with my own neurodivergence, mostly without knowing it, for my whole life I have been grappling with the overlaps of giftedness and OEs as well as autism and ADHD in the last couple of years. I lost my son, as you know, a long time ago now, when there was so little understanding of or support for his struggles around his neurodivergence. I am currently stepping into trying to see my own experience though a positive disintegration lens. Thank you so much for what you are doing here. I am deeply grateful to feel there is solid ground here to support my quest.
Davina, thank you for sharing this. The loss of your son is something I hold with deep respect, and I hear what you're saying about the lack of understanding and support. The insistence on drawing clean lines between giftedness and disability has real consequences, as it determines who gets seen and who gets support. TPD offers something different because it doesn't require that separation. Intensity, struggle, and development can all coexist in the same person, and that coexistence is meaningful. I'm grateful that the podcast feels like solid ground. It's meant to be exactly that.
Thank you for taking the time to respond. Yes, and what a huge relief that all is allowed!