Left of Normal with Scott Sery

There are times when Left of Normal folks are tripped up.  Usually it has to do with jokes, sarcasm, and otherwise using words that sound like one thing, but mean another.   Over the years, of course, I have become well adept at sarcasm and incorporate it into my every day life.  But I can still be confused at times.   We talk about that, and other funny word usage in today's 'cast.

Sharing, both letting other people use our items and sharing about our personal lives can be difficult for the Left of Normal person.   Today we look at why it's hard to share toys, and what the expectations are for sharing about emotions, experiences, and the like... and what the barriers are when it comes to conversations and maintaining them.

When looking at those with ASD, there's often a defining characteristic of having a special interest.   Today, we're looking at what that even means, a talking about a handful of my own, poking the Hans Asperger topic, and looking at whether or not this is something unique to the autism community, or if it's more studied and researched as it pertains to Left of Normals.

Conversating can be hard.  Sometimes it's a matter of paying attention to too many things and forgetting to say your "yups" "uh-huhs" "dangs" and "wows"   Sometimes it's not knowing what to say or how to respond.   Sometimes we just don't want to talk but other people think that everyone wants to talk to them. All this and more on how having a conversation with someone with Asperger's might not go...

One of the fringe benefits of being on the spectrum is lower executive functioning skills.  Those skills include things like being able to transition from one topic to another. While it can be used for better, to really hone in on a particular topic or task, it often makes things harder as small interruptions can cause major setbacks or delays.

The fastest way to discourage a child from greatness is to tell them that they're smart, talented, unique, etc.   Giving praise shouldn't be about the outcome, it should be about the process.   Today we look at some of the ways that those on the autism spectrum see praise, interpret it, and try to apply it.  We look at better ways to encourage our kids, and how many compliments don't really spur u...

This week we have been talking about the Zeigarnik effect, and how it uses up a ton of brain energy when we don't close out projects, thoughts, and tasks.   It goes hand in hand with procrastination.   We'll look into that, and I give a tip on how you can be more persuasive with anyone using this one simple trick (scientists hate it... or maybe they love it and doctors hate it).

When dealing with people on the spectrum, they are often seen as lacking emotion.  They're also seen as not being able to show empathy or sympathy.   That's only part true.  We do experience the emotions, and understand what is going on, but the outward display is often lost somewhere between our brains and our appearance.   Today we look at what these words mean, and those with ASD process these...

One of the things we see a lot of is that those on the spectrum have food quirks.   Why though?  Everyone has likes and dislikes, so what makes the LoN unique?   That and a handful of my likes and dislikes (and why I like and dislike them) in today's episode.

There are a lot of myths out there surrounding autism.  Probably because it's really not well understood, and has largely only been studied the last 40ish years. Along come celebrities that spout pseudo-science, and people that refuse to pursue education go ahead and repeat them. Today we're looking at those myths, discovering why they persist, and laying down the facts around this condition.

The New Year is upon us, and that means millions of people are failing their resolutions every single day.  The problem isn't with what they're after, it's how they're setting about seeking that change. Today's 'cast dips into why I have shunned resolutions, and how the changes I want to make in my life have evolved over the years. It's something I recognized a long time ago, but didn't know what...

Many people on the Autism spectrum are labeled as rude, arrogant, stuck-up, or a variety of other synonyms.   Most of the time, we don't even realize that people think we're snobbish or rude.  We're just minding our business, and pissing people off along the way.   Today we look at a few times when I was regarded as such, explore a little why I feel it happened, and offer some insight to the normi...

Millions of people get a little SAD this time of year.  As an adult, I can rationalize and use logic to figure out what's going on.   Left of Normal children, however, only know that something doesn't feel right.  There are a few ways to help keep them going, and keep them from slipping deep into depressive thoughts.

Christmas can be an especially frustrating time for the Left of Normal person.  Those frustrations are often compounded with children who are unaccustomed to coping with that frustration.   Over the years I have learned to expect the unexpected, and expect the routine disruption.  It's still not comfortable, but I know it will begin, and I know it will end, and we just have to make it through.

Today we take a look at some of the toys that I remember playing with as a child.  Many of them were shared with my brothers, some were my own. Often, however, the toys weren't played with in a traditional manner.  And much of what I spent my time with wasn't even toys to begin with, but rather household goods and outdated technology.

There are a handful of things that the Left of Normal mind pays attention to that we probably don't need to pay attention to.   Smiling is one of them.  Today I tell you the story of how I terrified half the student body at MSU-B because I tried smiling.   That, and more quirks of being Left of Normal.

Phone calls are tedious and obnoxious.  There are a lot of people that feel this way.   For the Left of Normal, however, they can tend to be even more tedious to the point where a short call can derail an entire day.   I lay it all out there as to why in the latest episode about living life on the autism spectrum.

From the time we are born, we are all trained in how we should act.  We learn what is socially acceptable, and what is not.   For the Left of Normal, some of that doesn't come naturally; some feels really weird and is hard to do.   Over time we learn how to mimic what other people do.  Today we look at a handful of these quirks that normies do and why they are the weirdos.

Today we take a look at how ASD isn't really a linear spectrum, but rather a wheel.  If you follow the Facebook community page, there's a picture posted on November 3rd (or just google "Autism Wheel").   We'll look at how it better defines who people are, how they think, and dip into a little story on when I used to have perceived anger issues.

We have Holden back on the show as our guest.  Today we're going through a handful of scenarios where Left of Normal people struggle a bit.  I've mentioned my point of view in the past, and now we get a younger point of view as well.   Let's see how a child views the world and some of the things those on the spectrum struggle with.

Last week we interviewed Holden to get his idea on what being Left of Normal was all about.   This week we have reversed the roles, and Holden gets to bet he host as I answer the questions he has for me.   We talk about being Left of Normal as a child and an adult, and what difficulties were present as a child versus as an adult.

Today's episode we get to see how a 9 year old Left of Normal child sees the world.   Holden Sery joins us and talks about how he learned about Aspergers, what it has taught him about himself, and what everyone should know when dealing with an elementary aged Left of Normal.   About the 6 minute mark he talks about his special interests, notice how his tone changes and the excitement in his voice...

Travel as a Left of Normal can be difficult.  The change of environment, the unknowns, and the sensory overload can cause one to never want to leave the house again. Many of us are curious on what's out there, so I developed some systems on how to make travel enjoyable without the overwhelm. I have five tips on how to travel as a Left of Normal (something you can use with your LoN children as well...

Today we take a little look at how NDs can lead to ED and what can be done about them.  We look at ASD, ADD, ADHD, and see what NT's expect and what ND's put out.   If all those letters don't make sense, especially if you're wondering how ED plays into all this, I highly recommend tuning it.  I make an appeal at the end for some resources.

Some of you wanted stories about how Scott almost died.  Well, I am a sucker for giving the people what they want, so I laid it all out there with one of the many times I almost died in the Pryor Mountains.   If you have any feedback on the podcast, please send it my way.  I'm always trying to make this thing better for you guys, so I'd love to hear from you.