“I want to use my lived experience of neurodiversity to help others”: A Conversation with 4th year student Melanie Green

(Photo provided by Melanie Green)

“Ultimately, I went back to study because I have a dream of setting up a multi-disciplinary, cooperative clinic that caters primarily to neurodivergent individuals. Just imagine what could happen if a clinical psychologist, a nurse practitioner, an occupational therapist, a social worker, and some other folks in the mental health field, got together and worked as a team! I want to create a safe space where neurodivergent folks won’t endure further trauma, where they can come to seek care and know they’ll be treated with empathy, compassion, and support. ” ~Melanie Green

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*In the following article, MG refers to Melanie Green and TS refers to The Synapse;

TS: Could you briefly introduce yourself and why you chose to study psychology at UNB?

MG: My name is Melanie Green (she/her), and I am a 4th year psychology Honours student. In order to answer this question, I think it’s important I provide some context. 

In my late 30s I was diagnosed with ADHD, and that diagnosis was life-changing. It allowed me to make sense of most of the chaos of broken relationships, financial trouble, questionable choices, and constant refrain of “she could do so much better if she only applied herself” that I had experienced.  At that point, I’d attempted post-secondary education three times, and dropped out each time before finishing my program. Receiving my diagnosis was like a weight lifted off my shoulders - I’d pretty much judged myself a failure until then, and blamed myself for my shortcomings. I’ve since learned that this is a pretty typical story for undiagnosed, or late diagnosed, neurodivergent folks (i.e. those with ADHD, Autistic, or otherwise non-typical cognition & perception). Then, last June, at the age of 42, I was diagnosed as Autistic, which helped me understand myself even further. Those diagnoses weren’t just labels, they were like identifying my brain’s operating systems so I might install the proper programs to help me manage my challenges better. ADHD and autism is frequently missed or misdiagnosed in those who are AFAB (i.e. assigned female at birth). This is all part of why I chose to come back to study psychology at UNB - my diagnoses were missed for years by multiple professionals, and I want to use my lived experience of neurodiversity to help others and end the feelings of moral failure and shame that neurodivergent (ND) individuals struggle with. 

Ultimately, I went back to study because I have a dream of setting up a multidisciplinary, cooperative clinic that caters primarily to ND individuals. Just imagine what could happen if a clinical psychologist, a nurse practitioner, an occupational therapist, a social worker, and some other folks in the mental health field, got together and worked as a team! ND folks are often treated with suspicion and doubt when they seek medical and/or mental health care. I’ve been on the receiving end of it, and I find it makes you worry that any time you seek care, you might not be believed or might be treated badly, and often it’s hard enough initially to build up the courage to even seek care. You also start to doubt yourself - which speaks to a form of medical gaslighting that is extremely harmful. I want to create a safe space, where ND folks won’t endure further trauma, where they can come to seek care and know they’ll be treated with empathy, compassion, and support. So to summarize all that, I guess you could say I came to UNB to study psychology as the first step on a journey to achieve this long-term goal.

TS: What is the most fascinating thing you have learned about psychology from your courses at UNB so far?

MG: I’m really enjoying my Honours seminar course and feel very lucky to be working with Dr. Barbara D’Entremont for my thesis project. Being in her lab - which studies the lived experiences of those with autism - has been a wonderful experience. I think one of the most fascinating things I’ve learned was gleaned from our weekly conversations in the lab: that Autistics who have higher support needs sometimes have higher life satisfaction and better quality of life than those with lower support needs. It makes sense if you think on it: those with higher support needs tend to be getting a lot of support because they’re perceived as needing support, while Autistics with low support needs still need support but often pass as neurotypical, as I did for most of my life. They may be able to save their meltdowns or shutdowns for when they’re alone, or they may collapse from exhaustion the minute they get home from work because they’ve given all their energy to keeping up appearances. They appear successful on paper, but constantly feel like they’re drowning. It’s like being a juggler, but a bad one - always trying to keep up with all the pieces of your life to project the appearance of normality while on the verge of dropping something. And eventually things fall apart because you’ve been struggling and pushing yourself for so long, and then, you often blame yourself (especially if you haven’t been diagnosed). So knowing all that, it makes sense that those with low-support would also end up having lower life satisfaction and quality of life. 

TS: How far do you wish to pursue studies in psychology and why?

MG: I plan on doing either a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), or a masters. I considered a PhD, but had to give consideration to where I am in my life, and the number of years it would take to complete.

TS: If you met someone who wasn’t interested in psychology at all, what is something you would say to try and enlighten them?

It would depend on what they were interested in. I might introduce them to the concept of the banality of evil by discussing Milgram’s shock experiments or the Stanford prison experiment. Or the power of nudges - such as having default options set to ‘opt-in’ to something instead of to ‘opt-out’. Or maybe the jam experiment – which was a study that revealed that when shoppers were given too many choices, they were less likely to buy anything. Psychology is all around us - it’s in everything we do.

Just for fun, I asked ChatGPT what it would say. Here’s its response:

Psychology plays a crucial role in understanding human behavior and mental processes, which affects every aspect of our lives. Whether it's improving relationships, finding career satisfaction, or even just understanding why we act and think the way we do, psychology provides valuable insights. If someone is not interested in psychology, I would tell them that psychology helps us understand the complexities of the human mind and why people behave the way they do. By gaining this understanding, we can improve our own lives and relationships, and also make a positive impact on the world.

I prefer mine! 

TS: Is there any discipline other than psychology that you would seriously consider pursuing? Why?

MG: I’ve considered social work since social workers can provide counselling. I’m also looking into occupational therapy (OT)  – I’m amazed at all the things it can help with, and how beneficial those treatments can be for ND folks who struggle with sensory input, as well as emotional dysregulation & alexithymia (i.e. the inability to recognize emotions in yourself, or others). If I don’t get into grad school this year round, I will probably apply to at least one OT program.

TS: Do you have a favourite psychological film/ book/ song/ artwork/ etc? If so, which, and what do you like about it?

MG: I hate picking favorites because there are so many of them, and they’re favorites for different reasons. 

I’m currently reading Behave: The Biology of Human at our Best and Worst by Robert M. Sapolsky and I’m finding it a fascinating read because his storytelling is excellent. It’s very easy to read, almost conversational. It gives really interesting insights into human behaviour and the underlying neurobiological processes involved as well as what can influence those processes. 

I enjoyed reading NeuroTribes by Steve Silberman because it was my first introduction to the history of autism and neurodivergence, though I now recognize that the book has some shortcomings - it really looks at neurodiversity through rose-coloured glasses by focusing on those with low support needs rather than presenting a balanced picture. 

One of the first books I read on ADHD was You Mean I’m Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?, and I rank it among my favorites. It helped me accept some of the things I’ve struggled with and shifted my thinking away from viewing my struggles as moral failings.

TS: Is there anything else you wish to share about yourself as a psych student?

MG: I'm thrilled about my Honours thesis project, "Thematic Analysis of Autistic Experiences: Insights and Solutions." This research aims to understand the experiences of Autistics in the workplace and use that information to create solutions for improving their experiences. It's similar to applying the "curb-cut effect" concept to the workplace. This concept is named for the example of how sidewalk ramps designed to make communities more accessible to wheelchair users ended up benefiting a wider range of individuals, such as those with strollers, carts, bikes, or even pedestrians, by improving safety and ease of movement. In the workplace, accessibility solutions can have a similar impact. For instance, implementing sit/stand desks or modifying harsh fluorescent lighting for Autistics can improve the working experience for everyone. This is research I get really excited about because it’s directly applicable to everyday life, and can improve everyone’s lives. Ψ

Created for The Synapse by Incé Husain.