The power of social media, telemedicine and community.
Collectively it’s been inspiring, motivating and endearing to share space with you all from all over the United States and even abroad!
We are sending cyber hugs to every human that has participated in our body doubling co/focus sessions! We’ve shared stories, vulnerability and transparency about our experiences with neuro-divergence, organization and how life be LIFING. We are doin the things that need to be done with an emphasis to instill patience and kindness with our bodies, minds and capacities. The unpacking sessions at the end have been so fruitful as they allow us the opportunity to share our challenges as we relate through sharing our lived experiences, what we are working on - internally, work wise and spiritually. Not to mention, the best part - books, books and more books! Here are a few titles our community members are currently reading:
It truly has been a joy to reconnect, listen and share with y’all through the magnificent magic of body doubling! The camera on method has been working wonders. Feedback has been a testimony in how being visible in these sessions support focus, awareness, accountablity and presence.
One recurring discussion thread over the past week since we launched the digital Co/Focus body doubling community sessions is how social media has opened up visibility, access, language on various arenas of neuro-divergence - specifically ADHD and autism.
During an appointment with my psychiatrist he shared that there is currently a nationwide stimulant shortage that would affect the ability for neuro-divergent folks to access medication across the United States. Hm… I pondered, as someone diagnosed with ADHD just under a year ago. What’s up with this sudden rise that’s creating scarcity in the stimulant department?
The Washington Examiner article titled “Adderall shortage fueled by sharp rise in ADHD diagnoses” states:
“A diagnosis of ADHD got more attainable during the COVID-19 pandemic with telemedicine startups being able to diagnose and prescribe the medication remotely, even after only a 30-minute video call. Typically, an in-person visit is required to prescribe the controlled substance, but a relaxed federal rule allowed doctors and even nurse practitioners to prescribe the stimulants in many states.”
“The startups also flooded TikTok and other social media platforms with advertisements suggesting that people should look into getting medication if they are having trouble focusing.”
This is happening in Canada as well -
“These Calgarians say TikTok told them they had ADHD — turns out, they do” - via CBC.CA news
“Seeing the TikToks made Wood feel like she wasn't alone and gave her the courage to seek an assessment — which led to a diagnosis from her doctor.
"For me, it kind of filled in a gap and answered a lot of other questions I had about the way my brain worked," she said.
"I have been on a path of self-discovery, health discovery, if you will, for probably the last eight years, specifically as it relates to mood and mental health — and I always felt that there was something missing in both the diagnosis and the remedy."
Information on ADHD travels through Tik Tok, Instagram and Twitter in colorful, quippy graphics in a myriad of ways that suit our engagement style.
Coming across Sistas With ADHD has been a sigh of relief. Torrian, the founder is really on to something here! I binged on the Sisas With ADHD podcast - the education, structure, language and tone of this awesome audio offering felt so affirming. Though Torrian is not a licensed practitioner it gave relatable, educational, funny, unapologetically Black and digestible context in lieu of the academic sterility that distances us from obtaining information. Torrian is FAB, style, beauty, brains - all the thangs. Thank you Torrian for your work, for showing us how to live life fully with methods on how we can co-exist with ADHD. The above graphics are via Sistas With ADHD’s Instagram.
It is fascinating to see an internal intimate conversation between the Sisters With Invoices body doubling community connect into a national conversation tied to social media creating a rise in ADHD/ neuro-divergence diagnosis.The innanet is democratizing and distributing access to research, symptoms, diagnoses and prescriptions from the comfort of our own homes. Social media is creating a side door that circumvents the sterile violence perpetuated by the medical industrial complex as we are becoming informed, vigilant citizens obtaining the information, research and data we need outside of the system. It opens up more opportunities to take charge of our health and reconnect our bodies to spirit. This is radical!
It goes to show we are all truly connected, and in the same way dance challenges travel we have other varying waves of transference webbing between us. <3
👩🏾💻🧠 If you would like to join one of our Virtual Co/Focus sessions here is a link to help you get started. 👩🏾💻
The intention of this space is to shift energy to generate flow.
These sessions are running from November 6th - January 31st 2023.
📆 4 days a week!
📚 2 hour long sessions, 3 x's a day
💙 Sunday ❤️ Monday 💛Tuesdays + 💚 Wednesdays
10am PST - 12 pm PST
12:30pm PST - 2:30 pm PST
4:30pm PST - 6:30pm PST
🌸 Sliding scale suggested donation : $1-$10
See you there! x