芳賀で学ぶ発達障害、精神科医が解説します。

Good evening. I'm Dr. Takahiro Haga, a psychiatrist. Today, I'll be talking about the theme, "Developmental Disorders Are Not Just Someone Else's Problem." Honestly, I have a lot of developmental disorder-like characteristics myself. So today, I'd like to re-examine developmental disorders and study them together with you from the perspective of, "Hey, all of this applies to me!" There are various types of developmental disorders, but the main ones are ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). There's also LD (Learning Disability), but this is a term often used in educational settings. Generally speaking, when we talk about developmental disorders, it's easiest to start by considering ASD and ADHD. Let's start with ASD. There are three main characteristics of ASD. The first is the so-called "inability to read the room." The second is having strong fixations. The third is sensory hypersensitivity. However, I think that simply saying "inability to read the room," "fixations," and "sensory hypersensitivity" might just elicit a "Hmm" response, so I'll explain using my own example. First, there's the combination of a lack of social awareness and my stubbornness. I used to be on X (a Japanese social networking site) and caused a controversy. Even now, if you search "Dr. Haga controversy," you might find it. One of the main controversies was a post stating that "the reason people gain weight from psychiatric medication is because their calorie intake exceeds their calorie expenditure." Of course, there are various underlying reasons. Psychiatric medication can slow metabolism and increase appetite. Even if you think you're eating the same amount, your satiety threshold can change, resulting in increased intake. That's why, instead of simply saying "you're eating too much," my stance as a doctor was to work together to figure out how to avoid overeating. I want to be a solution-oriented doctor, focusing on how to resolve problems rather than just offering platitudes. Therefore, even now, I don't think I said anything wrong. However, I understand that some people would be offended by what I said. I understand that. I understand, but my stubbornness to "tell the truth" and "say something that leads to a solution" always wins out. Normally, people prioritize the possibility of offending others, being criticized, or causing a social media firestorm. However, for those with ASD tendencies, these factors tend to be relatively lower. It's not that they don't understand at all; they understand, but their own convictions and sense of correctness take precedence. This, I believe, is the "difficulty reading the atmosphere" characteristic of ASD. By "convictions," I mean strongly prioritizing one's own methods, thoughts, and daily routines. On social media, saying pleasant-sounding or textbook-like things makes it less likely to cause a firestorm. For example, gently repeating "It's okay just to be alive" reassures listeners and reduces the likelihood of criticism. But I feel compelled to express what I've experienced in actual clinical practice, what I believe actually leads to solutions. My convictions are strong in this regard. Even when weighing it against the risk of a firestorm, I prioritize my convictions. I believe this is where my ASD tendencies lie. The third is sensory hypersensitivity. I always wear scrubs. They're made by an American manufacturer called Smart Scrubs, 65% polyester and 35% cotton. Scrubs are garments commonly used in medical settings because they are resistant to stretching, losing their shape, and fading even after washing. I really love the feel and shape of these scrubs. The open neckline and loose hems feel comfortable and don't cling to my body. Conversely, even if I buy clothes because I think they look cool, if the feel or shape isn't quite right, I hardly ever wear them. I often wear them once or twice, then put them away, and eventually throw them away. My outerwear choices are also pretty much fixed. I have a black Montbell fleece, a blue Montbell fleece, and maybe a Patagonia fleece. This isn't because I'm cheap or uninterested in clothes; it's because I have a very strong preference for how clothes feel against my skin. It's not that I can't wear them, but they're uncomfortable, and I end up not wearing them. This is sensory hypersensitivity. In summary, the characteristics of ASD are difficulty reading social cues, strong fixations, and sensory hypersensitivity. These are the three main characteristics. Next is ADHD. ADHD also has three main characteristics. My traits are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. I think "disinhibition" is a more accurate term for my impulsivity. First, let's talk about inattention. Inattention often brings to mind forgetting things. However, once you become a working adult, the kind of "forgetfulness" you might experience as a student becomes surprisingly less noticeable. For me, the ...