I really appreciated the scenes that showed her regulating — breaks in the stairwell, watching lava lamp bubbles, etc. In comparison to drug addicted Langdon and avoid-until-meltdown Robby, her approach seemed healthy and grounded in her awareness of what she needed.
Excellent observation and great reminder that many of us know exactly what it is we need- there can just sometimes be an insurmountable wall of stigma around it.
"Mel is valued, but she is not held. And this is the quiet cruelty of systems that confuse usefulness with care. Respect without support is not safety. Being needed is not the same as being known or cared for. When a nervous system is welcomed only under pressure, it learns that rest is risky and that connection must be earned through constant output."
This part stood out to me! That was exactly my experience in my corporate job. I knew this, then, on some level, too, but couldn't articulate it (and if I could have, I am not sure, then, I believed I deserved or needed to be "held", supported). This is really validating to read, thank you.
Thank you so much! I think so many late-diagnosed people (especially women who are already underdiagnosed) can relate to this mixture of professional/academic competence and masking making accommodations nearly impossible to access. I can't wait to watch how the character progresses.
For sure my favorite character (in a cast of great characters!) and some of the best representation we've seen in quite a while, in my opinion!
I absolutely agree!
I really appreciated the scenes that showed her regulating — breaks in the stairwell, watching lava lamp bubbles, etc. In comparison to drug addicted Langdon and avoid-until-meltdown Robby, her approach seemed healthy and grounded in her awareness of what she needed.
Excellent observation and great reminder that many of us know exactly what it is we need- there can just sometimes be an insurmountable wall of stigma around it.
I love her. She’s so clearly on the spectrum and such a warm and caring character.
Yes! I love how she isn't portrayed as cold and disconnected from her patients. Finally, some nuanced representation.
“The environment finally meets her where she already is.” <- this line is gold
Thank you so much!
"Mel is valued, but she is not held. And this is the quiet cruelty of systems that confuse usefulness with care. Respect without support is not safety. Being needed is not the same as being known or cared for. When a nervous system is welcomed only under pressure, it learns that rest is risky and that connection must be earned through constant output."
This part stood out to me! That was exactly my experience in my corporate job. I knew this, then, on some level, too, but couldn't articulate it (and if I could have, I am not sure, then, I believed I deserved or needed to be "held", supported). This is really validating to read, thank you.
"Burnout does not arrive as a dramatic breakdown. It arrives as a slow thinning."
This is one of the best descriptions of burnout I've ever read. 'Slow thinning.' Gawd, that's it.
Thank you so much! I think so many late-diagnosed people (especially women who are already underdiagnosed) can relate to this mixture of professional/academic competence and masking making accommodations nearly impossible to access. I can't wait to watch how the character progresses.