Bened Life - Brain Food

Voices of Neurodiversity: An Inclusive Encyclopedia
By: Ben Breaux, Bened Life Contributing Writer Over a year ago, I had the honor of meeting Dr. Chris Papadopoulos of The University of Bedfordshire, when he reached out to request my involvement in a big and important project of his.  His goal – to create an “encyclopedia” of Neurodivergent terms, in an “A-Z” format with personal stories and insights from neurodivergent people themselves.   I, along with 11 other contributors from across the globe, worked with Dr. Papadopoulos on crafting our entries to help build a comprehensive resource guide and... Read more...
Halloween Sensory Activities and Accommodations
By Tiffany “TJ” Joseph, Bened Life Neurodiversity and Disability Consultant It’s “spooky season” and many people are now picking costumes and decorations out for their favorite Halloween and fall activities. However, Autistic people and those with sensory processing differences may experience unique struggles around Halloween. Having a heightened sensitivity to sensory stimuli can make this a difficult holiday.  Here are some accommodations – and some fun sensory activities – to make Halloween more accessible. Sensory-friendly Halloween costumes Costumes can pose a variety of issues when it comes to sensory problems. ... Read more...
Gut-Brain Health and Probiotics for Parkinson's
Both neurological and gut health issues can have a serious impact on quality of life with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Probiotics have been used to help support the management of symptoms related to PD – some for the gut, others for the brain.  Gut-health probiotics can benefit people with PD by addressing common GI complaints like constipation. But gut-brain probiotics may also benefit people with PD when used as dietary management alongside regular treatment. We’ll look at how these probiotics for Parkinson's patients work, and how they both help people with... Read more...
Stimming in Autism vs Self-Harm: What’s the Difference?
By Rose Lauren, Bened Life Neurodiversity & Disability Specialist ⚠️ Content Note: This blog talks openly about self-harm, suicide, and related struggles. If you are in the U.S. and need support, you can dial or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. International readers can find hotlines at https://findahelpline.com. Please prioritize your safety and well-being while reading. This blog is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute medical advice as you would receive from your doctor.  One of the topics that’s been coming up a lot recently in... Read more...
What Happened to Asperger’s Syndrome?
If you've ever heard the term Asperger's syndrome and wondered why doctors don't use it anymore, you're not alone. Many people grew up with this diagnosis. Even today, a lot of individuals still describe themselves as having Asperger's or identify as an “Aspie”.  So why aren’t doctors using it, and why are some advocacy groups so against it?  There used to be a category called Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed. (DSM-4). Autistic Disorder, Asperger’s syndrome, and other conditions fell under the... Read more...
How to Spot Fake PS128
Unfortunately, we live in a world full of scams and imposters. Every day you’ve got to deal with phone number spoofers that fool your caller ID into thinking your neighbor is giving you a ring. You receive texts from bots that sound like they're trying to start a conversation. You face emails that look like they’re from your cable company but contain links that will unleash a virus in your computer or steal your bank account number.  The world of social media ads and e-commerce sites is also full of... Read more...