Mr. Maxwell Mr. Maxwell
-
- Society & Culture
My name is Sam, I am an autistic adult who struggles with autoimmune diseases. I am a teacher by trade, a husband, father of three and a creative who likes to paint sneakers and make things.
My podcast is inspired by the interactions that I have with my students, and my musings as I journey through life.
My goal is to share my personal journey and thoughts about life, creativity or whatever else pops into my head.
Grab a cup of tea and let’s talk.
-
-
Managing Depression
I struggle with depression, and I am currently in a depressive episode. Instead of hiding this, I wanted to be vulnerable, to talk about depression, and share five strategies that I am using to help me get through it. Trigger warning: discussion of suicide and suicidal thoughts. If you are dealing with suicidal thoughts please call or text 988 to speak to someone with the suicide prevention hotline. You are not alone.
-
Revisiting Ikigai
2023 has been a year of constant change, I have not had a normal day since January. When my life feels like too much is going on I can get very overwhelmed, and I begin looking for ways to ground myself. To do that I have been going over my journals, and re-exploring ideas that brought me to where I am and that will help me find my way going forward. One of those is the concept of Ikigai. Ikigai is a Japanese term that has gained popularity in recent years for its powerful insights into finding purpose and living a fulfilling life. Since I am reviewing it for myself, I thought I would share my notes with you.
-
Dealing With Light
Light is a wonderful part of our world, but for some it is also a source of pain and discomfort. Today I am sharing what I’ve learned from researching how light affects me as an autistic adult with an autoimmune disease. My sources are: Decreasing exposure to ultraviolet light, Lupus.org, https://www.lupus.org/resources/decreasing-uv-exposure-from-fluorescent-lights
UV exposure: What you need to know, lupus.org, https://www.lupus.org/resources/uv-exposure-what-you-need-to-know
Ludlum, Kerry, Lupus Photosensitivity and UV Light, WebMD, https://www.webmd.com/lupus/lupus-photosensitivity-uv
Digre, Kathleen B., MD, What is Photophobia and Can It Be Treated? https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/what-is-photophobia/#:~:text=Photophobia%2C%20or%20extreme%20light%20sensitivity,daily%2C%20disabling%20sensitivity%20to%20light.
Tips for Managing Sensitivity to Light, lupus.org https://www.lupus.org/resources/tips-for-managing-sensitivity-to-light -
Dyschronometria
Time is a funny thing, something that many struggle with, some more than others. Today I am sharing what I learned about Dyschronometria, and how I manage time in my own life as a person with a career, family, and multiple creative pursuits. Here are some of the sources I used while researching this topic: NPR, All Things Considered: “A Woman With Dyschronometria Shares Her Experience Of Losing Track Of Time”, May 18, 2020, https://www.npr.org/2020/05/18/858236566/a-woman-with-dyschronometria-shares-her-experience-of-losing-track-of-time
Weissenberger S, Schonova K, Büttiker P, Fazio R, Vnukova M, Stefano GB, Ptacek R. Time Perception is a Focal Symptom of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults. Med Sci Monit. 2021 Jul 17;27:e933766. doi: 10.12659/MSM.933766. PMID: 34272353; PMCID: PMC8293837.
Maynard, S. (2022, July 1). "we don't see time; we feel it". ADDitude. Retrieved April 5, 2023, from https://www.additudemag.com/does-anyone-know-what-time-it-is/ -
Situational Awareness and Physical/ Mental Health
Last week I didn’t post an episode because I was dealing with a busy work week, and I was dealing with a lupus flare. Today I’m reflecting on last week and how I can apply the concept of situational awareness to my physical and mental health.