Invisible Pain

My son has always been the kindest and most empathetic goofball you’ll ever encounter, and at the same time, so articulate and expressive with his words, his play, his emotions and his ideas when pressed for them. Growing up, he loved talking to adults who obliged him, and engaged with whichever stranger would give him the time and space - undeterred by their age or their station in life. It was at the young age of 5 (maybe as early as 4), I would often ask him what he was thinking about when immersed in (what I later learned) his IIM (Intense Imagery Movement). With his words, he would paint me these very full, amazingly complete and vividly detailed scenarios of what was playing in his mind. These talks helped me understand that it was an intensely beautiful world that was fully immersive - if he chose. More importantly, these conversations showed me that he wasn’t trying to escape into this world, but rather was too young to learn to control and utilize this gift, this immersive perspective (see CMS and IIM Section for more). The combined ability to visualize through his IIM and the ease he has to express and encapsulate his thoughts, really helped me see his world and what it is like for him living with his neurodivergent condtions. The following posts were taken from conversations we’ve had over the years, and ideas he wanted to share, hoping that it will help other young children and adults.