I Would Like To Uninstall My Depression Files - Tumblr Posts

hardware vs software: mental disorder edition

I was trying to explain the difference between AuDHD and OSDD's source to an acquaintance the other week, found the note I wrote in my google keep, and thought it might be worth sharing.

I hope I have come up with a good way of explaining. I'm open to kind criticism.

Hardware: Neurodevelopmental disorders

Hardware cannot be changed. The brain is wired like that. Hardware includes ASD, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, intellectual disability, some kinds of visual and hearing imparements.

It's like when you buy a laptop, it comes with a set of keys, screen, RAM etc, you can't really change it (you can if you force it but for now, think that you can't. Be like Apple, you get what you get!). Everyone has hardware, but it'll look different. Think, an autistic keyboard has a different set of keys to a neurotypical keyboard.

Software: things that develop out of trauma or stress

Software can be changed beyond the original purchase of hardware. It can be installed and added. However, unlike software, most disorders can't be uninstalled (but they can be improved with time and therapy).

Disassociative disorders (DID, OSDD, DPDR etc) install to manage trauma. Depression, PTSD and anxiety is software.. or even a bug... or... virus? is it a virus???

Some software is more likely to install on specific hardware types.

I also had a thought that communicating between neurodivergent people and neurotypicals as like trying to communicate apple with android, it doesn't always work perfectly, though often gets the point across, however sometimes it completely misses the mark??