Today, we are joined by special guest Dr. Joyce Kamanitz, a psychopharmacologist with over 35 years of experience in the medical field. We also welcome back Dr. Lexi Hain, who rejoins the conversation as a co-host as we explore how limitations in the medical and educational systems can shape our experiences and sense of self.

The conversation gets personal as Dr. Zaghi takes us back to his initial diagnosis with ADHD by Dr. Kamanitz. Together, they reflect on how this experience sparked a series of personal transformations and opened a path to a new line of research related to neurodiversity in engineering.

Dr. Kamanitz shares her experiences from years of working with neurodiverse adults who frequently come to her after experiencing high levels of anxiety and depression. Her discussion of a holistic approach to wellbeing, including the benefits of meditation and a healthy diet, reveals insights about the interconnectedness of mind and body and how the plasticity of the brain allows us to modify old habits and negative narratives.

Finally, she discusses how the demands of many environments do not align with or acknowledge the strengths that individuals with ADHD bring to the table and suggests that safe, nurturing spaces can provide fertile ground for neurodiverse individuals to thrive.

Square Pegs is a series of intimate conversations about navigating life and learning within the neurodiverse community, hosted by Dr. Arash Zaghi, Professor at the University of Connecticut School of Engineering. In each episode, we talk to neurodiverse students and experts in the field of neurodiversity.

Send feedback about Square Pegs to hello@squarepegspodcast.com or find us at squarepegspodcast.com.

Meditation Apps

Waking Up: ⁠https://www.wakingup.com/⁠

Medito: ⁠https://meditofoundation.org/⁠

Food Tracking Apps

MyFitnessPal: ⁠https://www.myfitnesspal.com/⁠

Lose It: ⁠https://www.loseit.com/⁠

Cronometer: ⁠https://cronometer.com/⁠

00:28 Guest introduction Dr. Joyce Kamanitz, Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association

03:38 The connection between Arash and Joyce

05:47 Adult ADHD: Diagnosis and the ADHD/Anxiety Venn Diagram

10:35 How external pressures driving psychiatric treatment keep physicians from helping patients

13:12 ADHD: from evolutionary advantage to modern “deficit”

24:58 The challenges of and solutions for productivity with ADHD

33:00 How to be an effective provider when every patient is unique

44:23 Joyce’s reflections on previous episodes, the resiliency of the neurodiverse brain, and nurturing growth

57:37 The foibles and fumbles of the mainstream medical and educational models of neurodiversity

1:10:12 Chronic labelling of the neurodiverse as learned helplessness

1:14:55 Changing your mindset, breaking the systemic mold, and finding a community

1:20:10 Learning lifestyle changes for better mindfulness

1:31:21 A discourse on the ideal mental health system

1:34:28 Final thoughts: wisdom to young patients and college students

18: Dyslexia, Big-Picture Thinking, Einstein and Other Visionary Thinkers

Square PegsBy Arash ZaghiMay 02, 2024