The Mind Game
Nonverbal learning disorder was a largely misunderstood and misdiagnosed condition until quite recently, which means adults who grew up navigating its visual, motor, and social symptoms may still be in need of treatment.
Living with NLD can certainly be challenging — it’s a complex condition, and there’s no one-size-fits-all method of treatment.
Welcome to the Mind Game
She keeps staring at the white letters dancing across a blank page, “like tears in rain.”
The gentle voice of her technician reminds her, “Your monkey mind will find its way back home to the forest you know and love. Be patient with yourself.” They notice the tear stains on her shirt and ask, “Are you trying to figure out where it all went wrong?”
Smiling she replies, “Yes, I should have started with something less invasive. More focused on creating an external environment giving the user more illusion of control AND keeps me out of the hospital.”
Curious the technician asks, “Where are you stuck? Why or how you got here?”
Exhausted she replies, “I was misguided in how I approached the problem so the solution had incomplete coding because I was not in my area of expertise …”
The technician turns her chair so they can look her in the eyes, “You almost became locked inside your own mind and for what? Please tell me it’s not about the …”
“Accolades? Being able to say, ‘Look I MADE IT to <fill in the blank>?’ That’s what you think of me?” She turns her chair back to the screen and begins to type.
I know what it’s like to not be understood. To not recognize what people are NOT saying with their words but EVERYONE ELSE seems to know.
You’re the punchline to a very cruel joke. As if I’m stupid.
So, I learned how to find clues to help me navigate well enough to get funding for P.I.X.I.E. While I understand that project is firmly locked in the ethical grey area of human trials, ‘The Mind Game’ is merely a well-designed interactive movie that allows a therapist to guide a patient to better understanding of social situations.
Kinda like Dragon’s Lair but the journey is designed to focus on recognizing non-verbal cues to complete the level.
Improved social skills lead to stronger personal relationships, enhanced emotional intelligence, reduced anxiety, and better mental health. Professionally, they increase workplace productivity, career advancement, and team collaboration. Additionally, enhanced social skills foster better academic performance, increased self-confidence, and improved conflict resolution
“That’s enough for today. We don’t want to Shock the Monkey now do we.” The technician takes her tablet away, everything else in the room is low-fi or analog.
“I have pen and paper you know.”
Nodding the technician walks to the door, “Good. Practice your cursive.”
Laughing, she pulls out a sketchbook, grabs her pen and begins to stipple .
