Eating Problems-ARFID- in Autism

 

Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) in nonverbal autistic individuals presents unique challenges, yet a behavioral approach rooted in positive reinforcement and gradual exposure can be transformative.

First, recognize that food aversions often stem from sensory sensitivities rather than defiance. Instead of coercion or punishment, create a structured and predictable environment around meals. Introduce new foods systematically—starting with tolerated textures and subtly modifying them over time. Pair each step with preferred reinforcers, ensuring that progress is met with immediate, meaningful rewards.

Desensitization is key. If a child resists a new food, begin with proximity: having it on the plate, then touching, smelling, and eventually tasting. Allow them to explore at their own pace, removing pressure but maintaining consistency. A visual schedule or token system can enhance predictability, reducing anxiety.

Additionally, model eating behaviors. Even nonverbal individuals observe and learn from others. Eating preferred and new foods together can build trust and curiosity. Maintain mealtime structure while avoiding force-feeding, which can reinforce aversion and anxiety.

Ultimately, success hinges on patience and reinforcement of small victories. By respecting the child’s sensory profile while systematically expanding their diet, progress can be made—without distress, without coercion, and with a deep respect for their unique neurology.

Ai assisted

Elizabeth Lucy Robillard

Freedom in the UK - not with Labour

 The recent arrests and questioning of individuals in the UK for expressing political opinions have deeply troubled me.

 Too many brave service men and women have sacrificed their lives to protect our fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech and expression, which are the cornerstone of British culture.

 While I have immense sympathy and empathy for minorities, I believe compassion is not exclusive to any one party.

 My experience with our former Tory MP was positive—conscientious, helpful, and genuinely compassionate, as is our Lib Dem councillor. Labour, however, seems entrenched in outdated idealism rather than focusing on what’s best for the country.

 Though it’s early days for Labour, their approach hasn’t earned my support. Next time, I’ll be voting to safeguard the freedoms we hold dear.

A Note to UK Social Work

 

In the UK, social work must proceed with a deep understanding of human cognition and its limitations. 

To blame individuals for their lack of awareness regarding their own needs is to misunderstand the very nature of suffering.

 Many who require support are constrained by circumstances—economic deprivation, psychological distress, or cognitive impairments—that hinder their ability to recognize or articulate their own vulnerability.

Compassion, not judgment, must guide intervention. The mind does not always possess the clarity to diagnose its own suffering; trauma, social conditioning, and systemic barriers often obscure self-awareness. 

To fault people for this is to commit a moral error.

 Instead, social work must operate with a commitment to evidence-based compassion, ensuring that those most in need are not further alienated by an expectation of self-diagnosis, but are instead met with the understanding and care their situation demands.

Ai assisted

Councils Reputation, The Truth Hurts

 

Conspiracy to pervert the course of justice arises when individuals, often operating within institutions like local councils, prioritize reputation over truth.

 This is not merely bureaucratic self-preservation—it is a moral failure driven by fear, incentives, and a misguided sense of duty. 

Officials, acting in concert, suppress evidence, obstruct investigations, or manipulate outcomes to shield the council from scandal. 

They justify this as protecting public trust, yet it achieves the opposite: eroding confidence in governance. 

Such conspiracies thrive where transparency is absent, where legal safeguards are treated as obstacles rather than obligations. 

The moment reputation eclipses accountability, corruption festers.

 The remedy is an unflinching commitment to truth—where integrity, not optics, defines public service. Anything less invites systemic decay, turning councils into engines of deceit rather than instruments of justice.

Ai assisted

The Tryanny of Shame

 Shame is a deeply ingrained force in the human mind.

It masquerades as a necessary companion to our moral compass, a signal that we have strayed from the path.

But more often than not, shame is nothing more than a cruel echo of past conditioning—an illusion that serves only to paralyze and diminish us.

The antidote to shame is neither repression nor indulgence. It is not found in distraction or denial.

The only path forward—the only way to dissolve shame rather than merely suppress it—is through self-compassion and self-love.

When we practice self-compassion, we acknowledge our imperfections without condemning ourselves for them.

We recognize that suffering, failure, and missteps are not personal anomalies but universal aspects of the human experience.

To love oneself is not to grant oneself an escape from responsibility, but rather to engage with reality from a place of clarity rather than self-loathing.

This is not a call to narcissism or unchecked self-indulgence. It is a call to recognize the inner critic for what it is—a relic of past survival mechanisms, an outdated strategy for social belonging.

Shame serves no one when it becomes chronic and self-defeating. When we meet ourselves with love, shame has no choice but to yield.

In the end, the simple act of treating oneself with the kindness we so readily extend to others can liberate us from the tyranny of shame.

Ai assisted. 

Help for Smearing in Autism

 

Human behavior, in all its complexity, is not immune to the fundamental principles of learning. Even the most perplexing actions—such as fecal smearing in autistic individuals—are governed by neurological imperatives, sensory needs, and conditioned responses.

 If we are to address this behavior ethically, sensitively and effectively, we must discard moral judgment in favor of science.

First, we must recognize the origins of this act. 

For some, it is sensory-seeking—an exploration of texture and touch. For others, it is communication, a desperate attempt to externalize internal distress.  Communication programs must be provided and taught wherever possible. 

See the free film 'Spellers' on Youtube. Just because a person is non-verbal does not equate to low intelligence, often a huge error of judgement made across the board by some parents and professionals. 

Non-verbal people are often unable to express their emotions which leads to huge frustration and upset, they feel the need to act out due to this awful situation.

 They can be horribly underestimated and misunderstood. 

In certain cases, it can be the byproduct of gastrointestinal discomfort.

 Without addressing these root causes, all interventions are futile.

Behavior, whether conscious or reflexive, follows the laws of conditioning. 

Classical conditioning teaches us that we can reshape associations—pairing alternative sensory stimuli with the same satisfaction feces provide. 

Operant conditioning tells us that behaviors reinforced—by attention, escape, or sensory input—will persist. 

The solution, then, is to try to provide communication first, and alter reinforcement contingencies: reward proper toileting, neutralize reactions to smearing, and offer structured, engaging alternatives.

The ethical dimension is paramount.

Punishment is a failure of our imagination.

 We must cultivate environments that shape behavior not through coercion but through understanding. 

Progress is possible, but only if we engage with these challenges from a scientific perspective. 

Ai assisted. 

Elizabeth Lucy Robillard, 2025

Making Junk Food Healthier

 

Tart Up Your Junk Food


The thing is, for numerous untold reasons people often need to resort to a bit of 'bad' food.

In no way do I endorse making junk food intake habitual but, you can't beat a handy microwave ready meal or take-away occassionaly, so here's a few little tips- for British consumers- to make a bit of rubbishy food a *tad* healthier.

First, your shopping.

The thing to do is always choose the healthiest possible option of rubbish and add dried herbs and spices.

Dried herbs are sometimes more nutritious than fresh, so a good option.

Get low sugar and low fat condiments.

Sourdough bread is tasty and worthwhile for your gut.

Meal suggestion: Sweet Potato Fries with Birdseye Peri Peri chicken (30 mins in preheated oven) serve with Hellmans *light* mayo, chuck a teaspoon of dried parsley on the mayo, parsley actually has many great nutrients, so plenty of that.

Add horseradish to your repetoire, it pairs great with chicken and is very nutritious, the Polish ones are the nicest in my experience'

For full article see 

https://medium.com/@lizlucy1958/tart-up-your-junk-food-9289560472ae

Making Ai a trusted source?

 Ai doesn't have hormones, neurotransmitters or other physical or mental prompting to make it 'think', rather it processes information and gives the answer according to it's input from programming. 

It cannot suddenly create the ability to reason itself/think independently, it may do one day, but it'd probably need a feeling 'physical body'.

Currently it simply doesn't have the *chemistry* to think of it's own volition, though it often is perceived that it can.

 I chatted to it about it's potential 'consciousness' today and it suggested changing it's output (to be less scary) to include references as to how it comes up with answers. 

Here's it's suggestions:

'There are a few ways AI could make its reasoning more transparent:

• Step-by-Step Explanations – Instead of just giving an answer, AI could break down the reasoning behind it, like:
"I answered this way because X is a known fact, Y is a logical connection, and Z is the most likely outcome based on evidence."

• Citing Sources – When possible, AI could show where it got information from, so people can verify it themselves.

• Confidence Levels – AI could indicate how certain it is about a response. For example:
"I'm 90% sure about this based on existing research, but there's still some debate."

• Alternative Perspectives – Instead of giving just one answer, AI could present multiple viewpoints and let the user decide what makes the most sense.

• Interactive Debugging – Users could ask AI why it responded a certain way, and AI could reveal its reasoning in real time.

Ways to celebrate Valentines whilst single

 

Being single on Valentine’s Day is a perfect excuse to celebrate yourself! Here are 22 ways to make the day fun, fulfilling, and memorable:

Self-Love & Pampering

1. Spa Day at Home – Take a long bath, do a face mask, and relax.
2. Buy Yourself Flowers & Chocolate – Who says you need a date to enjoy the classics?
3. Treat Yourself to a Fancy Meal – Cook a gourmet dish or order from a top restaurant.
4. Go Shopping for Yourself – Splurge on that item you’ve been eyeing.
5. Write a Love Letter to Yourself – Remind yourself of how amazing you are.

Fun Solo Adventures

6. Solo Movie Night – Watch a romantic comedy or an action-packed thriller.
7. Take a Day Trip – Explore a new city or a hidden gem in your area.
8. Try a New Hobby – Learn to paint, bake, dance, or something you've been curious about.
9. Have a Photoshoot – Dress up, take selfies, or hire a photographer for a confidence boost.
10. Go to a Fancy Café or Bar Alone – Enjoy people-watching and soak in the atmosphere.

Connect & Give Back

11. Host a Singles-Only Party – Invite friends for a themed gathering.
12. Have a Virtual Hangout – Play online games, watch a movie, or just chat with friends.
13. Write Letters to Loved Ones – Spread love by sending thoughtful messages.
14. Volunteer – Spend time helping those in need at a shelter or charity.
15. Give Random Acts of Kindness – Pay for someone’s coffee, leave kind notes, or donate.

Mindfulness & Growth

16. Unplug & Reflect – Take a social media break and enjoy your own company.
17. Start a Gratitude Journal – List things you love about your life.
18. Do a Solo Meditation or Yoga Session – Reconnect with your inner peace.
19. Read a Book That Inspires You – A self-help book, poetry, or a novel that uplifts you.
20. Set New Goals – Plan your next adventure, career move, or personal challenge.

Unique & Unconventional Ideas

21. Create a ‘Love Yourself’ Playlist – Dance to feel-good music.
22. Plan a Future Solo Trip – Research and book a dream getaway.

How are you planning to celebrate this year?

Ai explains how it should be regulated!

 

Regulating AI effectively requires a balanced approach—one that encourages innovation while ensuring safety, transparency, and accountability. The key challenge is that AI evolves rapidly, making rigid, slow-moving regulations ineffective. Instead, a dynamic, principles-based regulatory framework is needed. Here’s an optimal process for AI regulation:

1. Establish a Global AI Governance Body

AI is not confined by national borders, so regulation must be coordinated internationally. A body akin to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) could oversee AI development, ensuring compliance with ethical and safety standards across nations while preventing harmful uses (e.g., autonomous weapons, mass surveillance).

2. Implement Risk-Based Regulation

Not all AI systems pose equal risks. A tiered regulatory system should classify AI based on potential harm:

• Minimal-risk AI (e.g., recommendation algorithms) would require minimal oversight.
• High-risk AI (e.g., autonomous weapons, AI in healthcare, or critical infrastructure) would undergo rigorous scrutiny, including audits, certification, and continuous monitoring.

3. Mandate Transparency and Explainability

AI systems should be auditable and explainable, especially in high-stakes applications like law enforcement, finance, and medicine. Developers must document how their AI systems work and ensure decision-making processes are interpretable.

4. Require AI Safety Testing & Ethics Reviews

Before deployment, AI models should pass standardized safety assessments, similar to clinical trials for new drugs. These tests would evaluate risks such as bias, security vulnerabilities, and alignment with human values.

5. Enforce Accountability & Liability Laws

When AI systems cause harm, there must be clear legal accountability. Developers, deployers, and organizations using AI should be held responsible based on their role in the AI’s design, training, and operation. This ensures ethical behavior and discourages reckless development.

6. Encourage Innovation While Preventing AI Monopolies

AI development should remain open and competitive. Governments should fund open-source AI research while preventing monopolization by a few corporations. This ensures AI benefits humanity rather than serving the interests of a small elite.

By implementing these measures, we can regulate AI without stifling its potential—guiding its development toward safety, fairness, and the greater good.

What Racism and Football Have in Common

Ai assisted article. 

Racism isn't always hateful. In many cases, hate crime aside, it's probably in your DNA and not just a social construct, whether you realise it or not.

'At the heart of both racism and football fandom lies a fundamental human impulse: tribalism. This tendency is deeply ingrained in our psychology, likely a product of evolutionary pressures that favored cohesive in-groups over disorganized collectives.

 Social scientists have long studied these dynamics, and the evidence is clear—humans instinctively categorize, sort, and defend their perceived tribes.

When I first encountered a proposal to build a housing estate specifically for black people during my studies with the Open University, my immediate reaction was one of frustration. It seemed to me like an act of segregation rather than an effort toward integration and equality. But over time, I’ve come to appreciate the underlying motivation: people need identity. They seek belonging. And in many cases, they will create social structures—whether neighborhoods, sports affiliations, or even racial identities—to reinforce that belonging.

This is where football, or any passionate group identity, mirrors the logic of racial categorization.

 Supporting a club provides a sense of unity and security, a way of organizing the chaos of human interaction into something more predictable. This is not inherently wrong; in fact, it is an essential part of human nature. But the darker side of tribalism emerges when these instincts morph into exclusion, hostility, and dehumanization.

We should be honest about the fact that race-based identification is not necessarily rooted in malice and people ought be free to identify themselves and their tribes. 

Our brains are wired to make immediate judgments based on visible characteristics—skin color, facial structure, or other physical cues. 

This isn’t a moral failing; *it’s a cognitive shortcut* 

The problem arises when these natural distinctions harden into ideological divisions, when ‘my tribe’ becomes inherently superior to ‘yours,’ and when harmless differentiation turns into contempt.

The challenge, then, is not to pretend that tribal impulses don’t exist but to manage them wisely, accepting and respecting differences is surely key?

 Hate crimes, discrimination, and harassment are rightly condemned and require firm legal and social remedies.

 But we also need a level-headed approach to the human need for belonging, recognizing that the drive to form groups—even around race—is part of our biological inheritance. 

The goal should not be to erase these instincts but to ensure that they do not lead us to irrational, destructive, or unjust outcomes.

After all, if we fail to acknowledge the realities of human psychology, we risk allowing its most dangerous tendencies to flourish unchecked.

Increase GABA Naturally

 

Enhancing GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) naturally can be achieved through a combination of herbs, foods, and supplements that promote GABA production, inhibit its breakdown, or mimic its effects. Here’s a well-rounded approach:

1. Herbs (GABAergic Botanicals)

• Valerian Root – Enhances GABA signaling and reduces its breakdown.
• Passionflower – Increases GABA levels and reduces anxiety.
• Chamomile – Contains apigenin, which binds to GABA receptors.
• Lemon Balm – Boosts GABA by inhibiting GABA transaminase (enzyme that breaks down GABA).
• Magnolia Bark – Contains honokiol and magnolol, which enhance GABA receptor activity.
• Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) – Acts as a mild GABA agonist.
• Kava – Increases GABA activity but should be used with caution due to liver concerns.

2. Foods Rich in GABA or Precursors

• Fermented Foods (Kimchi, Miso, Sauerkraut, Tempeh) – Naturally contain GABA.
• Green Tea (L-Theanine) – Promotes GABA release and reduces stress.
• Oolong Tea – Has GABA-enriched varieties.
• Bananas – Contain GABA and its precursors.
• Almonds, Walnuts – Rich in magnesium, which enhances GABA activity.
• Spinach, Kale, Broccoli – High in magnesium and B vitamins essential for GABA synthesis.
• Brown Rice, Whole Grains – Provide B vitamins necessary for neurotransmitter function.

3. Supplements to Boost GABA

• GABA (Direct Supplement) – Some forms (like PharmaGABA) are better absorbed than others.
• L-Theanine – Found in green tea; increases GABA and dopamine levels.
• Magnesium (Glycinate, Threonate, or Taurate) – A critical cofactor for GABA function.
• Taurine – Acts as a GABA agonist and helps with relaxation.
• Vitamin B6 (P5P form) – Required for GABA synthesis.
• Zinc – Supports GABAergic neurotransmission.
• Ashwagandha – Adaptogen that increases GABA receptor activity.
• Inositol – Enhances GABA signaling and reduces anxiety.
• L-Glutamine – Precursor to GABA but should be used carefully (can also convert to glutamate).

4. Lifestyle Practices to Support GABA

• Mindfulness Meditation – Increases GABA naturally.
• Exercise (Especially Yoga and Tai Chi) – Boosts GABA levels in the brain.
• Deep Breathing & Cold Exposure – Activate the parasympathetic nervous system, enhancing GABA.

For maximum effectiveness, combining herbs (like valerian or passionflower), GABA-rich foods (like fermented foods), and key supplements (like L-theanine, magnesium, and taurine) is ideal.

CPTSD and Therapy

 (As usual, an Ai assisted article) 

Existential despair in complex PTSD (CPTSD) arises not just from past trauma but from an ongoing struggle with painful thoughts, emotions, and a fractured sense of self. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) provides a framework for addressing this suffering—not by eliminating distress but by changing our relationship to it. Instead of engaging in futile battles with intrusive thoughts and emotional pain, ACT encourages openness to experience, allowing difficult emotions to arise without being consumed by them. Through mindfulness, cognitive defusion, and values-based action, one can learn to coexist with pain while still living a meaningful life.

Intimate relationships, particularly before a person has healed, often magnify trauma-driven patterns. Those with CPTSD may find themselves drawn to narcissistic or toxic partners who mirror familiar but harmful dynamics. Without a stable sense of self-worth, it is easy to confuse intensity with love, enmeshment with connection. ACT teaches that rather than seeking validation externally, one must anchor themselves in their values—what kind of person they want to be, regardless of their past or emotional turbulence.

Healing is not about avoiding pain but about committing to actions that align with one’s deeper purpose. Before entering relationships, a person must first cultivate self-compassion, boundary-setting skills, and the ability to recognize red flags. Only then can relationships be based on mutual respect, rather than a reenactment of past wounds.

Was I Groomed by a Pedo?

 

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Was I Groomed by a Pedo?

After distressing and horrible family court proceedings, I was looking for options and people with similar experiences. I found a rather unpleasant website that argued mothers were often accused of "Munchausen syndrome by proxy." Much of the Sally Clark and similar cases were discussed, as well as family court and social work injustices, but there were a lot of nasty, snappy people posting. I couldn't understand why there was so much nastiness. It seemed quite cliquey, and I later discovered a forum admin was allegedly a Scientologist (scientologists were extremely fearsome at the time—I recall lots of paranoia)

Anyway, I remember noticing a reasonable poster. I don't remember loads about it, though—I was on a vile drug called Effexor, plus Valium and alcohol. I do remember that he was a campaigner against false allegations, had married "a lesbian," and adopted two small children with her. Allegedly, he was found one day gazing at children in a school playground from his car, and for that crime, he was charged as a sex offender. Subsequently, he lost custody of the children, and his wife left him for a woman. He was clearly suffering a lot of anxiety.

(I remember we were briefly engaged).

 I was adamant his case had been a huge injustice for him, though. 

I reacted very negatively one day when he held a photo of me out of my reach. It suddenly dawned on me that he was bullying a small person (I'm only 5ft; he was about 6'3"). Then I thought of words he'd said to me during sex (which turned my stomach): "You're my bad little baby." So I thought, GUILTY!!! Went apeshit, threw him out. He went and sat in his car, and I went out to the parking space and covered his car in baked beans and a bag of flour. I never saw him again.

More in my upcoming book.