Mushrooms are having a moment. Once dismissed as mere ingredients or forest oddities, they’re now the stars of conversations everywhere—from health circles to science labs. This isn’t a fad but a fundamental shift in how we see and use these fungi. From wellness trends to business booms, mushrooms are popping up everywhere, proving they’re more than just a side dish.

Our list dives into these undeniable signs, covering the rise of online communities, the integration of mushrooms into wellness practices, and their economic impact. We also explore the shift in public sentiment, their emergence as a cultural phenomenon, and their coverage in mainstream media. Increased scientific research, legislative changes, and the rising popularity of microdosing highlight the broader acceptance of mushrooms. Finally, we look at how celebrity endorsements are further cementing mushrooms’ place in modern life. From every angle, it’s clear: Our relationship with mushrooms is changing, and it’s changing fast.

Related: 10 Experiences to Make You Feel Like an Adrenaline Junkie

10 Online Communities and Education

Online communities dedicated to mushrooms have grown in popularity, with groups like the New York Mycological Society (NYMS) and numerous online forums facilitating the exchange of information and fostering enthusiasm among both amateur and experienced mycologists. This increased accessibility to knowledge has democratized the study of mushrooms.

Educational opportunities in mycology have expanded, with universities and independent organizations offering courses and workshops on various aspects of fungi, including foraging, cultivation, and medicinal applications. This has led to a broader interest in and understanding of the diverse roles that mushrooms play in nature and human society.

Social media influencers and content creators have contributed to this growing interest by sharing engaging content about mushrooms, inspiring wider curiosity and appreciation for these organisms. The increasing online presence of mushroom-related content reflects a growing fascination with and respect for mushrooms as a significant part of the natural world.^[1]

9 Integration into Wellness Practices

Mushrooms have gained traction in the wellness scene, with many people incorporating them into their health routines. People are increasingly interested in these fungi for their potential benefits, which some studies suggest may include boosting focus, enhancing immunity, and aiding in stress relief. Adaptogenic mushrooms like reishi, lion’s mane, and chaga are especially popular due to claims that they help the body adapt to stress and restore balance.

Mushroom supplements, powders, and teas are now widely available, making it easier to add these fungi to daily life. Some wellness enthusiasts report experiencing improved cognitive function, sleep quality, and reduced inflammation. This trend is not limited to alternative health circles; mainstream wellness brands are also incorporating mushrooms into their products, reflecting a broader interest in their potential health benefits.

The growing popularity of mushrooms in wellness practices indicates a growing interest in their potential benefits. While scientific research is ongoing and more evidence is needed to confirm their efficacy, the anecdotal evidence and increasing research attention suggest a growing curiosity and acceptance of mushrooms as potential tools for health and wellness.^[2]

8 Economic Impact

The mushroom industry is experiencing significant growth, creating economic opportunities in various sectors. The market for edible and medicinal mushrooms has expanded, driven by factors such as increasing consumer interest in health and wellness, technological advancements in cultivation, and a growing awareness of sustainability. Farmers are diversifying their crops to include gourmet and medicinal mushrooms, which can offer higher profit margins and open new revenue streams.

Both startups and established companies are capitalizing on this trend. Startups are focusing on innovative mushroom-based products like dietary supplements and novel food items, while established companies are exploring applications in sustainable materials like biodegradable packaging and leather alternatives. This surge in mushroom-related businesses contributes to job creation and economic growth, particularly in regions with favorable growing conditions.

This economic impact highlights the increasing recognition of mushrooms’ versatility and value. As consumer demand continues to rise and research uncovers new applications, the mushroom industry is poised to play a growing role in the global economy, with entrepreneurs and farmers at the forefront of this emerging market.^[3]

7 Public Sentiment Shift

Public sentiment toward mushrooms has undergone a remarkable transformation. Once viewed with suspicion or simply ignored, mushrooms are now embraced as symbols of sustainability and health. This shift is driven by increased awareness of their nutritional benefits, ecological importance, and potential therapeutic uses. People are more willing to experiment with mushrooms in their diets, seeking out varieties like shiitake, maitake, and oyster mushrooms for their unique flavors and health benefits.

This changing attitude is also reflected in the growing interest in foraging and cultivating mushrooms. Workshops, guided foraging tours, and urban mushroom farming initiatives are becoming more popular, highlighting a collective move toward reconnecting with nature and understanding our food sources. This shift in public sentiment underscores a broader trend of embracing natural and sustainable living practices, with mushrooms at the forefront of this movement.^4[]

6 Cultural Phenomenon

Mushrooms have become more than just a food trend; they’re now a cultural phenomenon. Grocery stores are stocked with diverse mushroom products, from gourmet varieties like lion’s mane and maitake to innovative items like chaga coffee and mushroom-infused chocolate bars. This surge in popularity is reflected in the significant increase in mushroom sales and their frequent appearance on food trend lists.

The fascination with mushrooms extends beyond the kitchen. Artistic expressions, fashion lines, and pop culture references celebrate these fungi, highlighting their aesthetic appeal and symbolic meanings. Festivals and events dedicated to mushrooms further showcase their growing cultural significance. This cultural embrace illustrates a broader societal shift towards appreciating and incorporating mushrooms into various aspects of life.^[5]

5 Mainstream Media Coverage

Mushrooms have captured the attention of mainstream media, solidifying their place in popular culture. Documentaries like Fantastic Fungi on Netflix have played a crucial role in educating the public about the fascinating world of fungi, showcasing their ecological importance and potential health benefits. These films have reached wide audiences, sparking curiosity and appreciation for mushrooms.

In addition to documentaries, mushrooms frequently appear in news articles, magazines, and cooking shows. Renowned chefs are incorporating exotic mushrooms into their dishes, highlighting their unique flavors and textures. This media exposure has contributed to the growing interest in mushrooms, making them a trendy topic in culinary and wellness circles.

The media’s portrayal of mushrooms as both a culinary delight and a health booster has significantly influenced public perception. As a result, mushrooms are no longer seen as obscure or niche; they are celebrated as versatile and valuable components of a healthy lifestyle. This mainstream coverage has undoubtedly helped elevate mushrooms to their current esteemed status.^[6]

4 Increased Scientific Research

The scientific community is diving deeper into the world of mushrooms, uncovering their impressive potential. Research into the medicinal properties of fungi is expanding, with studies highlighting the benefits of compounds like psilocybin for mental health treatments such as depression and PTSD. These findings are gradually changing the perception of mushrooms from mere food items to powerful therapeutic tools.

Beyond mental health, scientists are also exploring the nutritional and environmental benefits of mushrooms. Studies show they can boost immune function, reduce inflammation, and promote overall health. Additionally, mushrooms’ ability to decompose organic waste and improve soil quality is gaining attention, making them valuable for sustainable agriculture.

This surge in scientific research is shedding new light on mushrooms’ multifaceted roles. As more studies confirm their benefits, mushrooms are being recognized for their culinary uses and as crucial elements in health and sustainability. The growing body of evidence is reshaping how we understand and utilize these remarkable organisms.^[7]

3 Legislative Changes

Legislative changes are playing a significant role in altering the public perception of mushrooms. Recent years have seen a shift in policies, particularly concerning psilocybin, the psychoactive compound found in certain mushrooms. Cities like Denver and Oakland have decriminalized psilocybin, and Oregon has gone a step further by legalizing it for therapeutic use. These legislative moves reflect a growing recognition of the potential benefits of mushrooms for mental health.

The momentum for reform is not slowing down. Lawmakers in various states are considering bills to decriminalize or regulate the use of psilocybin and other psychedelic substances. This wave of legislative changes is driven by increasing scientific evidence and public support for alternative treatments for mental health conditions. The evolving legal landscape is paving the way for broader acceptance and research into the therapeutic uses of mushrooms.

These legislative changes are crucial in reshaping how society views mushrooms, moving them from the fringes of legality into more mainstream acceptance. As laws continue to evolve, they open new possibilities for research, therapy, and broader societal acceptance of mushrooms’ diverse benefits.^[8]

2 Rising Popularity of Microdosing

Microdosing, the practice of taking small, sub-hallucinogenic doses of psychedelic substances, is gaining traction, particularly with psilocybin mushrooms. People are turning to microdosing to enhance creativity, improve focus, and boost overall well-being. This trend is supported by anecdotal evidence and emerging scientific studies suggesting potential benefits for mental health. As more individuals explore microdosing, the conversation around its effects and benefits continues to grow.

The increasing popularity of microdosing is also reflected in the media and public discussions. Influencers and advocates share their positive experiences, helping to destigmatize the practice. Additionally, ongoing research and legislative changes are paving the way for broader acceptance and understanding of microdosing. This rising trend signifies a shift in how people perceive and utilize mushrooms, highlighting their potential beyond traditional uses.^[9]

1 Celebrity Endorsements

Celebrity endorsements are significantly boosting the popularity of mushrooms. High-profile figures are openly discussing their experiences with mushrooms, particularly psilocybin, for mental health and wellness. These endorsements help to destigmatize the use of mushrooms and bring them into mainstream conversations. When celebrities share their positive outcomes, it encourages their fans and the general public to explore the benefits of mushrooms.

The influence of celebrities extends to social media, where posts and videos about mushrooms reach millions of followers. This visibility has a powerful impact on public perception, making mushrooms more accessible and acceptable. As more celebrities advocate for the benefits of mushrooms, their acceptance and integration into wellness practices continue to grow, reflecting a significant shift in societal attitudes.^[10]

Cyberpunk dystopias have been written about in sci-fi books since the ‘70s. The genre often paints a sort of futuristic take on a “Tale of Two Cities,” where society is divided between mega-rich conglomerates and tech-savvy slum dwellers. Citizens routinely augment their own bodies with cybernetic enhancements. The cream of high society uses its technological and militaristic superiority to crush dissent. And legions of transhuman hackers fight back against their corporate overlords.

Many of the horrors spawned from Philip K. Dick’s bustling, neon-lit streets are yet to come to fruition. But while the idea of android replicants and all-seeing pre-cogs may seem like a distant future, cyberpunk tech is gradually starting to take root. So let’s take a look at just some of the ways that society is embracing cyberpunk tech, for better or worse.

10 Ways Modern Technology Is Destroying Natural Selection

10 Beaming Ads from Space

Many companies are already leveraging a marketing tool known as “space advertising.” Since NASA’s decision to allow private flights to the International Space Station, PR opportunists have shuttled all manner of products to the orbiting research station, including Adidas soccer balls, bottles of wine, and shower heads. The Russians have even launched rockets plastered with ads for toothpastes, diapers, and TV networks. But now they want more.

Imagine the night sky filled with a giant, luminescent brand advertisement – something billions of people will see (and cannot avoid). That’s the ambition of a Russian company called StartRocket. The startup aims to put a series of satellites in low Earth orbit, each fitted with a reflective solar sail. The orbital display is then generated when the Sun’s rays bounce off the satellite array.

In 2019, the Russian arm of PepsiCo said it had struck a deal with StartRocket to devise a space billboard for one of its energy drinks, Adrenaline Rush. The idea was to launch a “campaign against stereotypes and unjustified prejudices against gamers.” The plans prompted an immediate backlash, however, and Pepsi was forced to respond. The drinks company said it had worked with StartRocket to test “stratosphere advertisements” using one of its logos but had no further plans to continue the project.^[1]

9 Signing Virtual Influencers

Online influencers have one goal: advertize corporate swag for money. They use their lofty follower counts on Instagram and Snapchat to sign lucrative deals with big brands. The more followers, the better the pay. But Silicon Valley is starting to realize it can just “design” its own influencers in a digital laboratory. In 2016, a Los Angeles-based company, Brud, concocted a teen influencer named Lil Miquela. The CGI character immediately gained internet fame, attracting hoards of die-hard fans.

Lil Miquela’s Instagram account is where the money is made. With nearly three million followers, the 19-year-old’s handlers have struck deals with a number of big names, including Calvin Klein, Prada, and Samsung. [LINK 3] In 2019, Lil Miquela featured in a commercial for Calvin Klein, in which she kisses American model Bella Hadid. She was even signed by the Creative Artists Agency (CAA) in 2020 – the agency’s first virtual client.

Miquela claims to fight for social change, tackling issues on homelessness, racial equality, and LGBT rights. In 2018, Brud orchestrated an internet feud between Miquela and a digital pro-Trump influencer named Bermuda. The company made it seem as though Bermuda had hacked Miquela’s account and deleted all of her Instagram pictures. These types of stunts have paid dividends. To date, it is estimated that Brud has bagged a cool $6 million worth of investment.^[2]

8 Electronic Tattoos

A number of researchers are hoping to use electronic tattoos (a.k.a. tech tats) as a means of gaining a foothold in the diagnostics industry. In April 2018, engineers at the University of Minnesota released a paper describing a method of applying 3D-printed electronics to a person’s skin. The team hopes the technology will deliver biomedical devices that can monitor a patient’s vital signs, including blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature.

According to Professor Michael McAlpine, one of the paper’s authors, the tech tats have military applications, too. Given that the circuits can be constructed using a basic $400 printer, McAlpine predicts the tattoos will become commonplace in the field. “You can start to think about printing life-saving devices on the body, like a solar panel on the wrist, or a chemical or biological warfare sensor on an arm,” he explained.

Meanwhile, a private company called Chaotic Moon aims to put the tech in the hands of the consumer. In 2015, the group’s hardware specialist, Eric Schneider, explained how his company’s tattoos would revolutionize the industry. “Rather than going to the doctor once a year to get a physical, this tech tattoo can be something you just put on your body once a year. And it monitors everything that they would do in a physical and sends that to your doctor.”^[3]

7 Implanting Workers with Microchips

BioTeq, as part of its professional microchip service, has been implanting British workforces with radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips for years now. The tiny devices, which sit underneath the skin near the thumb, allow workers to open electronic doors, pay for cafeteria food, and log in to company computers – all with a wave of the hand. They can also hold small bits of data, including important medical information.

A Wisconsin-based tech company, Three Square Market, has also chipped around half of its employees. Those who accepted the implants were awarded “I Got Chipped” t-shirts. The company president says he got the idea after a business trip to Sweden. Today, thousands of Swedes are volunteering to undergo the procedure. One of the country’s national railways allows passengers to pay for train tickets using the chip implants. Businesses and gyms use Near Field Communication (NFC) scanners to grant building access to tech-savvy citizens. And a number of vending machine companies have started rolling out the contactless technology.

Consumers are even buying microchips online for the purposes of self-chipping – a practice known as biohacking. A company in Seattle, Dangerous Things, currently sells microchips to people across the globe. The latest model allows customers to select from a range of LED colors, with the device blinking into life during the scanning process.^[4]

6 Brain-Computer Interfacing

Back in 2006, scientists at the University of Pittsburgh hit the headlines after hooking up a series of electrodes to the brain of a rhesus monkey. The electrodes fed impulses from the creature’s motor cortex to a nearby robot arm. The monkey then fed itself pieces of banana by controlling a robotic arm with its own brain.

Since that time, brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have gained commercial appeal. In December 2020, NextMind started shipping a headset that connects its customers’ brains to their digital gadgets. The headset interprets different types of commands based upon the electrical activity of the brain, which are then beamed wirelessly to controllable devices. The user can remotely play video games, control light switches, and change the TV channel using nothing but the power of their own mind.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk has ploughed roughly $100 million into a BCI startup called Neuralink. In the future, the company aims to embed coin-sized implants in the human brain, allowing users to become one with the digital world. Musk recently demonstrated a very rudimentary form of Neuralink’s tech in a pig called Gertrude. The tech has a range of possible uses, from controlling neuroprosthetic limbs to uploading memories. “Everything that’s encoded in memory, you could upload,” Musk explained. “You could basically store your memories as a backup and restore the memories. And ultimately you could potentially download them into a new body or into a robot body. The future’s gonna be weird.”^[5]

10 Cases of Appropriate Technology

5 3D Printing Chicken Nuggets

Aside from the obvious ethical concerns, intensive animal farming may become increasingly untenable as the population continues to grow at an exponential rate. One solution comes in the form of 3D-printed food. In 2020, KFC Russia announced that it was partnering with 3D Bioprinting Solutions to cook up the “meat of the future.”

Using a combination of chicken cells and plant matter, the fast food chain aims to reproduce the same taste and texture of its fried chicken. Biomeat, the company says, could reduce its environmental footprint, eliminate the need for additives in food, and lead to better treatment of animals. “Crafted meat products are the next step in the development of our ‘restaurant of the future’ concept,” explained KFC Russia’s General Manager, Raisa Polyakova.

Production of bioengineered meat starts with extracting stem cells from the desired animal. After a simple biopsy is conducted, the cells are multiplied and funneled into a bio-cartridge. The 3D printer then uses the live cells to craft the meat, layer by layer.

Several Israeli and Spanish companies are also experimenting with 3D-printed meat products, including Redefine Meat. Redefine is currently using plant-derived proteins to mimic the constituents of your average steak, right down to the blood, fat, and muscle. The company is currently working with restaurant owners to bring its “alt-steaks” to diners.^[6]

4 The Rise of the Megacorp

A cyberpunk future envisions a time when big corporations become too big to fail. These powerful, ultra-rich behemoths assume monopolistic control over markets, dictate government policy, and often possess their own private foot soldiers. While today’s companies haven’t quite reached megacorp status, some worrying trends are starting to emerge.

Much of the post-manufacturing West has developed an intense corporate culture that demeans a particular subset of low-paid, overworked employees. Amazon is perhaps a good place to start. Amazon warehouse operatives have allegedly urinated in bottles to avoid falling behind on their daily quotas. Workers routinely complain about unsafe working conditions. And depression is rampant. The company has even patented a wearable wristband that tracks a worker’s progress and, via a series of vibrations, warns them when they are slacking off.

Over the decades, other major players have outsourced much of their manufacturing bases to places like China, Malaysia, and Taiwan. Lower wages, cheaper materials, and lax regulations all make for a better bottom line. This also means that much of the suffering is outsourced. Take Foxconn, for example. Since 2010, the electronics manufacturer has fitted a series of “suicide nets” around a number of its buildings and made workers sign agreements promising not to take their own lives.

Those companies that choose to operate in America, in whatever capacity, have their own sophisticated lobbying machines. They fund think-tanks, form connections with Congress, and point politicians in the “correct” regulatory direction. In November, a report surfaced that suggested Apple, Coca-Cola, and Nike had spent huge sums of money lobbying against the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. The bill seeks to ban importation of goods made using forced labor in the Xinjiang region of China. If passed, it will likely affect the supply chains of some of America’s biggest companies.^[7]

3 Deploying Police Robo-Dogs

It’s no secret that Boston Dynamics has been working on perfecting its robotic tech. One of the engineering company’s most renowned products is Spot – a robotic dog that has a 360-degree field of view. In July 2019, the Massachusetts State Police revealed that it had begun testing the use of Spot in the field. The Bomb Squad leased the $75,000 device for a period of 90 days, reserving it for “the purpose of evaluating the robot’s capabilities in law enforcement applications, particularly remote inspection of potentially dangerous environments which may contain suspects and ordinances.”

In 2020, the New York Police Department deployed Spot in response to a shooting. The gunman, following an altercation over a parking ticket, missed his intended target and accidentally shot a woman in the head. Spot was used to assess the situation after the man hid in a nearby building. In Singapore, the quadruped was recently spotted broadcasting a pre-recorded message about social distancing rules. And the U.S. Air Force is testing similar machines for use in monitoring its bases.^[8]

2 Gene-Edited Babies & De-Extinction

In 2018, He Jiankui became infamous for his role in producing the very first genome-edited babies. The Chinese scientist used CRISPR gene editing techniques in an attempt to create babies that are immune to HIV. Two of the babies, Lulu and Nana, were born in October 2018, prompting considerable backlash from the scientific community.

The Chinese authorities sentenced Jiankui to three years in prison for his role in the illegal experiments. But in December 2020, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe claimed China had already carried out “human testing on members of the People’s Liberation Army in hope of developing soldiers with biologically enhanced capabilities.” Beijing responded by accusing Ratcliffe of peddling “fake news.”

Scientists around the world have already made a number of breakthroughs with CRISPR, from disease-resistant chickens to mushrooms that remain fresh for longer. Then there is CRISPR’s use in “de-extinction” initiatives. One Harvard geneticist, George Church, is currently trying to use the technology to make a hybrid between a woolly mammoth and an Asian elephant. By giving the Asian elephant some of the mammoth’s genes – those coding for its shaggy coat and thick layer of fat – Church hopes the creature will prosper in the unforgiving temperatures of Siberia. “[I]t will be able to live at -40 degrees comfortably… It will look and behave like a mammoth,” explained Church.^[9]

1 Flying Cars and Air Taxis

A number of flying cars are expected to hit the market in the coming years, including models from Terrafugia, Aeromobil, and PAL-V. The PAL-V Liberty is a gyroplane that can reach up to speeds of 112 mph (both flying and driving). Starting at an eye-watering $400,000, the Liberty’s base model is already available for preorder. The first batch of flying cars will ship in 2021.

The tech industry has come up with a more practical solution: the Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) air taxi. The German aircraft maker Volocopter plans to have an air taxi service running by 2023. Tickets for the company’s first round of flights have already sold out. A partnership between Toyota and SkyDrive also holds promise. The Japanese companies recently performed a flight test using their SD-03 prototype vehicle, with plans for a commercial launch in 2023. Likewise, Uber has invested heavily in the air taxi business, partnering with Hyundai and Joby Aviation to bring about its own prototypes.

Although the aviation industry is currently working on regulations for VTOL flights, a number of challenges remain. Coordinating the flight patterns of congested airways will eventually require automated systems, along with designated airlanes and landing zones. But with the industry expected to reach a value of $1.5 trillion by 2040, it might be worth the hassle.^[10]

10 Ways Technology Is Changing You For The Worse

Most of us know and understand the general idea of alien abduction and what it might entail. It usually includes being taken from your car on a lonely road or even from your bed and then transported into a hovering flying saucer in a bizarre and intense light, for example.

However, from the many accounts on record, it is possible to build up a checklist of sorts. And should you suddenly find yourself experiencing any or all of these, you might want to pay attention. Just maybe, you might have already been an unknowing victim of alien abduction. What follows, then, are ten apparent telltale signs that you may have received visits from life from another planet. So, with paranoia reigning high, let’s get to it.

Related: 10 Bizarre Encounters With The Craziest Aliens Ever

10 Strange Windows of Missing Time

Perhaps the biggest indicator of alien abduction is the sudden realization of missing time. These windows can last from a few minutes to up to several hours.

Quite often, those suffering from these disturbing episodes turn to hypnotic regression to unlock these repressed memories. Incidentally, the use of such techniques divides opinion, even in the UFO community. Many skeptics suggest that the results achieved under hypnosis are unreliable. Some even claim they are simply cases of the witness being led by the person performing the session. We should also note, though, that many others believe hypnotic regression to be very credible. What’s more, it is used often for various reasons outside of UFO circles.

Obviously, the longer the amount of time a person can’t account for, the more unnerved they feel. That edginess then turns to constant anxiety. And that is where we will turn our attention next.^[1]

9 Sudden Feeling of Constant Anxiety

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

A sudden feeling of anxiety is often recalled by people who discover they have been abducted by aliens. What’s more, this panicked state often results in other issues. For example, many have a sudden feeling of having to be ready to go on the run at any moment. They don’t, however, know who or what they are running from. Or why.

It is perhaps worth noting one of the most famous cases of alien abduction—the Betty and Barney Hill case. Before regression revealed their encounters, they would speak of how they would suddenly begin keeping a packed bag by their door. This was ready to load into their car should they need to make a quick getaway. From what, however, they didn’t know.

Again, such sudden anxiety can develop for a whole host of reasons that have nothing to do with alien abduction. However, when experienced with one or more of the other points on our list, it is perhaps worth taking note of them.^[2]

8 Hearing Strange Noises While Going in and out of Sleep

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Many paranormal researchers suggest that the moments when a person is going into and coming out of sleep are of importance. This is, some claim, when they, or perhaps their mind, are most open to unknown energies that surround us. Many abductees have reported hearing the chatter and whispers of these strange entities during this time. These little-understood moments, even today, are the subject of debate.

As far as alien abductions are concerned, though, some researchers believe these sounds are actually the last memories of the conscious mind. Perhaps it was recalling the beginning or the end of an alien abduction incident. For example, many people report hearing a strange machine-like buzzing during these moments. Might these sounds be of a genuine alien aircraft?

Other sounds include metallic tapping noises. And perhaps most unsettling, the constant sound of strange voices speaking an equally strange language. Such notions are nothing more than speculation. However, many who claim alien abduction often mention such details. And that means we surely can’t ignore it completely.^[3]

7 The Appearance of Unusual Markings on the Body

Perhaps as much as missing time, another alleged clear indicator of alien abduction is the sudden appearance of strange markings. These are often red dots or squares and usually are regularly spaced on the body. As if from a purposely designed template.

What’s more, these markings are often in particular patterns and not simply a mark or bruise. Indeed, the markings are very similar to “branding.” Most often, these marks fade after several days.

Might these bizarre dots, squares, circles, and a whole host of other shapes be physical proof of an alien encounter? If we accept the many people who have made such claims are genuine, then it is certainly an area of intrigue. And a detail that can’t be dismissed without further study.

Incidentally, these strange markings often result in the discovery of strange pieces of metal buried within the abductee’s body. We will come back to this point shortly.^[4]

6 Waking up in a Different Place from Where You Fell Asleep

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Many people sleepwalk. And they do so for a variety of reasons. However, many of those who make claims of alien abduction also claim that they often wake up in a different room of their house. And what’s more, they are often unclothed or redressed in their clothes, but in a chaotic order. As if they had been dressed by someone who had little idea of how such clothes should be worn.

Even stranger, the apparent abductee often wakes to find dirt or soil on their feet. Or even with cuts or scratches to their legs or arms. Similar to marking they may receive from walking outside while being ill-dressed to do so.

There could be many reasons for these strange accounts. However, once more, when combined with some of the other points on our list, they just might be a concern to some. Perhaps especially if they are experienced alongside the details of our next stop.^[5]

5 Intense Nightmares Leading to Insomnia

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Everyone has a nightmare from time to time. In fact, it would be quite strange if we were not to have a frightening dream every now and then. However, many people who claim to be abductees also claim to begin having extremely intense night terrors.

In fact, so bad are these dreams that they usually lead to a state of insomnia. According to the many files on the subject, these nightmares usually feature a creature with “large eyes.” More intriguing, many witnesses claim that owls haunt these strange and intense dreams. We should note that some researchers liken the owl’s image to a confused sighting of a grey alien.

With this in mind, it is perhaps easy to see why people who make such claims often exhibit other traits such as paranoia. Even if these events are only in their own minds, they most often lead to the drained state they will find themselves in. This, as ironic as it might be, most often harms their credibility in the eyes of the wider public.^[6]

4 Bizarre Effects Around Electrical Equipment

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Another point of intrigue is that many alien abductees often witness electronic equipment acting strangely when they are near. And these can be anything from small devices such as alarm clocks to televisions and computers. In more extreme cases, these electronic shortages result in small fires.

In some cases, abductees claim higher electric bills begin to arrive out of nowhere. As if they were somehow draining the power system at their homes. In most cases, a reason for such high usage escapes the energy providers.

Perhaps even stranger, many abductees who report such problems also report having a strange and constant buzzing in their ears. Quite often, this buzzing takes place when a device might be acting strangely. Might this suggest a link between the two? Perhaps some kind of release of electrical energy from the abductee and the respective electrical equipment.

There are repeated examples of this type of activity in the files of UFO and alien investigators. Particularly those who focus on the claims of alien abduction.^[7]

3 Sudden Paranormal Activity and Shadow People

The link between paranormal activity and alien abduction is stronger than many people might think. Perhaps one of the strangest of these ghostly encounters is the claims of abductees seeing shadow people in and around the home.

These shadow people are so called as they are nothing but a black body-shaped figure. And even more unnerving, they are seen only from the corner of the person’s eye. And only then for a very brief time.

Could these be alien entities moving around a person’s home? Maybe using unknown (to us) cloaking technology? Or might alien abduction be more of a paranormal experience than a cosmic one? Even more intriguing, other paranormal encounters are also reported by abductees. These include such chilling incidents as fast-forming fogs or mists out of nowhere.

These claims might be easy to dismiss. That is if it wasn’t for the several people who have managed to capture such strange entities in photographs. Or better still, after having set up CCTV (remember the constant anxiety), they have spotted these shadowy forms moving across the screen.^[8]

2 A Sudden Development of Psychic and Telepathic Ability

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Perhaps one of the strangest signs of alien abduction is a sudden ability to foresee future events. And in some cases, even the ability to use telepathy. There are various theories as to why this might be. Not least that such strange events might result in channels opening in the brain that have previously been shut off. Whether that event was real or imagined, it would appear, is not an important factor.

As well as these psychic abilities, many people also speak of a sudden awareness of the world around them. Others, similarly, mention that they have a sudden understanding of the powers of the universe.

Could close contact with these alien creatures, even if only imagined, result in the opening of these channels in the human mind? And is this simply a result of such an encounter? Or might it be a purposeful act? And if so, why would aliens wish for us to have the use of such powers?^[9]

1 “Alien” Implants

Perhaps one of the biggest signs of alien abduction is the discovery of strange pieces of metallic or stone-like material inside the body. These implants are often found during visits to a dentist or when receiving treatment for another medical condition. In some instances, these strange implants simply fall out of a person’s body, during a nosebleed, for example. Most people attempt to preserve such implants for testing. However, even more bizarrely, these devices often simply melt away into nothing.

Why they are placed into some people, and by whom, remains unknown. It would appear they are some kind of tag. Indeed, many people who come to realize they are a victim of alien abduction also realize that such events have happened over many years. Sometimes even in different locations as the person moves around during their lives. Perhaps of all of our points, implants might be the most definitive and solid proof of a truly bizarre incident.^[10]

Anyone can crack under enough pressure, but these warning signs in movies predict some of cinema history’s most iconic character breakdowns. By following multifaceted characters from the film’s beginning to its ending, we get a glimpse into their thinking patterns and learn how their interactions with themselves, the world, and the people in their lives shape their decision-making and the choices they make in the end. All this reveals to us what can make or break them.

These are 10 warning signs from movies that the main character is headed for a psychological breakdown.

Related:Top 10 Culture-Specific Illnesses And Mental Disorders

10 Apocalypse Now

Warning sign: Willard Destroys the Hotel Room

Apocalypse Now is one of those movies that people tell you to watch if you want to see a serious war movie that doesn’t hold back. Vietnam, 1969. Colonel Kurtz has built a rebel army deep in the jungle, and Captain Willard, a veteran of the Special Forces, has been given top-secret orders to locate and assassinate him. Willard struggles against the lunacy that surrounds him as he dives further and deeper into the forest and succumbs to its hypnotic powers.

Francis Ford Coppola’s groundbreaking film from 1979 opens with Captain Benjamin Willard on the edge of a nervous breakdown. He’s traumatized, and there are a few telltale indicators the viewers can see right away. All we can feel at this moment is surprise, disbelief, and confusion. The movie focuses heavily on issues of mental health, and not only for Willard. Their effects extend to Colonel Walter E. Kurtz as well (Marlon Brando), the man they’re after. Whether or not he and his crew will survive the war’s brutal conditions and complete their mission is a mystery to the audience.

The scene in the hotel room has a few clear intentions; one is to show that the mind is fallible and that everyone has a breaking point by contrasting a mental breakdown with a captain, someone who is responsible for maintaining composure. The other could be to show that the things we see and experience in our daily lives can very likely be the source of our mental instability.^[1]

9 American Beauty

Warning sign: Colonel Fitts’s Repression

A great example of a movie from this time period that skillfully addresses a challenging issue head-on by taking us on a trip through the experience of a midlife crisis is American Beauty. Midlife disillusionment has hit Lester Burnham hard. Both his wife Carolyn and daughter Jane are selfish and apathetic, which he finds all the more irritating. Disillusioned with society, Lester Burnham chooses to withdraw from it entirely and focus only on what brings him joy.

There, he meets Ricky Fitts, the son of a homophobic colonel who can’t stand the thought of his kid not being composed or precisely what he wants in his eyes. Lester chooses to befriend Ricky, and Ricky ultimately starts selling pot to Lester. Colonel Fitts, Ricky’s dad, notices and finds their frequent meetings strange. The colonel’s intolerance for individuals who are different from him is severe, leading to the realization that he has repressed his own desires about being with another man. There are clearly numerous indicators throughout this movie that the colonel is on the verge of a mental breakdown, but it takes a clash to reveal his true character.^[2]

8 Boogie Nights

Warning sign: Bill Shows No Emotion at His Wife Having an Affair

The timeless movie Boogie Nights, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson in 1999, sees the birth of the porn business in California, a moment that attracted individuals from all walks of life. Jack Horner, a porn director, hears about a young guy named Eddie Adams performing in a nightclub and quickly elevates Eddie, now known as Dirk Diggler, and his “gift” to the pinnacle of the pornographic business. The arrival of the 1980s, however, means that Dirk and his fellow pornographers must adjust not just to a new period but also to the legacy of the 1970s.

Assistant director, Bill Thompson, undergoes a psychotic break that is one of the film’s most memorable scenes. At a party where Bill and his wife are guests, he catches her having sex with another man in full view of the partygoers. Given how normally you would anticipate Bill to respond, which is anger, rapid wrath, and violence, his lack of response to his wife’s actions is almost unsettling.

This is surely a red flag, and his answer to the unavoidable question of whether he has any feelings for this is revealed in a scene from the New Year’s Eve party, where he once again walks in on his wife having sex with another man. But this time, during the final countdown, he enters the party, shooting his wife, the guy she’s with, and himself. As an intense psychological breakdown of a character, we find ourselves both disturbed and shocked.^[3]

7 One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

Warning sign: Billy Bibbit Breaking His Social Barriers

In the 1975 classic One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Randle McMurphy, a person with a checkered past, has once again found himself in legal hot water and is incarcerated. In order to get out of prison labor detail, McMurphy fakes insanity and is sent to a mental institution. Here, McMurphy experiences and watches Nurse Ratched’s cruel abuse of the other inmates in an attempt to raise her own prestige and power, bearing witness to it all.

To rebel, McMurphy and the other inmates establish an alliance. However, when we meet someone like Billy Bibbit, we can see right away that he is very timid and paralyzed by fear, which inhibits him from attempting to put himself out there and experience life. Fear is used throughout the film, most notably when Randle sneaks his female friend Candy into the house at night. As soon as Nurse Ratchet learns that Billy spent the night with Candy, she threatens to inform Billy’s mother.

From there, his anxiety rises as he is thrust back into the isolation and fear that led to his inability to overcome his social difficulties and, ultimately, his confinement in a mental institution. Billy’s reaction of shock and paralyzing fear should set up warning bells. His mother’s fear at learning of his connection with Candy is natural, but the audience can tell straight away that he has no need to be so frightened. The news that he commits suicide as a consequence of his mental breakdown comes as the last, devastating blow.^[4]

6 Black Swan

Warning sign: Nina Sayers’s Attempt to Break Through the Barrier of Perfection

Nina Sayers, a beautiful, delicate, and committed dancer, has worked for years in a prestigious New York City ballet company due to her unbridled desire for excellence. In his bold re-imagining of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s everlasting love classic, Swan Lake, dictatorial artistic director Thomas Leroy hires Nina as the Swan Queen after pushing his former student, Beth MacIntyre, into early retirement.

Brilliantly portrayed by Natalie Portman, her character struggles greatly against the barrier of her obsession with perfection. Through a series of hallucinations and imagined ideas, we see Nina’s mental collapse, which leads to the film’s climax and the eventual psychosocial disintegration of her character.^[5]

5 Foxcatcher

Warning sign: John DuPont’s Loss of Power Over Mark Shultz

Based on a true story, Foxcatcher is a devastating account of the friendship between two world-class wrestlers and a quirky multimillionaire. Wrestling champion brothers Mark and Dave Schultz of the United States join “Team Foxcatcher,” coached by zany entrepreneur John du Pont, to train for the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. John’s disruptive behavior, however, poses a danger of engulfment to the whole group.

This 2014 sports film, expertly portrayed by Steve Carell, tells us what happens when someone has a lot of power and no one to share it with. Brothers and Olympic wrestlers Mark and David Shultz differ in subtle ways. David has a family and a life planned out for him, while Mark, the younger and more impressionable of the two, starts to work closely with John DuPont and is eventually taken under his wing.

Mark, played by Channing Tatum, is a young and husky athlete. On the surface, he is good at what he does but is easily taken advantage of in a variety of ways, such as using cocaine with John in a helicopter and acting almost as a personal servant to him. A big notable red flag is when John finally loses control over Mark, a power he has wielded throughout the movie. In the end, we watch John Dupont’s mental collapse coming on slowly, under the influence of drugs and envy.^[6]

4 A Clockwork Orange

Warning sign: The Big Test

In the 1971 film that most notably struck a cord in the psychological community, young man Alex DeLarge lives in a Britain of the not-too-distant future. His poor luck finally runs out when he is caught and given a life sentence for murder. Alex finds out about a trial program at the prison that seeks to rehabilitate violent inmates. He may be able to return to society sooner than anticipated with a reduced sentence if he is successful in the program.

We witness the terrifying experiment conducted on him by scientists and government officials who desperately want to get their hands on his mind in the hopes of remaking him into a better member of society. We observe the manipulation of his psyche and the effort to alter him for the better when he is forced, in a claustrophobic manner, to see certain frightening moving images in conjunction with the music he used to enjoy.

The official “test” for this is putting him in a room with a cruel man and a naked woman to see whether he acts on vengeance and desire. Alex’s instantaneous nausea at even contemplating any of these acts is a glaring red flag. He is made to feel physically ill because of his animosity, which, together with the manipulation treatment, should alert the audience that something is seriously wrong with this guy’s mental health. The genuine breakdown and psychological phenomena of the horrors of the mind are shown in a combination of Alex’s internal collapse and the world’s rejection of him following his release.^[7]

3 Birdman

Warning sign: Riggan’s Ego Triumphs

The decline of a once-great actor in Birdman: or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) offers some insightful psychological truths. The main character, Riggan Thomson, has a hard time dealing with the egotism that inevitably comes with his success. The massive success of the film in which he starred, Birdman, was released many years ago, and its sequels left him in a pitiful condition at a moment in modern history when he could not bear to face the reality of growing older and changing with the times.

The fact that Riggan’s ego follows him down the mountain despite his best efforts as both a star and director in the play What We Talk About When We Talk About Love is a sobering reminder of the futility of trying to escape one’s past. Like in real life, he’s constantly reminded of his past failures, but he frantically wants to portray himself as someone capable of overcoming.

In Riggan’s fight, he is followed by Birdman, or his ego. The red flag that should jump out to the audience is Riggan’s surrender to his ego at the moment when he’s going about New York, and the Birdman is following him like a shadow. It represents the way our anxious and self-centered ideas permeate our brains. It floats “above them all” and tries to attach itself to Riggan, convincing him that his vanity will triumphantly take over and make all the choices going forward, causing Riggan’s mental health to deteriorate to the point of complete breakdown.^[8]

2 The Aviator

Warning sign: Howard Hughes’s Continual Fight Against OCD

The Aviator chronicles Howard Hughes’s life as a young, successful filmmaker and pilot, along with his lifelong struggle with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder. Hughes’s OCD is shown here in some of its more extreme forms. The tragic irony of a film like this is that, in the background, he is plagued by his obsessions, which include cleanliness and solitude, but he has no qualms about flying or spending money on movies in the hopes that they will be successful.

The film gives us heavy warning signs to keep an eye out for, and although Howard’s major collapse at the film’s conclusion is the most evident, his obsessions are more subtly shown throughout the buildup to this point. Unfortunately, he lived in a period when his ailment was grossly misunderstood, which led his contemporaries and rivals in the business world to see his sickness as a sign of weakness and an opening for them to take advantage of him.^[9]

1 Taxi Driver

Warning sign: Travis’s Preference for Isolating Himself

The 1976 best picture winner Taxi Driver is the type of film that may make you scratch your head the first time you see it. Ex-Marine Travis Bickle is a loner and an impotent insomniac who spends his evenings in the 1970s New York City taxi business. His exploits as he drives and interacts with the world not only capture a raw energy he is not suited to but also prove that he is incompatible with any of it.

Through his narrations and bitter pleasure of viewing adult videos on his own terms, he underlines throughout the film how much the city sickens him. When he takes Betsy, a girl he meets, to an adult theater, we, as viewers, realize something is definitely wrong with his thinking, and his psyche is traveling in all kinds of places.

When he’s alone is when we get to glimpse the real Travis Bickle. Whether it’s his mind wandering when he drives or his getting in shape and constructing tools and gadgets to use with his firearms, he’s always thinking about something. It’s fascinating to see where this classic film’s protagonist ends up, but one thing is certain: Travis is comfortable when he’s left to his own introspective thoughts.^[1]

Jealousy is a very common emotion among humans, that can be easily found among many, but rarely displayed. While a little bit of jealousy never hurts, but when it is left to fester, it is more destructive than anything else.

If you feel like you are being envied by someone a little too much but are not really sure if it is jealousy or not, read on to find out more.

Someone giving you the green eye?

We always have a friend who is just too good to be true, and we can’t help but look up to them. They might be beautiful or exceptionally talented, or just down-right an amazing person. Honestly, you can’t help but be a little envious of them. But that kind of positive envy enables you to become a better person as you want to be as good as they are.

But what happens when that envy turns into bitter jealousy? Where you can’t help but hate them for existing, and everything they do riles you up? Now that is nothing but damage waiting to happen.

Have you been feeling such energy from someone around you, but you can’t really put a finger on whether they are jealous of you or not? Why not take a look at these signs and help understand your friends better?

False praises and compliments

Among other things, people who are signs of jealousy are prone to be double-faced. In front of you, they would never let you know about their jealous attitude, while behind you, they would reveal their true side. Such people tend to be overly supportive, friendly, and comforting in front. However, they might be the reason behind the nasty rumors about you.

In such instances, choose your friends wisely and be sure to not share things about yourself with everyone and anyone. Being friends with many but being close to a chosen few is what makes life better.

Copying your actions

Remember that these people want to be better than you at everything. Thus, it is natural for them to copy your moves, your habits, and your ideals. They would almost try and be you. However, upfront they would never accept it and may even come to violently disagree if confronted.

If one of your friends starts dressing up like you, talking like you, or starts copying your habits and likings, and makes it seem like it was theirs to begin with, they are simply jealous.

It is one thing to respect and follow, and another thing to obsess over things that someone else has. They might not even like what you are doing, but just because you have it, they need to have it too. What may start as flattering can quickly elevate to being irritating and frustrating. 

Showing off to a greater extent

The bottom line for people who are jealous is that they want what you have or something better. No matter how tiny the detail maybe, as long as they are even half a step ahead of you, they will flaunt it as their biggest achievement to date.

They are insecure about their and your positions. Thus no matter how small the achievement, they will talk about it to everyone. If you notice such behavior in your friend, know that they are already down the jealousy road.

Bad suggestions and advice

It is obvious at this point that people who are jealous of you would never want you to do well. They have this deep desire to slowly watch you make your descent in life, while they keep climbing up.

Thus, to make that happen, they will purposefully give you bad suggestions and advice, in hopes that things will turn horrible for you. An easy way to recognize such people is to share your plans with them.

They would almost always be the first one to immediately point out the flaws and discourage you from going on with the plan.

Talks behind your back

They do not want you to succeed. That’s that. The simplest means to do so is to spread rumors about you that would hurt your image and sentiments. In front of you, they would be the sweetest, most supportive people around, but the moment you walk out of the room, they would be the first one to spread a bad word about you.

In their mind, if you fall in the eyes of your common peers or friend, then that makes a chance for them to climb the popularity ladder. The psychology behind people like them is that they are either brimming with anger, disappointment, or anxiety.

They can be very insecure about themselves, and thus would speak badly about people who, according to them, are doing much better.

Competes meaninglessly

You would find them competing with you for the smallest of things. You might not even be conscious of it, but in their head, everything involving you is a race that they need to win. They need to show people that they are better than you and that you are not as good as you seem to be.

Such behavior can be very toxic and very frustrating. Their main intention is to outdo you in every situation possible. While friendly competitions are healthy and something that drives both parties to be better, these kinds of competitions just bring on more bitter feelings and frustrations.

Always criticizes

People who are jealous of you always look for an opening to criticize you at the drop of a hat. This kind of behavior is very hard to detect as they will criticize you and then tell you that they are doing it for your own good.

Yes, true friends will point out your flaws so that you become a better person. But these people will be waiting for opportunities to insult you. They almost will be looking forward to every time you mess up so that they can come and rub it in your face.

Crossing their legs

This is a psychological sign that you can look for in people who might be jealous of you. Notice if some people around you have the habit of crossing their legs every time you talk of new achievement. 

Though there are many causes why one may cross their legs, it is usually when they are insecure and feeling uneasy. If you find someone crossing their legs every time you talk about the good stuff about you, that should give you a fair idea of who the green-eyed person is.

Bottom line

Along with these signs, the most common indication that will tell you if someone is jealous of you or not is the constant feeling of irritation and frustration.

Being on the taking end of jealousy can be a very unsettling and exhausting feeling when you know someone out there is hell-bent on making you fall.

However, to handle a jealous friend, the best thing for you to do is be the calm one. It may be tempting to step in and show them their place but just don’t.

Of anything, that can make things worse. Instead, try to ignore them as much as possible, and slowly cut them off from your life. Remember, that positivity is the thing that you want in your life, not negativity and toxicity.

Everyone has their own way of thinking. Despite this, most people are what is considered neurotypical. Others have exceptionalities and are considered neurodivergent.

Neurodivergence can present in many different ways. Common conditions associated with neurodivergence include ADHD, autism, OCD, Tourette’s syndrome, dyslexia, and many more. Many of these conditions are commonly misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all.

While some signs point to neurodivergence, it is also important to understand that there are many other ways that neurodivergence can present itself. Also importantly, just because you have seen some of these signs in yourself or others does not mean that you are necessarily neurodivergent. Such conditions vary widely, leading to a diverse mix of individuals.

Let’s explore ten signs you might be neurodivergent.

10 Toe Walking

Individuals with autism and other neurodivergent diagnoses tend to move in atypical or unusual ways. One walking pattern commonly seen is toe walking. The person will walk on their toes as if tiptoeing all the time, or they can walk on the balls of their feet.

Toe walking can lead to long-term issues with foot pain and short-term issues with blisters, calluses, and quickly worn-down socks and shoes.

Toe walking alone does not dictate a person being neurodivergent, as many young children do it, then one day just stop. But for children, one early sign of neurodivergence (typically autism) is toe walking, usually coupled with other signs. Yet, it is a helpful sign for parents, teachers, and doctors to look for because it can be easily observed.

9 Self-Focused Talk

You’ve got to look out for number one, and for a neurodivergent person, this is no problem. In fact, they may look out for number one a little too much.

Often, neurodivergent people may have difficulty making lasting friendships because they are often seen as self-focused. Individuals with neurodivergence are intensely focused on themselves and their own interests. They may talk exclusively or excessively about themselves, sometimes not leaving space for the other person to get involved in the conversation. This can make conversations and, ultimately, friendships very difficult.

If you or a person you know seems to fixate on their own situation, interests, and needs, this may be a sign of neurodivergence.

8 Difficulty Sleeping

Neurodivergent people tend to have specific sleep needs. This can be attributed to several different neurodivergent conditions. According to Autismspeaks.org, more than half of children with autism have chronic sleep problems.

Sleep issues can be caused by sensory issues, particularly light and noise sensitivity. Others may need to sleep near or with someone, leading to many families having a full bed at night just to encourage some form of sleep.

Evening routines are vital to encourage positive sleep. Consider staying away from screens and other active or loud areas as you wind down for the night. While almost everyone suffers from sleep issues at some point, those with neurodivergent conditions may deal with them nightly.

7 Following a Rigid Routine

Most people like to have a routine and stick with it. However, this is taken to another level regarding people with neurodivergence diagnoses. Individuals with autism benefit greatly from structure. But when that structure is changed, altered, or adjusted, this can cause extreme anxiety and outbursts.

Any kind of deviation from a typical routine or structure may be met with resistance. For individuals with autism, their routines are incredibly specific. An individual may want to wake up at 8:00 every morning and immediately go and brush their teeth. If another person is using the bathroom at that time, this can be very challenging to deal with.

This devotion and borderline obsession with routines can be problematic, but it can also be helpful when developing a structure for younger individuals, especially those when first diagnosed with neurodivergence. An unwillingness to alter or change a routine or schedule is often a sign of autism and neurodivergence in general.

6 Sensory Overload & Adaption

Neurodivergent people think differently from neurotypical people and experience the world in a completely different way. One of the most notable ways this can be seen is sensory sensitivity. These individuals can have a heightened awareness of touch, sound, light, and smells.

Some things may simply be irritating for a neurotypical person, such as loud chewing or a person who needs to shower. A neurodivergent person may have difficulties in crowds for such overwhelming sensitivities. Intense sensitivity to light, sound, touch, and smells clearly shows neurodivergence.

You may see individuals with noise-canceling ear protection at a busy theme park, or someone may have to only purchase tagless clothes to discourage uncomfortable touching. Those with neurodivergence must find ways to adapt to the world around them since our world is catered to the neurotypical.

Sensory sensitivity is one of the most important aspects of neurodivergence because it affects the person’s worldview and how they interact with the world around them.

5 Avoiding or Difficulty Maintaining Eye Contact

One of the most commonly associated characteristics with neurodivergence is a lack of eye contact. This can be a true challenge, but it is often addressed early in education, and neurodivergent students can often overcome it with intense practice.

Specifically, women with neurodivergent diagnoses are more likely to maintain eye contact than men. Regardless, if you or someone you know has challenges or difficulties achieving or maintaining eye contact, this may be a sign of neurodivergence.

Of all the items on this list, eye contact is probably the most well-known sign of being neurodivergent.

4 Heightened Anxiety

It is an unfortunate fact of life that everyone deals with anxiety to varying degrees. For neurodivergent individuals, this anxiety can be extreme and significant. Social anxiety is regularly associated with neurodivergence, particularly autism and ADD; these individuals may:

• Reflect or obsess about future social interactions
• Make unsuccessful efforts to be sociable
• Feel left out
• Self-isolate due to fear of rejection
• Talk down to oneself out of fear of failure

While it is not always the case, social anxiety and many other associated anxieties may lead to other mental health issues. This can include a propensity for addictive behavior, depression, and in some cases, self-injurious behaviors.

Whether a person is neurodivergent or not, these are serious issues to be addressed with a mental health professional.

3 Stimming Behavior

Self-stimulating behavior, commonly known as stimming, refers to repetitive behaviors that a neurodivergent person does when excited, nervous, angry, etc. Stimming is an early sign that a young person may be neurodivergent. While some of the above actions are less obvious, any of them can be a sign of a neurodivergent person.

Stimming behaviors may include:

• Repeated phrases or questions
• Rocking
• Spinning
• Tapping
• Hand flapping
• Picking skin
• Humming
• Covering and uncovering ears

Individuals with neurodivergent conditions typically stim to process feelings, usually those associated with overstimulation or anxiety. It’s important to note that stimming does not always come from a negative place. Individuals with autism often stim when they are very excited.

Despite stimming being positive for the individual, it is often not socially appropriate and can lead to individuals being ostracized. This can add to social difficulties and compound feelings of anxiety and stress. Furthermore, stimming individuals are not doing it on purpose and are often unaware that they are doing it.

2 Intense or Obsessive Interests

Another sign of neurodivergence is a fixation on a particular subject or object. This can be something very specific, like a song, or something much broader, like marine biology. Either way, the individual fixates on one particular idea or subject.

Such intense interests can be an obstacle when carrying on during daily life. However, on the other hand, having an obsessive interest can lead to connections with others who share the same interest. Fixation on one particular subject can be a great help as well when it comes to career choices. Many neurodivergent individuals have taken their career fields by storm, making discoveries, inventing, and positively impacting society.

If you are obsessively interested in one specific subject or topic, you may be neurodivergent.

1 Social Difficulty

It is important to understand autism, ADHD, Tourette’s syndrome, and other exceptionalities begin at birth. However, these conditions regularly go undiagnosed until a child begins to develop. Older individuals who are undiagnosed neurodivergent individuals start to discover their differences typically by looking back at social interactions.

People who are neurodivergence have difficulty responding to social cues. This is not because they do not want to be social; often, it is quite the opposite. Rather, individuals who are neurodivergent have challenges reading facial expressions, may not understand some non-verbal communication, and are often confused by sarcasm.

Because of difficulties socializing, along with some of the difficulties on the list above, neurodivergent individuals are often lonely and misunderstood. Of course, it is important to know that not every person with social difficulties is neurodivergent. However, a repeated pattern of difficulties socializing and making and keeping friends is a sign that a person might be neurodivergent.