Lee Hopkins
@leehopkins.bsky.social
Communicator, writer, author, photographer, musician, psychologist, sociologist, counsellor, proudly neurodivergent
Neurotypical flirting: subtle hints, playful ambiguity, reading between lines.
Neurodivergent flirting: ‘I find you interesting and would like to spend more time with you.’
One’s a puzzle. One’s honest.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
Neurodivergent flirting: ‘I find you interesting and would like to spend more time with you.’
One’s a puzzle. One’s honest.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
November 16, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Neurotypical flirting: subtle hints, playful ambiguity, reading between lines.
Neurodivergent flirting: ‘I find you interesting and would like to spend more time with you.’
One’s a puzzle. One’s honest.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
Neurodivergent flirting: ‘I find you interesting and would like to spend more time with you.’
One’s a puzzle. One’s honest.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
Therapy can turn curiosity into control. Sometimes growth means letting a pattern be, not breaking it.
Do you ever just watch your habits instead of hacking them?
Quiet Half — calm, sceptical takes on modern psychology. quiethalf.substack.com
#Counselling #Psychology #SelfAwareness
Do you ever just watch your habits instead of hacking them?
Quiet Half — calm, sceptical takes on modern psychology. quiethalf.substack.com
#Counselling #Psychology #SelfAwareness
November 15, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Therapy can turn curiosity into control. Sometimes growth means letting a pattern be, not breaking it.
Do you ever just watch your habits instead of hacking them?
Quiet Half — calm, sceptical takes on modern psychology. quiethalf.substack.com
#Counselling #Psychology #SelfAwareness
Do you ever just watch your habits instead of hacking them?
Quiet Half — calm, sceptical takes on modern psychology. quiethalf.substack.com
#Counselling #Psychology #SelfAwareness
Your partner cancels plans last minute: ‘It’s not a big deal.’
To you it is. You’d already mentally prepared for those plans.
Now you need to re-prepare for nothing.
That’s not inflexibility. That’s how your brain works.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
To you it is. You’d already mentally prepared for those plans.
Now you need to re-prepare for nothing.
That’s not inflexibility. That’s how your brain works.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
November 15, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Your partner cancels plans last minute: ‘It’s not a big deal.’
To you it is. You’d already mentally prepared for those plans.
Now you need to re-prepare for nothing.
That’s not inflexibility. That’s how your brain works.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
To you it is. You’d already mentally prepared for those plans.
Now you need to re-prepare for nothing.
That’s not inflexibility. That’s how your brain works.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
Neurotypical advice: ‘Just go with the flow.’
Mate, some days I need to know what the flow is, where it’s going, and when we’re getting there.
Spontaneity feels different when your brain needs maps.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
Mate, some days I need to know what the flow is, where it’s going, and when we’re getting there.
Spontaneity feels different when your brain needs maps.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
November 15, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Neurotypical advice: ‘Just go with the flow.’
Mate, some days I need to know what the flow is, where it’s going, and when we’re getting there.
Spontaneity feels different when your brain needs maps.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
Mate, some days I need to know what the flow is, where it’s going, and when we’re getting there.
Spontaneity feels different when your brain needs maps.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
Partner asks ‘what are you thinking about?’
You answer honestly with the full 15-minute internal monologue.
Apparently ‘nothing’ was the correct response.
Who writes these rules?
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
You answer honestly with the full 15-minute internal monologue.
Apparently ‘nothing’ was the correct response.
Who writes these rules?
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Partner asks ‘what are you thinking about?’
You answer honestly with the full 15-minute internal monologue.
Apparently ‘nothing’ was the correct response.
Who writes these rules?
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
You answer honestly with the full 15-minute internal monologue.
Apparently ‘nothing’ was the correct response.
Who writes these rules?
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
Your stimming annoys your Australian partner. Your Vietnamese partner doesn’t even notice you’re doing it.
Same movement. Different visibility.
Sometimes acceptance is just… being left alone to exist.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
Same movement. Different visibility.
Sometimes acceptance is just… being left alone to exist.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Your stimming annoys your Australian partner. Your Vietnamese partner doesn’t even notice you’re doing it.
Same movement. Different visibility.
Sometimes acceptance is just… being left alone to exist.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
Same movement. Different visibility.
Sometimes acceptance is just… being left alone to exist.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
They said ‘don’t take everything so literally.’
But they meant what they said, didn’t they?
If not, why say it?
Neurodivergent communication: say what you mean, mean what you say.
Revolutionary.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
But they meant what they said, didn’t they?
If not, why say it?
Neurodivergent communication: say what you mean, mean what you say.
Revolutionary.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:58 AM
They said ‘don’t take everything so literally.’
But they meant what they said, didn’t they?
If not, why say it?
Neurodivergent communication: say what you mean, mean what you say.
Revolutionary.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
But they meant what they said, didn’t they?
If not, why say it?
Neurodivergent communication: say what you mean, mean what you say.
Revolutionary.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
You track your moods, energy, spending patterns.
They call it obsessive.
You call it ‘knowing when a crash is coming so I can prepare.’
One of these perspectives is actually useful.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
They call it obsessive.
You call it ‘knowing when a crash is coming so I can prepare.’
One of these perspectives is actually useful.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:10 PM
You track your moods, energy, spending patterns.
They call it obsessive.
You call it ‘knowing when a crash is coming so I can prepare.’
One of these perspectives is actually useful.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
They call it obsessive.
You call it ‘knowing when a crash is coming so I can prepare.’
One of these perspectives is actually useful.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
Neurotypical people: ‘Just be yourself.’
Also neurotypical people: ‘No, not like that.’
Cross-cultural partners expect you to be different.
Being yourself isn’t a disappointment. It’s the point.
Quiethalf.substack.com
Also neurotypical people: ‘No, not like that.’
Cross-cultural partners expect you to be different.
Being yourself isn’t a disappointment. It’s the point.
Quiethalf.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Neurotypical people: ‘Just be yourself.’
Also neurotypical people: ‘No, not like that.’
Cross-cultural partners expect you to be different.
Being yourself isn’t a disappointment. It’s the point.
Quiethalf.substack.com
Also neurotypical people: ‘No, not like that.’
Cross-cultural partners expect you to be different.
Being yourself isn’t a disappointment. It’s the point.
Quiethalf.substack.com
Partner says 'we need to talk' and won't specify about what.
Mate, my brain just ran through 47 catastrophic scenarios in 12 seconds. Just tell me what we're talking about.
Mate, my brain just ran through 47 catastrophic scenarios in 12 seconds. Just tell me what we're talking about.
November 12, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Partner says 'we need to talk' and won't specify about what.
Mate, my brain just ran through 47 catastrophic scenarios in 12 seconds. Just tell me what we're talking about.
Mate, my brain just ran through 47 catastrophic scenarios in 12 seconds. Just tell me what we're talking about.
You need routines. Structure. Predictability.
Same-culture partner: ‘You’re so rigid.’
Cross-cultural partner: ‘I appreciate knowing what to expect.’
The routine stayed. The judgement changed.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
Same-culture partner: ‘You’re so rigid.’
Cross-cultural partner: ‘I appreciate knowing what to expect.’
The routine stayed. The judgement changed.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:45 PM
You need routines. Structure. Predictability.
Same-culture partner: ‘You’re so rigid.’
Cross-cultural partner: ‘I appreciate knowing what to expect.’
The routine stayed. The judgement changed.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
Same-culture partner: ‘You’re so rigid.’
Cross-cultural partner: ‘I appreciate knowing what to expect.’
The routine stayed. The judgement changed.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
They call it ‘lack of empathy’ when you ask clarifying questions.
I call it ‘not wanting to guess wrong and upset people.’
Different frame, that.
One assumes malice. The other assumes care.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
I call it ‘not wanting to guess wrong and upset people.’
Different frame, that.
One assumes malice. The other assumes care.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:06 PM
They call it ‘lack of empathy’ when you ask clarifying questions.
I call it ‘not wanting to guess wrong and upset people.’
Different frame, that.
One assumes malice. The other assumes care.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
I call it ‘not wanting to guess wrong and upset people.’
Different frame, that.
One assumes malice. The other assumes care.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
Neurotypical small talk feels like a test you haven’t studied for.
Everyone else got the answer key at birth.
You’re just guessing what ‘fine’ actually means today.
Exhausting, innit?
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
Everyone else got the answer key at birth.
You’re just guessing what ‘fine’ actually means today.
Exhausting, innit?
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Neurotypical small talk feels like a test you haven’t studied for.
Everyone else got the answer key at birth.
You’re just guessing what ‘fine’ actually means today.
Exhausting, innit?
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
Everyone else got the answer key at birth.
You’re just guessing what ‘fine’ actually means today.
Exhausting, innit?
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
Your ex said you were ‘high maintenance.’
Your current partner says you ‘know what you need.’
Same requests. Different respect.
Turns out you weren’t the problem.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
Your current partner says you ‘know what you need.’
Same requests. Different respect.
Turns out you weren’t the problem.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Your ex said you were ‘high maintenance.’
Your current partner says you ‘know what you need.’
Same requests. Different respect.
Turns out you weren’t the problem.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
Your current partner says you ‘know what you need.’
Same requests. Different respect.
Turns out you weren’t the problem.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
Australian culture: reading social cues is basic competence.
Vietnamese culture: being foreign means you’re allowed to ask.
Same confusion. Different consequences.
Turns out context matters more than neurology.
Vietnamese culture: being foreign means you’re allowed to ask.
Same confusion. Different consequences.
Turns out context matters more than neurology.
November 10, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Australian culture: reading social cues is basic competence.
Vietnamese culture: being foreign means you’re allowed to ask.
Same confusion. Different consequences.
Turns out context matters more than neurology.
Vietnamese culture: being foreign means you’re allowed to ask.
Same confusion. Different consequences.
Turns out context matters more than neurology.
Fear isn’t conquered. It’s unlearned.
Systematic Desensitisation, the therapy that rewired how we face anxiety, still matters—especially for neurodivergent minds learning to trust their calm again
https://mindblownpsychology.com/systematic-desensitisation-teaching-the-brain-to-unlearn-fear/
Systematic Desensitisation, the therapy that rewired how we face anxiety, still matters—especially for neurodivergent minds learning to trust their calm again
https://mindblownpsychology.com/systematic-desensitisation-teaching-the-brain-to-unlearn-fear/
November 9, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Fear isn’t conquered. It’s unlearned.
Systematic Desensitisation, the therapy that rewired how we face anxiety, still matters—especially for neurodivergent minds learning to trust their calm again
https://mindblownpsychology.com/systematic-desensitisation-teaching-the-brain-to-unlearn-fear/
Systematic Desensitisation, the therapy that rewired how we face anxiety, still matters—especially for neurodivergent minds learning to trust their calm again
https://mindblownpsychology.com/systematic-desensitisation-teaching-the-brain-to-unlearn-fear/
They said you take things too personally.
You just notice when tone and words don’t match.
That’s not oversensitivity. That’s pattern recognition.
Maybe the problem is people saying one thing whilst meaning another.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
You just notice when tone and words don’t match.
That’s not oversensitivity. That’s pattern recognition.
Maybe the problem is people saying one thing whilst meaning another.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:59 PM
They said you take things too personally.
You just notice when tone and words don’t match.
That’s not oversensitivity. That’s pattern recognition.
Maybe the problem is people saying one thing whilst meaning another.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com
You just notice when tone and words don’t match.
That’s not oversensitivity. That’s pattern recognition.
Maybe the problem is people saying one thing whilst meaning another.
quiethalf.substack.com
mindblownpsychology.com