Minds next door
Autism, Tourette's, mental illness, dementia and more. What you might be seeing, what it isn't, and how to be kind about it.
Not medical advice. If someone is in a mental health crisis, call or text 988. If someone is hurt or in danger right now, call 911.
- My neighbor acts strange. Are they on drugs, or is something else going on? Often it’s something else. Talking out loud, rocking, flapping hands, avoiding eye contact, sudden shouts, slurred words or confusion can come from autism, Tourette’s, a mental illness, dementia, a brain injury, deafness, or an emergency like low blood sugar or a seizure. 4 min read
- How do I call for help without making it worse? Call 911 when someone is hurt or in immediate danger, and call or text 988 for a mental health, suicide or substance use crisis when no one is in immediate danger. 3 min read
- Someone on the street is talking to themselves. Should I worry? Usually, no. People talk out loud for lots of ordinary reasons, like a phone call through earbuds, thinking aloud, praying or calming themselves down, and even when someone is hearing voices, they are far more likely to be hurt by others than to hurt anyone. 3 min read
- A child is screaming in the store. Is it a tantrum or a meltdown? From the outside you usually can’t tell, and you don’t need to. 3 min read
- An older neighbor seems lost or confused. What do I do? Stay with them, speak calmly, and help them get safe, and if they’re in danger or can’t tell you where they live, call 911. 3 min read
- Someone shouted a word out of nowhere. Was it on purpose? Often it wasn’t on purpose. A sudden word, sound or movement can be a tic, part of Tourette syndrome or another tic disorder, and people who have tics cannot simply stop them. 3 min read
- My neighbor never looks me in the eye. Are they being rude? Probably not. People look away for many reasons that have nothing to do with you: eye contact can feel overwhelming or physically uncomfortable for many autistic people, it’s hard for people with social anxiety, and in some cultures a steady gaze can come across as pushy or angry. 3 min read
- Someone is having a seizure. What do I do? Stay with them, keep them safe, turn them on their side, and time the seizure. 3 min read
- My neighbor really is using drugs. How do I still be a neighbor? Treat them as a neighbor with a health condition, not a lost cause: say hello, keep your boundaries, and know how to respond to an overdose. 3 min read
- What is autism, and how can I be a good neighbor? Autism is a lifelong difference in how the brain develops that shapes how a person communicates, takes in sound and light, and moves through the world. 3 min read
- What is ADHD like for adults? For many adults, ADHD means a brain that struggles to steer attention: losing track of time, forgetting tasks, feeling restless and acting on impulse, even when they care a lot. 3 min read
- What is a panic attack, and how can I help someone having one? A panic attack is a sudden wave of intense fear with strong body symptoms, like a pounding heart, sweating, chest pain and trouble breathing, often when there’s no real danger. 3 min read
- Why do fireworks bother some veterans? For some veterans with PTSD, the flashes, booms, smoke and smell of fireworks can feel like combat and bring back the worst moments of their service. 3 min read
- What is schizophrenia, really? Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects how a person thinks, feels and behaves, sometimes causing them to hear or believe things that aren’t real. 3 min read
- What is bipolar disorder? Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes big shifts in a person’s mood, energy and activity, from very “up” periods called mania to very “down” periods of depression. 3 min read
- How do I talk to a neighbor with dementia? Speak slowly and clearly, ask one simple question at a time, and don’t argue or correct them. 3 min read
- What does it mean to be Deaf with a capital D? Lowercase “deaf” describes not being able to hear. 3 min read
- What is Down syndrome, and what words should I use? Down syndrome is a genetic condition in which a person has an extra copy of chromosome 21, which can affect how the body and mind develop. 3 min read
- Words that hurt: “crazy”, “psycho” and the r-word. What should I say instead? Swap the slur for the word you actually mean: “wild,” “unbelievable,” “ridiculous,” “intense” or “cruel.” Words like “crazy,” “psycho” and the r-word turn real people with mental illness or intellectual disabilities into a punchline or an insult. 3 min read
There’s no person in the whole world like you, and I like you just the way you are.