Appendix B: Glossary of Medical Terms

A

Affect - The outward expression of emotion (e.g., flat affect = showing no emotion).

Alexithymia - Difficulty identifying and describing one’s own emotions. Common in autism.

Antipsychotic (Atypical) - Medications like Seroquel, Risperdal. Block dopamine receptors. Used for psychosis and mania.

AuDHD - Slang term for someone with both Autism and ADHD.

B

Bipolar I - The “classic” bipolar. Includes full manic episodes (lasting 7+ days).

Bipolar II - Includes hypomanic episodes (less severe than mania) and major depression.

Bipolar NOS (Not Otherwise Specified) - Bipolar symptoms that don’t fit I or II criteria.

C

Circadian Rhythm - The body’s internal 24-hour clock. Regulates sleep/wake cycles.

CIT Officer (Crisis Intervention Team) - Police officers trained in mental health crisis de-escalation.

Comorbidity - Having two or more conditions at the same time (e.g., Bipolar + ADHD).

D

Dark Therapy - Using amber glasses or dimmed lights to block blue light and regulate sleep.

Delirious Mania - The most severe stage of mania. Includes psychosis, confusion, aggression.

Diagnostic Overshadowing - When clinicians attribute all symptoms to one diagnosis, missing a second condition.

Dopamine - Neurotransmitter involved in reward, motivation, focus. Dysregulated in both ADHD and Bipolar.

DSM-5 - Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition. The “psychiatry bible.”

E

ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) - Medical treatment using electrical currents to trigger a brief seizure. Highly effective for treatment-resistant depression/mania.

Emotional Dysregulation - Difficulty managing emotional responses. Common in ADHD.

Enmeshment - When family members are so emotionally fused that boundaries are lost.

G

Glass Child - A sibling of a high-needs child who becomes “invisible” because parents are focused on the crisis.

Glutamate - The “gas pedal” neurotransmitter. Excites brain activity. Regulated by Lamictal.

Grandiosity - Inflated sense of self-importance or abilities. A symptom of mania.

H

Hypomania - A less severe form of mania. Symptoms last 4+ days but don’t cause major impairment.

I

IEP (Individualized Education Program) - A legal document outlining accommodations for students with disabilities.

Interoception - The ability to sense internal body signals (hunger, pain, emotions). Often impaired in autism.

L

Lamictal (Lamotrigine) - Mood stabilizer. Prevents depressive episodes. Risk of rash (Stevens-Johnson Syndrome).

Lithium - The “gold standard” mood stabilizer. Prevents mania and reduces suicide risk. Requires blood monitoring.

Looping Effects - Ian Hacking’s theory: People change to fit the labels they’re given. See “TikTok diagnoses.”

M

Mania - A period of abnormally elevated mood, energy, and activity. Lasts 7+ days. Can include psychosis.

Masking - Hiding autistic traits to fit in socially. Leads to burnout.

Meltdown (Autistic) - An involuntary response to overwhelming sensory or emotional input. Not a tantrum.

Mixed Episode - Simultaneous symptoms of mania and depression (e.g., high energy but suicidal thoughts).

N

Neurodivergent - Describes brains that function differently from the “typical” (e.g., autism, ADHD).

Neurotypical - Someone without a neurodevelopmental condition (autism, ADHD, etc.).

P

Pressured Speech - Rapid, loud, non-stop talking. A symptom of mania.

Psychosis - Loss of contact with reality. Includes hallucinations (seeing/hearing things) or delusions (false beliefs).

R

Racing Thoughts - Rapid, uncontrollable stream of thoughts. A symptom of mania.

Rapid Cycling - Having 4 or more mood episodes (mania, hypomania, depression) in a year.

S

SRT (Social Rhythm Therapy) - Therapy focused on stabilizing daily routines (sleep, meals) to prevent mood cycling.

Stimming (Self-Stimulatory Behavior) - Repetitive movements (hand-flapping, pacing) that help regulate sensory input. Common in autism.

Stimulant - Medications like Adderall, Ritalin, Vyvanse. Increase dopamine. Used for ADHD. Can trigger mania in Bipolar teens.

Suicidal Ideation - Thoughts about suicide, ranging from passive (“I wish I wasn’t here”) to active (“I have a plan”).

T

Tardive Dyskinesia - Permanent involuntary movements (lip smacking, tongue thrusting) caused by long-term antipsychotic use.

Titration - Gradually increasing a medication dose to find the effective level while minimizing side effects.

Treatment-Resistant - When a condition doesn’t respond to standard medications or therapy.

W

Whole Child Assessment - Looking at all aspects of a child’s functioning (mood, sensory, social, medical), not just one diagnosis.