Unknown Speaker 9

Eventually, Brendan Sokolak's parents just gave up and pulled him out of school in the 11th grade. The intense bullying he endured, however, left lasting scars that contributed to his pyromania. Because from what Joel found, there is the possibility of creating a monster when extreme bullying and childhood abuse meets ASD.

Eventually, Brendan Sokolak's parents just gave up and pulled him out of school in the 11th grade. The intense bullying he endured, however, left lasting scars that contributed to his pyromania. Because from what Joel found, there is the possibility of creating a monster when extreme bullying and childhood abuse meets ASD.

Additionally, after Brendan was fired from his groundskeeping job, he may have been in the throes of a neurodivergent symptom called rejection sensory dysphoria. in which a person is emotionally or psychically affected to an excessive degree after being left out or told that they aren't allowed in a place where they feel like they belong.

Additionally, after Brendan was fired from his groundskeeping job, he may have been in the throes of a neurodivergent symptom called rejection sensory dysphoria. in which a person is emotionally or psychically affected to an excessive degree after being left out or told that they aren't allowed in a place where they feel like they belong.

Additionally, after Brendan was fired from his groundskeeping job, he may have been in the throes of a neurodivergent symptom called rejection sensory dysphoria. in which a person is emotionally or psychically affected to an excessive degree after being left out or told that they aren't allowed in a place where they feel like they belong.

Very much so. Sometimes people with RSD become people pleasers or perfectionists to avoid being excluded or treated badly for fucking up in any way whatsoever. But others, like Brendan, go in the entirely opposite direction by acting out destructively. See, in the months before the Black Saturday bushfire, neighbors noticed that Brendan had been setting larger and larger fires in his yard.

Very much so. Sometimes people with RSD become people pleasers or perfectionists to avoid being excluded or treated badly for fucking up in any way whatsoever. But others, like Brendan, go in the entirely opposite direction by acting out destructively. See, in the months before the Black Saturday bushfire, neighbors noticed that Brendan had been setting larger and larger fires in his yard.

Very much so. Sometimes people with RSD become people pleasers or perfectionists to avoid being excluded or treated badly for fucking up in any way whatsoever. But others, like Brendan, go in the entirely opposite direction by acting out destructively. See, in the months before the Black Saturday bushfire, neighbors noticed that Brendan had been setting larger and larger fires in his yard.

And when a neighbor expressed concern over a gigantic bonfire that Brendan had lit by himself on New Year's Eve, Brendan didn't even acknowledge that the neighbor was talking to him. This all came in the year after Brendan had been fired from his job, which was very much a situation in which Brendan was told he wasn't allowed in a place where he thought he belonged.

And when a neighbor expressed concern over a gigantic bonfire that Brendan had lit by himself on New Year's Eve, Brendan didn't even acknowledge that the neighbor was talking to him. This all came in the year after Brendan had been fired from his job, which was very much a situation in which Brendan was told he wasn't allowed in a place where he thought he belonged.

And when a neighbor expressed concern over a gigantic bonfire that Brendan had lit by himself on New Year's Eve, Brendan didn't even acknowledge that the neighbor was talking to him. This all came in the year after Brendan had been fired from his job, which was very much a situation in which Brendan was told he wasn't allowed in a place where he thought he belonged.

Fire. Now, one of the activities that those with ASD and ADHD engage in is something called stimming, which is a physical action that helps the individual deal with sensory overload. For me, I now recognize that chain smoking used to be my main stim. These days, I play with plasticine clay if I'm at home.

Fire. Now, one of the activities that those with ASD and ADHD engage in is something called stimming, which is a physical action that helps the individual deal with sensory overload. For me, I now recognize that chain smoking used to be my main stim. These days, I play with plasticine clay if I'm at home.

Fire. Now, one of the activities that those with ASD and ADHD engage in is something called stimming, which is a physical action that helps the individual deal with sensory overload. For me, I now recognize that chain smoking used to be my main stim. These days, I play with plasticine clay if I'm at home.

I play with coins in my pockets if I'm in public, or I obsessively chew nicotine gum no matter what's going on.

I play with coins in my pockets if I'm in public, or I obsessively chew nicotine gum no matter what's going on.

I play with coins in my pockets if I'm in public, or I obsessively chew nicotine gum no matter what's going on.

Well, that's the thing. It's actually connected. Yeah, people with ADHD are actually far more likely to be addicted to nicotine. It's the stimulant.

Well, that's the thing. It's actually connected. Yeah, people with ADHD are actually far more likely to be addicted to nicotine. It's the stimulant.

Well, that's the thing. It's actually connected. Yeah, people with ADHD are actually far more likely to be addicted to nicotine. It's the stimulant.