Indigo children (woo squared)

[sg1985]

I was surfing YouTube for clips of James Randi (http://www.randi.org/) doing what he does best. My search eventually led me to a clip from an ABC news show (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZwyiy90X2I&feature=related) about Indigo children (http://www.indigochild.com/), also known as Crystal Children. I had no idea what this meant so I started googling. And I started uncovering the woo. I got onto Metagifted Education Resource Organization (MERO (http://www.metagifted.org/)) website and started surfing.

Then I came across a list of characteristics (http://www.metagifted.org/topics/metagifted/indigo/adultIndigos/areYouAnAdultIndigo.html)supposedly possessed by Indigo adults. I looked over the list and I was shocked. I'm an Indigo Adult! It all makes sense now. Below is the list in full with my comments.

Please note, anyone could have a few of these traits, but Indigo Adults have most or all of these 25 characteristics.

Strangely enough, this list has 26 characteristics, not 25. Didn't anyone think that it's odd that someone who is supposedly able to see into the future and know things that they should not know can't count?

Indigo Adult Characteristics

Here we go.

1. Are intelligent, though may not have had top grades.

Yes. I graduated from college with a 3.18 GPA. I was also involved in multiple clubs and organizations.

2. Are very creative and enjoy making things.

Yes. I am a very creative person and I do like to make things. I recently started making dream catchers again. And I really need to keep working on them.

3. Always need to know WHY, especially why they are being asked to do something.

Yes. Always question things. Particularly about psychic claims...

4. Had disgust and perhaps loathing for much of the required and repetitious work in school.

Yes. I also loath doing it in real life.

5. Were rebellious in school in that they refused to do homework and rejected authority of teachers, OR seriously wanted to rebel, but didn't DARE, usually due to parental pressure.

I wanted to rebel in high school, but I didn't. I did rebel in college, but it was against the authority of the school social system, not the teachers.

6. May have experienced early existential depression and feelings of helplessness. These may have ranged from sadness to utter despair. Suicidal feelings while still in high school or younger are not uncommon in the Indigo Adult.

Yes.

7. Have difficulty in service-oriented jobs. Indigos resist authority and caste system of employment.

Yes. I found them boring and frustrating and I dislike caste systems everywhere.

8. Prefer leadership positions or working alone to team positions.

Yes and yes. I'm used to leadership positions and I prefer to work alone.

9. Have deep empathy for others, yet an intolerance of stupidity.

Yes!

10. May be extremely emotionally sensitive including crying at the drop of a hat (no shielding) Or may be the opposite and show no expression of emotion (full shielding).

Yes. I cry when hats are dropped. It makes me very sad.

11. May have trouble with RAGE.

No. I don't like the capitalization in that sentence. It makes me angry.

12. Have trouble with systems they consider broken or ineffective, ie. political, educational, medical, and legal.

Yes. Oh hell yeah. Don't get me started.

13. Alienation from or anger with politics - feeling your voice won't count and/or that the outcome really doesn't mattter.

Yes. More alienation than anger though.

14. Frustration with or rejection of the traditional American dream - 9-5 career, marriage, 2.5 children, house with white picket fence, etc.

Yes! My worst nightmare is waking up to find out that I'm an upper-middle class housewife that drives a Ford Explorer.

15. Anger at rights being taken away, fear and/or fury at "Big Brother watching you."

Yes. The only people I want Big Brother watching are the ones that Davina introduces.

16. Have a burning desire to do something to change and improve the world. May be stymied what to do. May have trouble identifying their path.

Yes. I want to change the world. If I could get people to stop glorifying idiots like Paris Hilton my work here would be done.

17. Have psychic or spiritual interest appear fairly young - in or before teen years.

Kind of. I predicted that OJ Simpson would be found innocent. I have also predicted the outcome of every romantic comedy ever made with 100% accuracy.

18. Had few if any Indigo role models. Having had some doesn't mean you're not an indigo, though.

Yes. I hadn't even heard of Indigo people a hour ago.

19. Have strong intuition.

Yes.

20. Random behavior pattern or mind style - (symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder). May have trouble focusing on assigned tasks, may jump around in conversations.

Yes. I'm everywhere at once. The degree is not too bad, but it is constant.

21. Have had psychic experiences, such as premonitions, seeing angels or ghosts, out of body experiences, hearing voices.

No. I'd just like to share that hearing voices can be a sign of schizophrenia, not being an "Indigo."

22. May be electrically sensitive such as watches not working and street lights going out as you move under them, electrical equipment malfunctioning and lights blowing out.

Yes! So this is why electronic things malfunction around me. I bought this Hello Kitty watch from the PX and when I went to use it, about four years later, it was dead. How much does that suck? Also, you should have seen me trying to get the wireless router hooked up correctly.

23. May have awareness of other dimensions and parallel realities.

Yes. I think about time travel and different realities all the time. The possibilities are endless! But it also gets so confusing to think about all of the different paths and how one would effect the other and how strange it all is. I thought it was a side effect from watching Farscape and Red Dwarf, but obviously, I was wrong.

24. Sexually are very expressive and inventive OR may reject sexuality in boredom or with intention of achieving higher spiritual connection. May explore alternative types of sexuality.

Yes. The first one. I'm not going to say anything else.

25. Seek meaning to their life and understanding about the world May seek this through religion or spirituality, spiritual groups and books, self-help groups and books.

Yes. Books. I love books. I read books about everything. Although the ones about spirituality are more on "The God Delusion" and the "End of Faith" side of the spectrum.

26. When they find balance they may become very strong, healthy, happy individuals.

Yes. Or at least I'm working on it. Now that I know I am an Indigo adult, I predict that my life will be fabulous from now on.




So. Does anyone else fit these very vague, open ended, contradictory descriptions. Because you too could be an indigo adult. :D

[CFLarsen]

Indigo Blues (http://skepticreport.com/newage/indigoblues.htm)
Indigo Children are a genetically unique new race of children possessing a very specific set of personality traits, and who are psychically linked to Kryon, a being reported to be a disembodied entity of a different order than human, who has "been with the Earth since the beginning".

Indigo - The Color Of Money (http://skepticreport.com/newage/twyman.htm)
After examining the Indigo Child movement, and specifically the activities of co-writer/producer James Twyman, there are potential consequences for the community - and for children.

[Moochie]

Nah, I think I'm beige all the way to my plaid underpants.


M.

[sg1985]

Indigo - The Color Of Money (http://skepticreport.com/newage/twyman.htm)
After examining the Indigo Child movement, and specifically the activities of co-writer/producer James Twyman, there are potential consequences for the community - and for children.

For example, they act like royalty, have difficulty with absolute authority unless given choices or explanations, are easily frustrated, e.g. when waiting in line, are not shy, have difficulty with guilt-based discipline, are non-conformist, may seem antisocial and prefer to be with their own kind, and may have social difficulties in school. I, for one, see nothing new, unusual, or unheard-of here.

The Indigo Child concept may appeal especially to parents of children with mental health challenges, e.g. ADD, ADHD, autism, bi-polar disorder, conduct disorder, or a difficult temperament. Proponents target these label- and medication-wary parents. So, what is the harm in giving parents a positive spin on their children for a change -- like Indigo?

This makes me very sad. Parents are so desperate to believe that their children don't have problems but are instead special and gifted, even though others don't realize it.

[Boran]

Woo always targets a weak area in it's victims.
In this case the parents who want the best for their children but lack critical thinking.

[The Man]

INo. I'd just like to share that hearing voices can be a sign of schizophrenia, not being an "Indigo."

To tell you the truth I am not really seeing much difference between being “Indigo” and being schizophrenic, expect of course for the lack a clinical diagnosis. So perhaps one is just “Indigo” until actually being diagnosed as schizophrenic?

[Mark6]

Indigo Adult Characteristics

Here we go.

Basically, if you are vaguely rebellious and non-conformist (or at least THINK you are), and for whatever reason unhappy with how society is, you are Indigo adult. Got it.

And not, I do not match at least half the indicators. I am a Purple adult at most.

[ExMinister]

To me the tragedy of this is that it probably describes enough of the characteristics of ADD or autistic kiddos that their parents will eagerly latch onto it.

Otherwise it seems like such an obvious attempt to target the average New Age type who is often somewhat rebellious and/or alienated from mainstream ways of thinking anyway. They're not going to have any trouble with the idea of affecting street lights or hearing voices. And what child doesn't ask a lot of questions, dislike boring repetitious tasks and occasionally resent authority? On top of that, they say that even if all aspects don't fit you, just having most still counts. Generic but also designed to target a specific group.

[JCL]

Actually children with those characterisitcs are traditionally called brats.

Parents that incourage their children to act that that are called bad parents.

[The Man]

My parents always told me that I was special. When going to school I noticed classes for special education. When I asked why someone special like me was not in such classes, I was told that I wasn’t “that” special. Since then I have generally not considered myself very “special”, despite some people's insistence that I am or at least my education must have been “special”. The euphemisms continue and are now more routinely exploited.

[Elizabeth I]

I would rather be turquoise. Can I be turquoise, please?

<<goes into a rage at having this request denied. Or else represses it entirely.>>

[dudalb]

Actually children with those characterisitcs are traditionally called brats.

.


In some cases, yeah, but some "indigo Kids" have genuine emotional problems.
But you are dead right about the bad parenting, though. In one case they are not disciplining the kids when they need it, in the other they are getting the kids the help they need, and both because of a wackjob New Age Belief.

[dudalb]

And Jenny McCarthy is the queen of woo regarding Indigo Children.

[Iconoclast08]

There's a definite popular trend to this "indigo child" nonsense, which I agree can be dangerous. Running through this cobbled hodgepodge of criteria are indicators of not just psychosis but emotional dysregulation (e.g., crying at the drop of a hat), which may be indicative of emerging depression and/or anxiety issues.

I think it's downright awful how rather than critically examine the problems and their causes (or take their kid to a psychologist for some family therapy), parents opt for the lazy, non-threatening albeit potentially perilous shortcut of labeling their child as "special" in some odd, New Agey manner.

[sg1985]

I should also note that I have bipolar disorder. Hence the crying at a drop of a hat.

I know that I'm special :D but also know that it wasn't from any supernatural powers. So I actually got diagnosed and am being treated with (so far) great success. Yay, modern medicine!

No amount of coddling and New Age bs is going to treat or even cover up these symptoms. It's really sad when you think that these children (and adults) are postponing treatment if not negating it entirely.

[Iconoclast08]

<inserts foot in mouth>

sg1985: I'm virtually certain that you did not take offense to what I said, but I'm putting my foot in my mouth anyway. :boxedin:

[Foolmewunz]

I want one of them to change colors right in front of me, from pinkish-brownish-whateverish to indigo. Until then, this is just justification for allowing your little monsters to be little monsters....

My new son is now 16 days old. He's already got several of the signs of being an indigo. But then again, so does the philodendron in the living room. This crap is like horoscopes. Write it up so that it can apply to anyone, and the gullible will buy into it.

They left off "27. Always carries a copy of Catcher in the Rye, Brave New World, or Stranger in a Strange Land, and treats them as a reference book."

Frankly, if I meet someone with 24 or 25 of those traits listed, I'm putting them on Block Watch. Think of how many of those items apply to Hinkley, Dahmer, Chapman, et al...

"Oh, but you don't understand Principal Taylor, little Charlie's an Indigo. That's why he's different. He's "special"."
"Frankly, Mrs. Manson, the kid's a psycopath, and you're a few donuts short of a dozen, yourself."

[sg1985]

<inserts foot in mouth>

sg1985: I'm virtually certain that you did not take offense to what I said, but I'm putting my foot in my mouth anyway. :boxedin:

I'm not offended at all. This just proves the point. These criteria are supposed to be for someone who is considered to be a gifted person in the New Age World. And it turns out that it actually can be a sign of mental health issues.

I'm sure people can match criteria and don't have diagnosable issues at all, but especially with the descriptions of the children, there is something wrong and it's not because they have a special gift. For example, the arrogance and sense of entitlement can be a part of bipolar mania or hypomania. I don't know a lot about BP in kids, but some of the symptoms match the adult diagnosis as well.

[sg1985]

I want one of them to change colors right in front of me, from pinkish-brownish-whateverish to indigo. Until then, this is just justification for allowing your little monsters to be little monsters....

My new son is now 16 days old. He's already got several of the signs of being an indigo. But then again, so does the philodendron in the living room. This crap is like horoscopes. Write it up so that it can apply to anyone, and the gullible will buy into it.

They left off "27. Always carries a copy of Catcher in the Rye, Brave New World, or Stranger in a Strange Land, and treats them as a reference book."

Frankly, if I meet someone with 24 or 25 of those traits listed, I'm putting them on Block Watch. Think of how many of those items apply to Hinkley, Dahmer, Chapman, et al...

"Oh, but you don't understand Principal Taylor, little Charlie's an Indigo. That's why he's different. He's "special"."
"Frankly, Mrs. Manson, the kid's a psycopath, and you're a few donuts short of a dozen, yourself."

http://cache.hyves-static.net/images/smilies/default/smiley_ninja.gif

Better keep an eye on me.

[Iconoclast08]

Actually, bipolar in kids tends to come out more as intense irritability and rambunctiousness (commonly misdiagnosed as ADHD).

So much for the rebellious gifted indigo kid.

Good eye!

[SnuggleSmacks]

I have 24 of the 26 traits of Indigo Children. It goes by another name...Borderline Personality Disorder. Personally, I like "Indigo" better.

[dudalb]

They left off "27. Always carries a copy of Catcher in the Rye, Brave New World, or Stranger in a Strange Land, and treats them as a reference book."

You missed the most important Indigo Child reference book of all
"Childhood's End" by Arthur C Clark..much to,no doubt, Clark's considerble annoynace.

[godless dave]

For example, the arrogance and sense of entitlement can be a part of bipolar mania or hypomania. I don't know a lot about BP in kids, but some of the symptoms match the adult diagnosis as well.


It can also come from plain-old poor parenting and inconsistent discpline. If you give your kid a piece of candy every time she cries for one, odds are pretty good your child will grow up with a sense of entitlement.

[Iconoclast08]

"Oh, but you don't understand Principal Taylor, little Charlie's an Indigo. That's why he's different. He's "special"."
"Frankly, Mrs. Manson, the kid's a psycopath, and you're a few donuts short of a dozen, yourself."

Classic.

[Achán hiNidráne]

So. Does anyone else fit these very vague, open ended, contradictory descriptions. Because you too could be an indigo adult. :D

Well, that's one of the ways cults/religions work. You proclaim the target is one of the elect based upon a wide set of criteria that could apply to anyone, especially those with a need to feel "special."

"Excuse me, would you like to take a free stress test?"

You get the idea.

[hipparchia]

sg1985, that was fun!

Nah, I'm definitely not an indigo adult. I scored high on the indigo kid traits, though.

I guess if you consciously and proudly count yourself an indigo adult, you're not really adult.

Now, I am looking for a good catchphrase for the rare and evolved spiritual being that, all things being well, should be born to me in April. Indigo and Crystal are so 2002.

Diamond kid? Galaxy kid? Come on, the newage future of the universe will depend on those kids.

[sg1985]

I like Diamond Kid. It's a step up from Crystal. Galaxy kid has a nice ring to it, but I still prefer Diamond.

[sg1985]

sg1985, that was fun!

Nah, I'm definitely not an indigo adult. I scored high on the indigo kid traits, though.

I guess if you consciously and proudly count yourself an indigo adult, you're not really adult.

Now, I am looking for a good catchphrase for the rare and evolved spiritual being that, all things being well, should be born to me in April. Indigo and Crystal are so 2002.

Diamond kid? Galaxy kid? Come on, the newage future of the universe will depend on those kids.

Personally, I prefer Diamond kid. :D

[Stout]

Ha !!!!

Now why wasn't this around to use as an excuse for my atrocious behaviour when I was a kid ?

It wasn't poor parenting at all...I was a real, you know.

At least I would have had an excuse..

Interesting thing about the streetlights. Back in my woo positive days, I used to think that I somehow absorbed the energy of the light, causing it to burn out. Funny thing was, that even though I envisioned myself as "energized" I couldn't run any faster, or jump any higher than I could before receiving this "gift" however, I did fancy the idea that I had more access to peoples innermost thoughts...without their knowledge.

Luckily for me, I outgrew all that, and now I resort to the tried and true method of energizing myself in the morning....caffine.:D

[Popsicle]

I like Diamond Kid. It's a step up from Crystal. Galaxy kid has a nice ring to it, but I still prefer Diamond.

You know, the Pokemon games for the Gameboy/DS all have names like Diamond, Pearl, and Crystal, and I seem to remember at least one of them had an "Indigo League." I'm very slowly beginning to see a vast global conspiracy involving Nintendo, Satanists, and New Agers to convert all our children to devil-worshipping slave drivers who identify their cults by colors and stones. I must immediately rush out and inform the masses!

Seriously though, I read a little bit on Nancy Ann Tappe, the originator of this nonsense, and she said that she believes 90% of children born in the 90s were "Indigo." I also saw a 97% thrown around, too. Someone needs to explain to her that you can't sell books if you tell parents their children are the same as everyone else. Similarly, SOME of the Indigo adult criteria seems to describe people who are more likely to be critical thinkers, and so wouldn't fall for this sort of thing. Again, can't sell the books if you can't snare the believers.

[ExMinister]

GALAXY KIDS
Born between 2003-2015

Here is how you can tell if you have a Galaxy kid:

Is your kid able but unwilling to follow directions or respect the authority of teachers and parents? Is he or she consistently ill-mannered and out of control, and secretly you know it's because you've never really bothered to discipline or be consistent but you are looking for a nice woo way to explain this away without feeling bad or having to change anything?

Then we have the woo for you!

Galaxy kids! They are out of control, rude and unruly, terrible listeners, voracious little consumers who expect unlimited access to gadgets and toys but are completely ungrateful! They lie, cheat and sometimes even bite other kids who are in their way! They energetically beat up their siblings and creatively magic marker your kitchen walls, and how sweet they look!! These kids are misunderstood, highly advanced beings who are our religious and political leaders of the future!

You must buy my book Galaxy Kids: The Hope of the Future. In it, I will take 250 pages to tell you to continue to doing everything you already do! Here is a sample of what you will learn: Remember, give them everything they ask for so as not to hurt their feelings or damage their fragile self-esteem, and never ever yell at them. If you DO yell at them, quickly BUY them something to make them feel better. If they throw a tantrum, give in immediately! Make sure they know that if you say no, they need only ask you the same question 20 times and you WILL give in!! Give up easily when they resist doing as they are told - it will build their self-esteem to think they are the boss! Oh, and be sure and ask them many times if they remember who they were in their past lives and if they can see angels when they go to bed - you must draw this out with leading questions. All Galaxy kids were famous, terribly important individuals in their past lives, such as Napolean and Genghis Khan! *

* Miranda Weasel Disclaimer: None of this is intended to diagnose, treat or otherwise serve as helpful in any way, it is only a way for me to get rich and hopefully be invited onto Oprah.

[sg1985]

You know, the Pokemon games for the Gameboy/DS all have names like Diamond, Pearl, and Crystal, and I seem to remember at least one of them had an "Indigo League." I'm very slowly beginning to see a vast global conspiracy involving Nintendo, Satanists, and New Agers to convert all our children to devil-worshipping slave drivers who identify their cults by colors and stones. I must immediately rush out and inform the masses!

Seriously though, I read a little bit on Nancy Ann Tappe, the originator of this nonsense, and she said that she believes 90% of children born in the 90s were "Indigo." I also saw a 97% thrown around, too. Someone needs to explain to her that you can't sell books if you tell parents their children are the same as everyone else. Similarly, SOME of the Indigo adult criteria seems to describe people who are more likely to be critical thinkers, and so wouldn't fall for this sort of thing. Again, can't sell the books if you can't snare the believers.

I never thought about the Pokemon games! I had crystal for the GameBoy color but I lost interest in it after I got to the final four. Seriously, I didn't want to devote the rest of my life to getting good at that game. Which was also my excuse for not finishing FF7. Hmmm, I really need to follow through with my video games.

90% Indigo? Well that takes the fun out of it. Everyone's different, just like everyone else. The woo still amazes me (in the bad, how can they get away with this, way).

[Moochie]

Haven't these people heard of birth control?


M.

[Nursefoxfire]

I like Diamond Kid. It's a step up from Crystal. Galaxy kid has a nice ring to it, but I still prefer Diamond.

just so long as they're Non-conflict Diamond Kids TM!

[maxfrost]

Hmm, seems the only people in authority that I have problems with are Indigo Adults...

[Eos of the Eons]

Jenny McCarthy got some chick fired when she inquired if Jenny's kid was "special". She loved the lady that that told Jenny that Jenny was an indigo mom and her son was a crystal child. Jenny hates autism sooo much that now she claims her son is cured of it. Crystal good. Autism bad. All in the labels whether she gets your tooshie fired. I guess her kid is still a crystal, even though he is no longer autistic in her eyes.

A woman who worked at a "play gym" where Jenny had taken her son to play asked Jenny if the boy had a "brain problem." Jenny responded by getting the woman fired (she said this with no sign of shame, on Oprah). So it wasn't ok for a stranger who works around children to ask if her child had a brain problem, but it was OK for a stranger to tell her that he's a Crystal. One supposes that that is because "Crystal" sounds special and "brain problem" sounds like a put down, or maybe cause one to fear one had done something to cause it.

http://autismdiva.blogspot.com/

[bruto]

So if Autism is redefined as indigo, where does this put the anti-vaxers? Depriving their kids of their chance to be special?

[SnuggleSmacks]

My nephew was just diagnosed with autism at 2 years old. My sister is doing a great job of research and consulting specialists and trying different therapies, and already there has been vast improvement. My brother-in-law, on the other hand, is still in denial. He cannot accept the fact that his child is anything less than perfect, and although he has done nothing to inhibit progress, he hasn't exactly been helpful. I resent this attitude. I've told him that just because his child is "different" does not make him "defective." I have 3 friends who are on the autistic scale, including one with rather severe Asperger's. They are all fortunate in being "high functioning" but in social situations, it is obvious that there is a difference. They have great difficulty in picking up on social cues on what is and is not appropriate, and often say very random, sometimes uncomfortable, things. They perceive and process things differently. That doesn't have to mean "wrong."

[hipparchia]

Ok, settled on Diamond kid. To get an idea of what this is, think of the Dude as a "diamond adult".

[Eos of the Eons]

So if Autism is redefined as indigo, where does this put the anti-vaxers? Depriving their kids of their chance to be special?

Hm? Jenny still blames vaccines for the autism. That is much is for sure.

I think she figures he is cured of autism now, but being a crystal is so damned cool that he still get to be that. No problem being corrected if I'm wrong though.

[Stellafane]

Shucks, I took the test and only got a 5 -- and even then I had to stretch things; only three things really applied to me completely. Apparently, I'm Infra-Red.

[Alice Shortcake]

For a disturbing example of what an Indigo Child can turn into as an adult, look no further than the 20 year old English "psychic surgeon" and all-round New Age healer Gary Mannion (www.badpsychicsgarymannion.co.uk). When he isn't healing the sick - thanks to the placebo effect - he's spreading the Indigo Child doctrine by telling parents of ADD children that the drug Ritalin is bad for their out-of-control offspring.

[The Man]

Shucks, I took the test and only got a 5 -- and even then I had to stretch things; only three things really applied to me completely. Apparently, I'm Infra-Red.

Just be glad you were not beyond “Indigo” or an ultraviolet, we might not be able to see you and you could produce skin cancer (in others).

[Bee]

One of my family members who works in a school is having difficulty with a child who's parents refuse to discipline him because they claim he's an 'Indigo Child' and they are trying to 'nurture' this side of him. In reality he's a little brat who gets away with bad behaviour and his parents just can't be arsed to accept responsibilty for his actions.

[MattusMaximus]

And Jenny McCarthy is the queen of woo regarding Indigo Children.


Stop Jenny McCarthy (http://stopjenny.com)

[calebprime]

To tell you the truth I am not really seeing much difference between being “Indigo” and being schizophrenic, expect of course for the lack a clinical diagnosis. So perhaps one is just “Indigo” until actually being diagnosed as schizophrenic?



I'm not offended at all. This just proves the point. These criteria are supposed to be for someone who is considered to be a gifted person in the New Age World. And it turns out that it actually can be a sign of mental health issues.

I'm sure people can match criteria and don't have diagnosable issues at all, but especially with the descriptions of the children, there is something wrong and it's not because they have a special gift. For example, the arrogance and sense of entitlement can be a part of bipolar mania or hypomania. I don't know a lot about BP in kids, but some of the symptoms match the adult diagnosis as well.

All kids are somewhat grandiose, unrealistic, flighty, narcissistic.


I don't believe for a moment that Indigo children actually exist, this is woo.

More troubling to me is the complementary and nearly equally wrong trend to label all behavioral issues, or quirks, as mental illness and to try to medicate them away.



Whether or not bipolar disorder in kids is being well-diagnosed is still tremendously controversial. No one heard of this a few years ago--I'm not sure this is a good trend.

There is an enormous profit motive to medicate. As well as sheer expediency.

One other point. I'd urge The Man to look at the whole range of symptoms for schizophrenia--which is probably a handful of different disorders bundled under one rubric--because it's not just about hearing voices. Negative symptoms (like flattened affect, impoverished thought,) are just as important as positive ones (like hallucinations) and can't be treated.

Lots of people hear voices who aren't schizophrenic: People hear them before they fall asleep, or because they're sleep-deprived, or upset, or they have some neural quirks that aren't anything like schizophrenia, and so forth.

My neurologist friend has told me of a few horror stories of people who were concerned about hearing some voices, or admitted to it in a checkup, and were involuntarily committed, or had to fight not to be. I can't confirm these stories, but she's a highly regarded professional who had no reason to lie about the basic facts.

Obviously, before DD slaps me down, I'll admit that lack of mental health care is more of a problem than bad overzealous medical treatment.

But there's a lot of bad medicine by checklist. Psychiatry is still in the unique position in medicine of having no diagnostic tests, apart from interviews, observation, self-reporting. (I mean: no blood tests or brain scans can currently determine a diagnosis.) My diagnosis of "depression" at one point was a complete joke.

Speaking of checklists, most of these on the Indigo list are not particularly relevant to schizophrenia. Some of them have that temporal lobe feel--probably the site of some of our religious feelings, but even that is a stretch.

Also, I think the optimism about good cures and treatments for these disorders (with the exception of bipolar disorder when it's the real thing) is highly exaggerated. I think treatment can prevent real bipolar disorder from getting worse over time. I think a way to be confident about bipolar disorder is to look at family history and to spend a long time gathering facts about a patient's history.

We've been hearing for many years that our understanding is greater than ever before and wonderful new treatments are around the corner. Doesn't mean it can't be true--just take it with a grain of salt.

With every drug, it takes about 15 years once it's in general use to figure out whether it's really effective, and to get a real sense of the side effects.

My only credentials: mental illness in the family, reading, and experience with a number of good, bad, and mediocre therapists and psychiatrists--both for others and myself. The best therapists I've spoken to--perhaps ironically, perhaps not--don't have medical degrees. They're just acute, empathetic people with good ability to listen and coach.

My mother has a unique ability to find bad shrinks for herself--of the last three, psychiatrist #1 solicited gifts, told her he loved her, talked about his own problems and missed her hypothyroidism while getting her hooked on benzos. Therapist #2 ran off with a patient. The current one is giving her Seroquel off-label, even though she has nothing like psychosis or bipolar disorder--it helps with compliance, I'm told. Maybe her luck has been bad.

(One amusing anecdote: a psychiatrist who lives downstairs observed my son ticcing and said, with alarm in her face: "He's got Tourette's!!" (No, dear, he doesn't really, and there's no need to treat those tics anyway. I'm glad my kid is not under your care.))

This has turned into quite an off-topic rant. Sorry. These are complex issues by definition.

But yeah, Indigo is woo.

[Nankay]

I'm still trying to jibe #7: Have difficulty in service-oriented jobs. Indigos resist authority and caste system of employment

with #8 Likes to be in a leadership position.

Isn't a "leader' a "boss" or higher up in the "caste system"?

[TheDeeMan]

And Jenny McCarthy is the queen of woo regarding Indigo Children.

And Jim Carrey is it's annoint King.:)

I love the traits. So Indigo kids are basicly kids not on Ritalin.

Dee

[Cavemonster]

I should also note that I have bipolar disorder. Hence the crying at a drop of a hat.

I know that I'm special :D but also know that it wasn't from any supernatural powers. So I actually got diagnosed and am being treated with (so far) great success. Yay, modern medicine!

No amount of coddling and New Age bs is going to treat or even cover up these symptoms. It's really sad when you think that these children (and adults) are postponing treatment if not negating it entirely.

Me too. Without hyperbole, lithium saved my life.
It tool me a long time to get a proper diagnoses and the right medication. In my opinion, woo like this that gets in the way of people getting the help they may need is up there with the ugliest scams.

[Eos of the Eons]

um. Not to be catty. But uhhhh. Just imagine if McCarthy and Carey have a kid together. I think the indigo woo woo folks would need a whole new category for some kind ascension beyond the realm of anything ever seen before. :covereyes

[Madalch]

I'm still trying to jibe #7: Have difficulty in service-oriented jobs. Indigos resist authority and caste system of employment

with #8 Likes to be in a leadership position.

Isn't a "leader' a "boss" or higher up in the "caste system"?

What they resent is other people having authority over them. They have no trouble bossing around other people.

[Burning Beard]

I just HAD to bump this... I have more than one friend who pretty much base their lives around the teachings of Kryon and genuinely believe in the Indigo Children "phenomena".

There's some pretty bold statements out there:

Scientific communities in China, the US and other countries are now identifying small groups of infants and children that display rare abilities such as purging HIV, advanced genius and psychic/telekinetic abilities and other extra-ordinary attributes

"Purging H.I.V"??????????

:eye-poppi :D

Even better...
In the last years, Kryon has identified all the layers of the interdimensional 12-layer DNA matrix. In every case, these are recorded in various channellings which are now referenced on each layer's page (below). Many have asked for a summary of this study, and so here it is!

http://www.kryon.com/altindex.html

[The Man]

I just HAD to bump this... I have more than one friend who pretty much base their lives around the teachings of Kryon and genuinely believe in the Indigo Children "phenomena".

There's some pretty bold statements out there:



Scientific communities in China, the US and other countries are now identifying small groups of infants and children that display rare abilities such as purging HIV, advanced genius and psychic/telekinetic abilities and other extra-ordinary attributes

"Purging H.I.V"??????????

:eye-poppi :D

Well I guess they’ve never seen how that movie ends.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Carpenter%27s_Village_of_the_Damned

[Eos of the Eons]

WTF do they mean by "purging HIV" exactly?

[Burning Beard]

WTF do they mean by "purging HIV" exactly?

I think they're just trying to sound sciency... other accounts I read said they were resistant to HIV. It'll probably be different wherever you look.

One of my friends who is into this garbage has just had a kid. Here's hoping he doesn't think she's one too :boggled:

[Eos of the Eons]

Purging sounds pukey, not sciency :bgrin:

[terry_leopard]

A lot of those points fit me very well apart from the psychic / angels one, and the inability to concentrate on tasks, but some of them are clearly just rainbow type statement that fit nearly everyone.

like

24. Sexually are very expressive and inventive OR may reject sexuality in boredom or with intention of achieving higher spiritual connection. May explore alternative types of sexuality.

Aren't the only people that don't fit this rule those that are sexually active, but think they are really inexpressive and uncreative in bed?

15. Anger at rights being taken away

No! :eek: Most normal people just love their rights being taken away

Now I'm half worried that I might be an Indigo person........ maybe that's why I don't tan well.

As a side note, I have filled out quite a few online psych tests over the years that have told me I have BPD, but I seem to function well enough, so I've never really worried about it.

[Wolrab]

My son is a fuchsia child.

[XLDS03]

The ultimate child isn't Diamond, it's Rainbow. (Doreen Virtue.) Although Diamond would be better. Rainbow children are literally gods on Earth. So, watch out for the next wave of super-brats.

My parents didn't believe in discipline. Although I wasn't an Indigo, I was still "special". And when I turned into a screwy teenager, they drugged me up with brain pills. I have confronted them and have been told that it's my own fault. They were only doing what I wanted.

I wonder how many of these now-adult "Indigos" are currently undergoing therapy to correct their parents' enlightenment.

[ugot2bekidding]

This makes me very sad. Parents are so desperate to believe that their children don't have problems but are instead special and gifted, even though others don't realize it.

I was watching a show on kids that see ghosts. The interviewer asked the mother if she had taken her child to see a Psychologist. The mother's answer was "no, I don't want my child to be labeled". So, instead, she humors and reinforces her child's delusions. Yea, GREAT PARENTING!

[dudalb]

Well I guess they’ve never seen how that movie ends.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Carpenter%27s_Village_of_the_Damned

And they could stand to read Arthur C Clark's "Childhoods End" as well.

[scarlettinlondon]

bottom line at the moment is that


ADHD equals Indigo Child
Autism/Severe language disorder equals Crystal child


These people make my life a misery, literally


Educational Psychologist

[Tiktaalik]

And they could stand to read Arthur C Clark's "Childhoods End" as well.

Or Bradbury's "The Veldt"...

[Burning Beard]

Now they're whinging about the Wiki entry: http://www.indigochild.com/wikipedia.html

[Eos of the Eons]

Their information about ADD and "ADHT" is even worse!

[MysteryMammal]

Wow. That list of traits is so specific. I guess I'm one of those rare Indigo people. Do I get bonus points for liking the music of the Indigo Girls? :rolleyes:

I'm in the process of asking some friends to review the list. I'm guessing that most, if not all of them, will feel that the list of traits totally fits them too. But, hey, at least we get to feel that we're special and unique snowflakes until we realize that the traits are so general and vague as to apply to a good percentage of people.

[Burning Beard]

Their information about ADD and "ADHT" is even worse!

That's dangerous talk too, people are really getting sucked into it. I really hope this friend of mine doesn't get too stupid with this stuff or I'm really gonna have to pop his bubble.

To quote Bee...

One of my family members who works in a school is having difficulty with a child who's parents refuse to discipline him because they claim he's an 'Indigo Child' and they are trying to 'nurture' this side of him.

That's woo gone wrong right there :boggled: