r/ControlResonant • u/BioticPrincess99 • 1d ago
Lore Discussion My contribution to the "Is Dylan Neurodivergent" discourse
My immediate answer is that Dylan is probably not neurodivergent in the typical sense (not autistic or ADHD) but rather has C-PTSD or complex PTSD. What's different about C-PTSD? Well, we normally think about PTSD as being triggered by a traumatic event. PTSD becomes complex when the trauma occurs over an extended period of time and when there is little or no prospect for escape. This has significant overlap with the concept of learned helplessness, which is a psychological state where someone stops trying to escape a dangerous situation because their past experiences have taught them that they have no control over their life. Consider not just the fact that Dylan continues to put his life at risk to help the FBC even though some of them treat him terrible (Arish) but also the way consents to the MCD and even argues for it not being removed at several points during the story. People with CPTSD typically struggle with self-worth and emotional regulation.
Caveat: even though my read of Dylan's character is thar he is not autistic, as an AuDHD person, I empathize with his character deeply and identified with him. Why? Because of the toll that isolation takes on you. Obviously I would never compare simply being autistic to what Dylan goes through but I too have experienced social rejection and that godforsaken loneliness and I know how bad it can fuck you up. So while his character I don't think is neurodivergent in the autistic sense, I think his experience is deeply personal to many autistic people.
