Today, we have Chris Wells, who is a writer, podcaster, and researcher, with a focus on inner experiences of gifted, complex, and intense people. We discuss:
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- How Positive Disintegration Theory by Dabrowski highlighting the idea that inner conflict and suffering are signs of growth, not illness.
- Chris discusses the complexity and personal impact of discovering Dabrowski’s theory, which challenges traditional psychiatric perspectives by valuing unique personal experiences.
- the loaded term “giftedness” and its implications, how we should have a broader understanding beyond just high IQ
- Chris’s personal journey of self-acceptance, including experiences with ADHD, autism, and identifying as non-binary
- the potential of AI tools like ChatGPT in aiding personal development
About Chris Wells
Chris Wells, PhD (they/them/theirs), is a writer, researcher, and storyteller specializing in positive disintegration, neurodivergence, and personal transformation.
As the founder of the Dąbrowski Center and creator of the Positive Disintegration Network, they are at the forefront of expanding and deepening conversations around Dąbrowski’s theory of positive disintegration. Their work bridges academic research, qualitative inquiry, and public testimony, using autoethnography and lived experience to illuminate the complexities of personality development.
Chris co-hosts the Positive Disintegration, cosmic cheer squad, and PDA: Resistance and Resilience podcasts, and writes on Substack, where they challenge misconceptions, clarify theory, and provide insight into the lived reality of developmental transformation. With a background in qualitative research and autoethnography, they are committed to using personal storytelling as a means of collective healing and self-discovery.
As a thought leader in the gifted and neurodivergentcommunities, Chris actively works to correct misunderstandings about overexcitabilities, giftedness, and the role of trauma in transformation. Their presentations and writings advocate for a broader, more inclusive understanding of positive disintegration, moving beyond existing models to embrace a more nuanced, relational, and embodied perspective.
The Positive Disintegration Podcast
Stop Pathologizing Your Intensity – The Journey of Becoming with Chris Wells
Chris Wells has an impressive, unique and dynamic career. They are a writer, researcher, and podcaster whose passion for understanding the inner experiences of gifted, complex, and intense individuals has shaped their career. In this conversation, Chris shares their journey, their work, and their insights into Dabrowski’s theory of positive disintegration, a revolutionary framework for understanding personal growth through inner conflict and suffering.
Chris Wells describes themselves, first and foremost, as a writer. Writing is their passion, a means of exploring and honoring the inner experiences of gifted and intense individuals. But their work does not stop there. They are also a researcher and the host of multiple podcasts, each offering a unique lens on the complexity of human experience.
Their first podcast, Positive Disintegration, delves into Dabrowski’s theory of positive disintegration. This podcast explores how inner turmoil and conflict can lead to personal growth and transformation. Chris has also launched two other podcasts: Cosmic Cheer Squad, which encourages anti-authoritarian thinking and critical reflection on societal issues, and PDA Resistance and Resilience, which focuses on the challenges and strengths of individuals with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA).
Chris’s journey with Dabrowski’s theory of positive disintegration began in middle age, at a time when they were searching for answers about their own experiences and those of their son. The theory reframes inner conflict and suffering as signs of growth rather than pathology, and it was a revelation. Chris had spent years being pathologized by clinicians, and pathologizing themselves, for their intensity and sensitivities. Discovering Dabrowski’s work offered a new lens through which to view their experiences, one that emphasized growth, self-acceptance, and transformation. “It was like finally being seen for who I am,” Chris reflected. “Realizing that these experiences of inner turmoil did not mean I was broken. It meant I was becoming, growing, and developing.” It took years for Chris to overcome their own internalized ableism and fully accept themselves. But the journey was transformative, and it is one they now share with others through their podcast and other work.
A recurring theme in Chris’s work is the complexity of giftedness, a term that is often misunderstood and, for many, carries a certain stigma.
“Giftedness is so much more than just achievement,” they emphasized. Giftedness encompasses more than intellectual ability. It can manifest emotionally, spiritually, physically, or even in leadership. However, societal misconceptions often reduce giftedness to academic or professional success, overlooking its deeper, more personal dimensions.
Chris also acknowledged the fraught history of gifted education, particularly in the United States, where access to gifted programs has historically been inequitable. This history complicates the term “gifted” and contributes to the discomfort some people feel about using it. The relationship between giftedness and IQ is another area of interest for Chris. They noted that while high IQ is often associated with giftedness, it does not capture the full picture.
At the core of Dabrowski’s theory is the idea of multi-level development, a process in which individuals discover and operate from their own hierarchy of values, rather than simply adopting the values of their social environment. “Most people,” Chris explained, “are in a uni-level process, where they are influenced primarily by their social environment. But those who engage in multi-level development create their own values and operate from them.” Multi-level development is driven by what Dabrowski called “dynamisms,” psychological forces that propel growth. These include feelings like guilt, shame, and dissatisfaction with oneself, as well as more complex processes like empathy and inner transformation. Chris shared how these ideas resonated with their own experiences, particularly their long-standing tendency to live in their imagination, a trait often pathologized by therapists but reframed by Dabrowski as evidence of striving for a higher reality.
“Not everyone with high IQ have over-excitabilities, you say? Right. I think that the connection with intellectual over-excitability is probably almost always there if you have a high IQ, but not emotional, not the others.”
“You can be emotionally gifted, you can be spiritually gifted, you can be physically or athletically gifted. You can be a great leader.”
More on Positive Disintegration
The theory of positive disintegration challenges conventional views of mental health and personal development. Proposed by Polish psychiatrist Kazimierz Dabrowski, it suggests that psychological distress and inner conflict can be essential catalysts for personal growth. Rather than pathologizing these experiences as mental illness, Dabrowski’s theory sees them as indicators of an individual’s potential for higher development.
At the core of positive disintegration is the idea that personal growth requires a period of disintegration, where existing mental structures and belief systems break down. This isn’t inherently negative – it’s a necessary step toward reintegration at a higher psychological level. During this phase, individuals experience heightened sensitivity, emotional intensity, and existential questioning. These overexcitabilities, often misunderstood, actually drive the achievement of a more authentic self.
Dabrowski introduces dynamisms – internal developmental forces that propel individuals toward self-improvement. These include empathy, guilt, and personal responsibility. They act as internal motivators, helping people align with their values despite societal pressures. These dynamisms are crucial for navigating positive disintegration and achieving higher personal development.
The theory provides a solid framework that helps us understand giftedness and neurodivergence in personal development. Those with heightened intellectual, emotional, and imaginative capacities are particularly prone to positive disintegration. This challenges traditional notions of giftedness that focus solely on achievement and intellectual capacity. By acknowledging the complex inner experiences and existential struggles accompanying these traits, Dabrowski’s theory offers a more comprehensive understanding of personal development.
Dabrowski’s theory demonstrates that growth often emerges from disintegration, which is incredibly hopeful and beautiful.
Imi Lo is a mental health consultant, philosophical consultant, and writer who guides individuals and groups toward a more meaningful and authentic life. Her internationally acclaimed books are translated into more than six languages languages and sought out by readers worldwide for their compassionate and astute guidance.
Imi's background includes two Master's degrees—one in Mental Health and one in Buddhist Studies—alongside training in philosophical consulting, Jungian theories, global cultures, and mindfulness-based modalities. You can contact Imi for a one-to-one consulting session that is catered to your specific needs.