Mental Health
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Family Dynamics Reflected
I’ve always gravitated toward books written by people who cast themselves as the truth-tellers in their families. Curiously, I rarely have the stamina to read these works cover to cover—usually, I just dip in and out, reading or listening to select sections. There’s an undeniable pull to these stories for me, and I think it’s…
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Service Dog Meet & Greet Update
I started on the service dog journey six months ago, and going into meeting my first potential service dog, I was quite nervous. Looking back, I realize I should have asked more questions before the meet-and-greet because I was under the false impression I would be sent home with a dog I didn’t have all…
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I didn’t want to drug my cat
I didn’t want to drug my cat. Let me start from the beginning. Tigger—I call him my grandpa’s cat, but he’s been my cat for almost a year now—came with information passed along as people shared about their darling children: “He plays with the printer paper,” they said, as if it were a harmless, quirky…
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Dreams, Advocacy, and Motherhood: A Personal Reflection
In eighth grade, I was named “Lion of the Week” at my middle school. One question on the form asked what I wanted to be when I grew up. My answer: occupational therapist. Another question, if I remember correctly, was about long-term goals. At that time, I had just learned about an orphanage for children…
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Title: Navigating My Diagnostic Trifecta: Autism, hEDS, and PCOS
For a long time, I wasn’t sure if I was ready to write about all three of my diagnoses—especially the two that have surfaced most recently. The emotional turmoil that followed made it difficult to process, let alone put into words. But now, with some distance and reflection, I’m finally able to share my journey…
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Wandering in the Wilderness: Forgiveness When Restoration Isn’t Possible
Lately, my Bible study group has been focusing on the life of Peter. What strikes me about this biblical character is how his arc is littered with examples that point to the importance of forgiveness. Sunday’s sermon echoed this theme, and I’ve started to wonder if a message is being sent my way. It’s not…
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Hidden Struggles Behind Achievement
With confident self-assurance, one of my friends once announced to me and my parents during a casual high school hangout: “I can sleep through my first period and arrive after the lecture is over—no one takes attendance. I still have an A in that class.” He was talking about his college freshman-level calculus class, streamed…
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The Magical Blanket: How a Simple Change Helped My Sleep with Autism and EDS
I’ve taken some time to process my recent diagnosis of hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), and as I start the journey of seeing different specialists, I want to share more about what that looks like—especially as someone who is also autistic. My hope is to model and talk about ways we, as patients with autism, can…
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Autism-Friendly Career Factors
Choosing a college major or career path is a significant decision for anyone, but for individuals on the autism spectrum—especially those with Level One ASD like myself—it can be especially complex. While excellent quizzes, career counselors, and books can help identify fulfilling careers, I hope this blog post offers a new perspective: practical factors to…
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The Gridiron Disconnect: How Autism and Reality Shaped My View of Football
Growing up, football always felt like a language I wasn’t meant to understand. To my autistic brain, the sport was a confusing, overwhelming wall of chaos. Worse than the confusion, though, was the physical toll. The sudden, explosive noise blasting from the television—the screeching whistles, the roaring crowds, the jarring collisions—wasn’t just loud; it was…
