Mental Health
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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…
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Embracing Fall: Traditions, Gratitude, and Cozy Moments
I keep being told that fall is near or that it has already arrived, which is a lie I’d be much more likely to fall for if I couldn’t hear children playing in the pool from my apartment window. I’m a gullible person at times. As a kid, I almost believed a punk teenager who…
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When Reality Doesn’t Match the Fantasy: Telling My Family About My hEDS Diagnosis
When I received my hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) diagnosis, I walked out of the doctor’s office with a strange sense of validation and hope. Finally, I had an explanation for my symptoms—and, perhaps naively, I imagined sharing this news with my family would be a moment of collective acceptance. I wanted them to know about…
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Loving Pets: No Matter the Breed, It’s About Connection
I almost let out an audible gasp when I noticed the small bald patch on my male cat’s head, right near his right ear. For a moment, I worried he had sudden feline male-pattern baldness. I went to investigate, hoping to get a closer look, but he was less than thrilled and made every attempt…
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Is It a Victory to Drive and Work? Navigating Disability, Accomplishment, and Belonging
I’ve been reflecting on what it means to live with a long-term diagnosis—one I’ve carried since childhood. As I come to terms with this part of myself, I keep circling back to two facts: I can drive, and I have a job. On the surface, these might seem like ordinary milestones, but for me, and…
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My Journey to Applying for a Service Dog
I’m excited to share that I’ve officially begun the journey to apply for a service dog—a step that’s been years in the making, even if I didn’t realize it at first. The first time I learned service dogs existed was on a field trip to a training facility when I was a small child. Back…
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Balancing Work Ethic and Networking in Autism Employment
Growing up, the skill that was emphasized most to me was working hard. Sleep deprivation—even suffering—was acceptable as long as you could say you had worked hard. My dad seemed to pride himself on how little sleep he needed to function. I, on the other hand, would sleep well into the late morning or even…
