Mental Health
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Changes Keep Happening
There’s been a lot of transition in my life lately. Besides navigating some tricky personal issues, I’ve also gotten a new job recently. Both sets of changes occurred at the same time, and I felt as though I was becoming unmoored and the ground beneath my feet was constantly shifting. It hasn’t felt that way…
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Reflections
Beige walls, gray floors, and tired faces: were what greeted me as I entered the hospital. Since I tried to kill myself recently, I had to be checked on every twenty minutes. Naturally, I didn’t sleep well at all that night. I woke up miserable the next day. My roommate hadn’t said a word to…
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The pressure to represent
The answer is yes! I often feel pressure to be on my best behavior so as not to reflect poorly on my demographic groups. I feel the most pressure to represent well when it comes to being a woman and an adult with autism. I feel pressure to represent the autistic community positively because I…
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Autistic Barbie?
This weekend I finally saw the Barbie movie, and I have to say I was VERY impressed with the sense of humor that pervaded the entire film. I found myself laughing quite literally out loud a number of times in the theater. Beyond its laughs, it was also super creative with how it approached turning…
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Conference 2
I’ve recently returned from my second Southeast Adult Autism Conference, held annually in Chattanooga, Tennessee. My boyfriend and I attended as presenters this year, and I really enjoyed it. I definitely want to present in the future. Our presentation was about the seven pillars of self-care and how they relate to people with autism. We…
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Temple Grandin
I might be alone in this aversion, but as I’ve gotten older I’ve grown to dread phone calls (depending on the person, of course). If I know the person well (e.g. they’re family or a significant other) then I don’t dread it, but if it’s in a professional setting it drives my anxiety all the…
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Capable
I’ve been meditating on how the standards for those with disabilities can be different than those without them. I didn’t get my diagnosis until I was well into adulthood, so I was just expected to achieve like my neurotypical siblings. I have to say, when I tell people I have level one, I’m met with…
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Autism is My Superpower
Autism is my superpower. I see patterns in the world others don’t. Where most see problems, I see opportunities and solutions. I welcome everyone because I know what it is not to be welcomed. When you give me the map of what you need, I’ll move the earth to make it happen. I know getting…
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Finding Peace
Rejection is something I feel acutely. The first time I remember feeling like I didn’t belong was when I was in Girl Scouts as a child. All the other girls seemed to just be able to speak the same language. I remember doing crafts to get a merit badge about horses. I was frustrated that…
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Most Wonderful Time of the Year?
The holidays can be a stressful and confusing time, especially when it comes to understanding traditions that don’t make sense to me. As I’ve grown older, my appreciation for the season has increased, but some customs, especially those unique to my family, still puzzle me. My purpose here is to share observations and seek insight…
Living on the Spectrum 