Mental Health
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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 by the film’s sense of humor. I found myself laughing quite literally out loud a number of times in the theater. Beyond its laughs, it was also super creative in turning the Barbie brand into a living world…
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Understanding Autism: Breaking Stereotypes and Expectations
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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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…
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Confessions from the Psych Ward
It’s been three years since I spent a little over two weeks in two different behavioral health hospitals. I’m so grateful that I’m farther along on the journey to being healed and whole than I was back then. I’ve been thinking about the advice I’d give to myself and my family members with everything I…
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I Found My People in Tennessee
This past weekend, I attended the Southeastern Conference for Adults with Autism in Chattanooga, Tennessee. My parents attended a few years ago when I was in the hospital. I was excited about the community and the learning I would experience. I left work on Friday and drove for two hours to Ocoee, Tennessee. I drove…
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Where life began
I’ve wanted to write down what led to my mental health crisis in 2019. I’d graduated from college and was working in my second job as an Activities Director. I wasn’t meeting expectations, and going to work every day felt like a constant reminder of how much of a failure I was. I had…
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Finding Peace & Balance
I’ve always been a planner. I always wanted to know what was next in the line of daily or weekly activities. Not knowing the cause still causes a good bit of anxiety. Adults were often frustrated by my question, “What’s next?” Most were not kind or patient. They didn’t understand what it was like for…
Living on the Spectrum 