NeurobeautifulDo you think in words, pictures, or another way? What comes most naturally, and what else is even possible?
I occasionally think in pictures, but it feels secondary, like illustrations sprinkled throughout a chapter book.
Generally, my thoughts begin as wordless ideas. I draw a conclusion, and am able to act on it, regardless of …
My previous post, about skin picking and hair pulling, was the first time I’ve tackled that subject in my three years of writing about autism. I’ve spent those years looking for connections, experimenting with solutions, and wondering what I could say about those habits that might possibly be useful – so, I’m deeply grateful …
I’ve read enough anecdotes from autistic women to notice a pattern: Many of us pick at our skin or hair.
There’s plenty of advice and support available if you search for “dermatillomania” (a.k.a. skin excoriation disorder) or “trichotillomania” – but not much info about the overlap with autism. So, here’s what I’ve learned through 20 …
I would have made fewer enemies, over the course of my life, if I’d learned this one secret: People feel threatened when you shine a light on their flaws.
By late high school, I had figured out the most obvious applications of this concept: Don’t correct teachers, and don’t point out minor errors in a …
I enjoy feeling feminine. I hardly ever feel that way around neurotypical women, who tend to express femininity in ways that I find unnatural and unpleasant to imitate.
Long nails. Hair in place. Even volume. Smooth, dainty movements. Perfectly timed interruptions. I can’t keep up, and it’s exhausting to try.
You know where I do …
I’m tired of seeing people belittle or outright dismiss the concept of triggers, as if war veterans were the only people to legitimately experience aspects of PTSD.
A trigger, in the PTSD sense, is any event that suddenly and uncontrollably brings back an unbearable memory with full force. It especially applies to seemingly minor events, …
“Thank you for not getting involved in crap – it’s so refreshing.”
Those exact words were spoken to me, in high school, by a popular girl caught up in the latest classroom drama.
I forget how I responded – probably “you’re welcome” – but soon after, I realized something about the seeming compliment: I never …