NeurobeautifulI’m autistic – which means I miss what others catch, and I catch what others miss.
I often miss body language, sarcasm, social hierarchies, implied expectations, and the “big picture.”
I often catch visual details, conceptual patterns, logical inconsistencies, and subtle sounds.
Then, facing the consequences of all that I missed and the overwhelm of …
In high school, I learned not to correct how a teacher spells a word on the whiteboard, because it might make them feel embarrassed in front of the class.
In college, I learned not to correct how someone cuts a green pepper, because it might chafe at their lifelong fear of never doing anything right. …
Why did I add a gold infinity sign to my book cover, instead of a puzzle piece, even though my subtitle includes the word “unpuzzling”?
Because autistic people are not puzzles. That symbol has harmed people’s perception of us, causing them to think our actions don’t have logical reasons.
“Unpuzzling” is a word I …
My first book, What I Mean When I Say I’m Autistic, is now available as a paperback, hardcover, ebook, or audiobook!
For autistics everywhere, this is a book to help you understand your brain more deeply, with words you can borrow to describe who you truly are.
For non-autistics, it’s a book to see …
Ways I self-advocate when I need reassurance:
“Please tell me a fact that I already know.”
Doesn’t matter what the fact is – mulling on truth keeps me grounded. Some people count sensory input (things they can see/hear/etc.) to reduce anxiety, but I find it less overwhelming to observe what’s inside me than what’s around …
The most common tips I hear for living your best autistic life are to protect your senses, explore your interests, accept your differences, and ask for what you need.
But there are other, less common tips that also help support autistic wellness. Here are three:
People who experience anxiety often find it helpful to tune into their senses. A common strategy is to notice and name things you can see, hear, feel, and smell.
When my anxiety is brought on by sensory overload, though, that strategy is the exact opposite of helpful. I’m already overly aware of all the things, …