#asd positivity

[frankiehasfangs]

haii I just wanted to make an announcement that this blog is a safe space for people with low/no empathy. Just wanna make it very clear that people who act like high empathy is needed to be a good person ARE NOT WELCOME HERE!!! discrimination towards my low/no empathy buddies will not be tolerated.

[occasional-sunshine-for-you]

I love autistic lesbians!

I love autistic gay people!

I love autistic bisexuals!

I love autistic trans people!

I love autistic nonbinary people!

I love autistic asexuals!

I love autistic LGBT+ people!

[1aurel]

if i was born allistic i simply wouldn't do it. rip to my school bullies but im different

[lgb-positivi-t]

I hope all lgbt people with asd know they are loved and valid ❤❤❤❤

[celestialmoonwitch-archives]

Black autistic witches are great pass it on!

Black autistic witch right here 🖤✨

[dysautonomiadventures]

Meltdown vs Shutdown

In autistic people, meltdowns and shutdowns may occur. Here’s what they are, how to identify them, and what to do if someone you know is experiencing one.

MELTDOWN: A meltdown is a period of explosive anger/sadness/rage/fear which may manifest itself through screaming, crying, yelling, and can occasionally include violent outbursts. In younger children, meltdowns are often confused with tantrums. A tantrum is a tactic used by children to achieve a goal, such as getting a toy they want from the store. A meltdown is not a power play, it is an intense emotional point at which the person can no longer cope with what is happening around them. Meltdowns can occur at ANY AGE. This is an important distinction from tantrums, which tend to subside around ages 5-6. For me, meltdowns are triggered when I feel misunderstood, or feel that something in the environment is unfair or illogical. Signs that an autistic person is having a meltdown include: - arguing - screaming/yelling - crying - retreating to a space they feel safer in - if the person is angry during a meltdown, they may insult the people around them - curling up into a ball/ fetal position - going under blankets/ a dark quiet place - sometimes the person may hit/ kick/ scratch anyone who tries to go near them - if the person had a goal in mind which was impeded by others, they might perseverate and continue attempting to achieve that goal

What you should and shouldn’t do during a meltdown: - Allow the person go where they want to/ stay where they want to, unless the place they’re going/ staying presents an immediate safety threat - do not try to rationalize with them or continue any previous argument - bring them a blanket and a water bottle with water in it - if the person has a comfort object bring it to them and let them have it - do not physically restrain or interact with the person unless they CLEARLY indicate a desire for physical touch - only touch or restrain the person if they are in immediate danger and you need to get them away from the situation - stay with the person until the meltdown is over (this may be 15 minutes to 3+ hours so you might want something to occupy yourself while you wait for them to calm down) - however if the person tells you to go away, respect them and leave the room. However you should stay in the general area in case they become self destructive or violent - tell the person that you love and care for them and that you will be with them/ there for them until the meltdown passes

SHUTDOWN: A period of intense emotional/ sensory distress which manifests itself through a period of mental paralyzation. Someone experiencing a shutdown may become partially or entirely unresponsive to outside stimuli or interaction. Internally, the person may be experiencing extreme turmoil and anxiety, so it is important not to ask the person questions, which will make them more anxious and overwhelmed. Signs that an autistic person is having a shutdown: - staring blankly into space/ at one specific thing with fixed, unmoving eyes - a stiff, rigid, unmoving posture - lack of verbal communication

- breathing may be shallow and rapid or suppressed and slow, could be abnormally loud or abnormally quiet - lack of response to outside stimuli ex. waving hands in front of their face (please don’t do that), speaking to them, asking them what’s wrong - sensitivity to loud noise and bright lights (person may cover their eyes or ears)

During a shutdown, here is what you can do to help: - you can quietly and calmly ask the person if they are having a shutdown. The person might not be able to respond, but if they don't then it's safe to assume that they are indeed having a shutdown. - if the person normally likes physical affection and touch, you can hold them/ hug them/ stroke them/ physically comfort them - if the person normally dislikes physical affection and touch, don't touch them - if the person has a comfort object and you have access to it, bring it to them (if the comfort object is more than 10- 15 minutes away from you then it's probably not worth getting because it might not arrive in time to help) - bring the person a water bottle with water in it - stop talking about/ discussing any emotionally stressful topics - if the situation is immediately dangerous, seeing as the person may be unable to move, remove them from the situation as soon as physically possible. You can do this by carrying the person or any other safe method. - try to remove any sources of sensory information. If the room is bright, turn off the majority of the lights. If the room is loud, make it quiet. If the room is too cold or too hot, make it comfortable. In the case of cold, you can do this by covering the person in a non-itchy, soft blanket. - reassure the person that you are there for them. Walk them through what you're doing as you do it. For example, if you're going to get the person water, tell them. If you're going to get them out of the situation, tell them. If you're going to turn off bright lights, tell them. Remember, even if we can't communicate, we can still hear. It's comforting to know what's going on around us.

I think that's just about it, if anyone has anything to add please let me know. I hope that everyone finds this helpful!

[lgb-positivi-t]

hey siri why are ace autistic people so amazing???

[neurotypicalontheoutside]

have been doing the same repetitive motions for the past 3h while studying and my mind and body feels so at peace