#autism help

[tunaricebowl]

i don’t know which autistic/adhd/any kind of neurodivergent person needs to hear this but: make a “just in case” bag

this is a pic of mine. it contains:

loop earplugs on the zipper

prescription glasses with a clip on sunglasses attachment

my public transport discount card

a pen

a glasses cloth + wet glasses wipes (which can also be used to clean my hands if needed!

wireless earbuds in case my headphones give out

tips for my apple pencil + silicon covers if i need a different texture/the sound is too loud

a sanitary pad (not for me, as i had a hysterectomy, but i like carrying one around for my menstruating friends)

a pouch with hair ties for when my hair bothers me

autism lanyard (not pictured, as i put it in after i took it)

will i use these every day? not necessarily. but it’s good to have these all in one place in a little pouch so it’s easy to throw into my bag as i use different ones for different occasions. that way i don’t have to think about all these things individually.

it might seem like common sense for some people, but i didn’t think of this until recently. so i wanted to share this in case it could be handy for other people. some more ideas for what to put in your bag under the break. you can make this as big or as small as you like so some ideas may seem a bit big

powerbank + cables (preferably a powerbank that has a LOT of charge)

snacks (do keep an eye on the expiration date)

painkillers/emergency meds (same thing about the expiration date)

sewing kit

deodorant/perfume

mini fan

hand warmers

scissors/nail clippers (for when tags/threads/your nails are bothering you)

tweezers

lucky charm (i have my lucky cat keychain. it just calms me to have)

plushie/stress ball/fidget toy

mints/a mini toothbrush and toothpaste

extra pair of underwear (for if you suddenly need to stay somewhere overnight or if an accident happens)

comb

band-aids + disinfectant

hand cream/soothing cream

soap/soap leaves

similarly, some mini shampoo or mini body wash (again for if you suddenly need to stay the night. there’s probably already some wherever you’re staying but again. this is a just in case bag)

q-tips

chapstick

makeup remover wipes

razors

hand sanitizer/general sanitizer

wet wipes/tissues

foldable bag

ruler/tape measure

this is a lot but keep in mind, these are just ideas. you don’t have to use everything, just pick out which things you think would be handy for you and make your bag accordingly. do feel free to add onto the list if you have any other ideas.

[sprinkleofquirk]

Idk who needs to hear this, but the reason you don’t “seem autistic” as an adult is because you weren’t allowed to be autistic as a child

[mellifluouscountess]

I have a short story about resting.

Last year, at the end of the summer, my hydrangea was starting to wilt and die. When it looked all brown after having bloomed for three months and blessed us with its beauty and scent, my (male) housemate asked me if it was dead.

I assured him it was certainly still alive but the blooms had run its course. It seemed to completely stump him that a plant could not bloom forever. To him, he blooms the entire year (or forces himself to) to achieve his goals even if it makes him a miserable person for himself and others to be around. The idea that some seasons are for resting did not seem to land at all.

Just like how my hydrangea needs to rest during the winter, so do I need to rest.

You cannot expect yourself to bloom all year round. You need rest too.

[my-autism-adhd-blog]

You Can Still Be Autistic And…

Autistic Qualia

[shabbyshoebox]

Texting in theory: communication with friends! So fun! Memes! Talk talk talk! ❤️✨

Texting in practice: Oh god I don't have the energy to reply right now, I'm currently in Task Mode not Talk Mode so there is currently no battery allocated for socializing atm. Oh it's been too long, do they think I hate them? If I reply will I have to stay engaged in conversation for a few seconds? Half an hour? How long will this conversation be? When is it okay to step away and do something else? Will they think I hate them if I go too long without responding again? I don't hate them, I love them, I need to figure out how to do this. What tone did they intend this in? How do I ask what tone they meant without coming across as rude? How can I respond in a way that cannot possibly be construed as passive aggressive/rude/dismissive? I want to stay engaged with the task I'm doing, I don't want to go back and forth and back and forth and back and forth. I really really enjoy it when I'm in the right "Mode" but each notification feels like an obligation. Why does this feel like a chore? I like talking to my friends, why doesn't it feel like talking to my friends? Why do I feel trapped? Why do I avoid people I love? Oftentimes I'm not even "doing" anything when I don't respond, I'm just in "non social" mode. Even if I know I'll enjoy talking once I get started every unopened message feels like a burden. I shouldn't see texts from people I love this way, I should be happy, they want to talk to me and they love me. Why can't I just be normal about this, why can't I stop avoiding every damn thing?

[writerswho]

Please, read!

I’m trying to get my autism and ADHD diagnosis.

I’ve known I’m AuDHD for a few years now, but I had to stop my psychological assessment for health reasons, and because of that I’ve never managed to get my formal diagnosis. I’ve found another place to get the diagnosis, but at the moment I don’t have the full amount.

I need to raise €350.

Before asking for donations, I want to mention that I take writing commissions. All the information about this can be found in this post here.

Or on my Ko-fi, where you can also simply leave a donation (tip).

Please, I really need this diagnosis to be able to sort out my life.

[sadge0]

Any autistics ever been away from home got ant tips?

I'm going on an 8 long "camp" (indoors, in a theatre camp) and I have absolutely no idea what to bring!! I'll be sleeping in a dorm, food is provided at a canteen.

My best friend is coming as my support worker atleast so I won't be alone :3

(Im low-med support needs for reference, if it helps?) (I dont have aac device to bring btw, i use sign language as aac)

Current packing list is weighted vest, headphones, as many fidgets as my backpack fits, and the Muesli bars I like and my Comfort stuffed toy. (Parents handling necessities like clothes and meds)

(Thank you in advance for tips!! I'm so excited!!)

[camoftarakas]

AUTISM TIP!: (sanitation)

if you, like me, wear noise cancelling headphones almost constantly you may have run into the fact that. it can be kinda gross in there :(. your ears get pressed up against and irritated, they get sweaty, the headphones get dirty and gross from your skin. basically, your skin in a closed off environment can make it dank and icky. and headphones aren't made like they're daily apparel, ready to be washed. you can just wipe off the cushions, but the speaker covers are porous. and this reduces the lifespan of your ear skin and the lifespan of your the headphones

nobody likes that. so, i recommend inserting Cotton Rounds into your headphone padding! (like these:)

you may be familiar with them as a product for removing nail polish or makeup. but they are GREAT for sanitarily protecting your headphones. insert one into each speaker cup, and it will ambiently keep your ear environment dry, soften pressure and chafing against the inner cup, and protect the speaker covering from oils, sebum, and dead skin. easy to replace. cheap and accessible. life changer for me, since i have a skin condition.