More than a Rainbow Puzzle Piece

Queer. She/her or they/them. Aspie. Loves all things ocean.

[lgbt-autistic-culture]

Lgbt autistic culture is almost outing yourself because you don’t know where to draw the line when you talk. 

[iamniche]

It is NOT your fault for being unable to read social cues / make eye contact/ other NT skill.

To illustrate this in a metaphor: odds are, you probably can’t do a somersault.

Do you berate yourself everyday over not being able to do a somersault? If you were hanging out with gymnasts would that make you feel bad?

You acknowledge that some people had opportunities and talent and so they learnt how to somersault.

You have skills that other people don’t have. You are valued for your skill. You don’t need to be able to do a somersault. If you want to learn how to, you can, but since you will be catching up years later compared to others, you won’t be able to do it as perfectly and effortlessly as they do. (Even they will make mistakes sometimes!) Just the fact that you are trying is enough.

[zeequeeraspie-blog]

This is a good reminder

[m-h-h-a-a]

Autistic cactus reminding you girls can be autistic too

[m-h-h-a-a]

Autistic cactus reminding you not to touch someone if you’re not sure they want you to

[auroral-autistic]

A stream of consciousness about doubting the validity of my autistic identity:

Okay, some of my doctors think I’m autistic.  At least 2, to be exact.  But then some of my doctors disagree and call my traits symptoms of “Avoidant Personality Disorder.”  Someone online told me you can’t have both.  Is that true?  That doesn’t seem true. But…what if my autistic traits are symptoms that need to be minimized and treated, as opposed to characteristics that should be embraced and celebrated?  There’s a big difference between “treated” and “celebrated”… What if I’m not “#ActuallyAutistic” because I don’t struggle enough with social situations?   I mean sure, social interaction is usually so emotionally taxing that even a couple of hours of it launches me into burnout that takes a week to recover from. Why?  Because I’m so good with social camouflage, of course.  That’s why I get “but you don’t *seem* autistic” a lot.  Or, my personal favorite, “Obviously you’re very high functioning.”  Funny. Stimming? yeah, I do that.  Flapping my hands is my knee-jerk reaction to feeling joy.  I also rock back and forth or side to side when I’m focused.  But…what if I’m only doing that to convince myself (?) that I am autistic when I’m actually not?  Why would I do that?  Is this authenticity? Or am I being fake?  I don’t want to be manipulative. Sensory overload?   Hell yes.  Too many noises at once, combined the stiff fabric of a button down shirt gave me a literal panic attack once.  Okay, I’d never fake a panic attack, especially one during which I became self injurious.   Auditory processing difficulties are common in autistics.  “Sorry, what did you say?”  “Can you repeat that?”  “One more time, sorry.” Then there’s the executive dysfunction.  Like the time just 6 months ago that I took 2 hours to decide what to do for lunch, or the disconnect in my brain when I’m pleading with myself to finish an assignment that’s due by midnight.

But, what if all that’s just like, really bad ADHD?  I mean, I was diagnosed with that when I was 13.  Some people who have ADHD also expereince sensory sensitivities.  Do some people with just ADHD also flap their hands?  Hmm. 

What if the next doctor tells me that my symptoms aren’t “severe enough” to qualify for an actual diagnosis?  What am I afraid of??   Not having the space to declare my truths, again?  Isn’t that just the trauma talking??? 

WHAT IF I’M MAKING ALL THIS UP?

[autistic-culture-is]

autistic culture is when everything in your room has to be Exactly Right There No Don’t Move It

[blueblurry-f4c3]

[aqua-tea-deactivated20180820]

On Discovering That You're Autistic

How Allistics Assume It Went: Oh woe, I am cursed with a defective, inferior brain! No-one must know my shame. Please pity me. How It Actually Went: So there’s a reason I’m this way? And there are other people out there who are like me? BAHAHA this is great! No more forcing myself to act “normal” even in the privacy of my own home! No more guilt over being a “weirdo”! To celebrate I’m going to wrap myself in six blankets, crawl under the table and make cat noises for an hour 🐱

[autistic-space-dragon]

@ other autistic and adhd ppl:

Do you ever find that being very productive comes at a cost of more often than not completely forgetting to look after yourself? Like forgetting to eat, rest, drink, etc…and not even realising you need to do those things for hours until you finally crash?

[happyhandstoys-deactivated20221]

[ojoki-deactivated20190225]

Shoutout to everyone with adhd and autism who’s going back to school/uni, give yourself time to settle in to your new routines and be kind to yourselves, everything is going to be okay

[zeequeeraspie-blog]

Just started school after not being there for a while! Could use all the tips and support anyone has!

[autismus-obscurus]

I have a difficulty remembering to do daily stuff, especially since I have a new game of my special interest. Before getting the game, I forgot to drink water, eat, some personal hygiene etc. But now it’s gotten worse. It’s really hard for to focus on any other thing in my life now. And I’m in the midst of moving city’s. Is this an Autistic thing? If so, any suggestions? Anything would help really

It’s an autistic thing, definitely.

I tend to forget stuff like that as well. I’d suggest setting timed reminders for everything you need to do so you don’t get lost in you SpIn for too long (it’s tempting, I know.) And start to chunk activities - for example, when you go to the bathroom, also drink something and wash your face or whatever you need to do. There’s no shame in using as many reminders as you might need. :)What also helps is keeping stuff like water bottles close by. Apparently many people just have a glass and have to fill it every time, I just keep a 1.5l bottle on my desk. It’s super helpful since I don’t have to get up to drink - getting up and going downstairs can be a huge obstacle with executive dysfuntion involved.

Since you’re moving, having routines is a bit more difficult, but I’d try to establish one as soon as possible. Example: My morning routine is getting up, then drinking something (my water is in close reach of the bed or on the way to the door), bathroom, eating something (just a bowl of cereal will do), then getting dressed. Have as many routines as you can. It reduces the cognitive load needed to do all this stuff.

I hope this helped you a bit, and best of success to you! (I don’t like wishing somebody luck, because that implies what happens relies on chance.) If anyone else has suggestions, please pitch in.

[zeequeeraspie-blog]

This is less of an immediate strategy, but something that helps me is having something to take care of. It probably doesn’t work for everyone but when I have plants, or even like a fish or something my brain is still perfectly fine to ignore my own needs but it’s also like “DONT FORGET TO FEED THE FISH, AND CLEAN THE TANK, AND LOVE THE FISH.”

Usually, getting up to take care of the plant or the fish reminds me that I need those things like water and food too and I have already gotten up so it’s easier to take care of my own needs.

[dangerously-human]

I think one of the things people don’t get about autism (or, probably, disability in general) is that it’s highly contextual. I can handle certain clothes in the right environment, at the right time of the month, and with enough sleep. I can talk to unfamiliar people when I’m around someone whose social energy I can sort of feed off of. I can break routine or ask for help if I’m taking care of someone else. But all of these things have a cost, you know? So if the surrounding elements aren’t exactly what I need, my ability to do the thing (and appear neurotypical doing it) is reduced or eliminated.

[devoteetaka]

Sensory hell:

Gross stuff that gets on your hands when you wash dishes

[esmeriandreamer]

So, I may be wrong, but I’ve noticed something. Most autistic people I’ve read about or spoke to, love cats. Now I don’t blame them, I as an austic person adore cats too. But I may have found a reason why most people on the spectrum like these adorable felines.

Cats and autistic people are very alike.

I mean, think about it.

- Some cats love being touched, some don’t, others in JUST ONE SPECIFIC WAY.

- Cats are most solitary, but will gladly be with one or more creatures they trust. Which can be hard to earn in the first place

- Cats act, in human terms, weird.

WE HAVE CAT SOULS.

We’re not like animals, we’re just.. very alike in my opinion.

[zeequeeraspie-blog]

Just adopted a cat and I agree with this so much! My new cat is so nervous about being in this new place that he’s just searching for corners to sit in—which is basically what I do whenever I’m in new places.

[6kuro]

if ur lgbt and autistic reblog this and tag your gender + orientation + favorite stim + current hyperfixation

4 me its : nb / lesbian / chewing / ninjago

[zeequeeraspie-blog]

nb/queer/rocking forward and backward on my feet/sea otters

[berylliumoxide]

executive dysfunction is like that glitch in the sims 4 where youre telling the sim to do things but they just stand there staring at a wall for ten hours until you reboot the game