Socialization isn’t easy for most of us on the autism spectrum. Every interaction is fraught with unspoken cues that we may miss, having to watch the tone and volume of our voices, all that social calculus. Often, we try to mask our way through it […]
As the saying goes, clothes make the man – or woman. As autistic adults, we can use this idea to our advantage to give us more confidence in social or overwhelming situations. When we feel good, we can cope better. When we feel at ease, […]
Happy New Year, everybody! I hope you all had the New Year’s celebration you wanted, whether that was at home on the couch or out with friends. About this time every year, people go nuts over making changes in their lives via New Year’s Resolutions. […]
It’s the holidays, and if you think you’re stressed out with all the extra activity, imagine how the autistic kids in your life are feeling! All kids, NT or otherwise, go a little crazy this time of year, what with toys and parties and all […]
Well, it’s already mid-November, which means it’s time to start thinking about your own self-care during the holiday season. In just about a week or so, everyone’s lives are going to get seriously busy. There’ll be family obligations, work parties, and if you have kids, […]
I’m a big believer in stimming. Even before I knew I was autistic, I was always a big stimmer – constantly fidgeting, bouncing, biting things, etc. In general, I think everyone should be free to stim as they like. But I also have a controversial […]
A big part of my autistic experience is the fact that I have no social circuits. I’m just not programmed for social niceties, small talk, chit chat, etc. Over time, I’ve managed to write some scripts for myself, but it doesn’t come naturally. It requires […]
When I first began seriously looking into getting a diagnosis, I spent a lot of time searching for autism symptoms specific to girls and women and one of the most prolific sources I found was Dr. Tony Attwood. I recognize that Dr. Attwood may be controversial […]
Living independently as an autistic adult can be a real challenge, largely due to our executive function problems. Between keeping your home clean, keeping yourself and your family fed, maintaining your own hygiene and laundry, and going to work regularly, it seems like there are […]
Men are notoriously hard to buy for. While lots of guys will tell friends and family not to get them anything for birthdays and keep their requests simple for Christmas, Father’s Day presents its own kind of challenge. When Dad or kids or both are […]
