fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
The Calm After The Storm
By: Justine L
Tags: Autism, Working From Home, Sensory Overload, Self Care, Mental Health

Photo by Michael Dam on Unsplash

I could feel the pressure building as I worked my way through 700+ emails after returning from four weeks of leave. Experience should have taught me that this would not be a simple task.

Maybe working from home has made me a bit blase. In my mind I would just saunter into the front room with my morning coffee before casually flicking through emails. But it’s work and it reaches into my private space in a way that was inconceivable before March 2020.

There was already too much going on in my head as I finished my leave. I’d spent too long on an assignment for a freelance writing course. My brain was foggy with confusion and doubt about my writing efforts and the direction I was taking them. Add to this the self-recrimination from not having achieved the mythical list of tasks I’d set myself for these weeks.

Sometimes life is just too much. And growing into my identity as an autistic person has been an exercise in discovering the many different ways it can be too much. I know when it is too much because I am stopped in my tracks by the pain of feeling that I am not enough.

The 700+emails were a portal into a world that has been my work environment for the last 16 years. There is so much that comes with that: as well nuts and bolts of my job and where I need to pick it up, there’s the crushing weight of celebrations, achievements and alliances of colleagues organisation-wide.

The prospect of an impromptu meeting was probably enough to send me plunging into chaos. I now realise that this feeling of powerlessness is my cue to stop and repair.

So I stepped into the bedroom. I lay down on the bed and I breathed deeply. This is something I couldn’t do in the office. For a few moments nothing else existed. There was just four walls and the bland quiet contained by them.

By the time I made my way back to the computer about an hour later, the garish excesses of the morning had fallen away. There was enough space in my head to summon the focus I needed to get on with things. The storm had passed.

What I thought of as simply ‘not coping’ can now be explained in many shades of overload. This morning it was mental overload brought on by an onslaught of information and demands. Plenty of times I’ve experienced sensory overload from my immediate environment. In some ways that’s easier to identify and address. More insidious and persistent is emotional overload that I’ve experienced in darker days.

I’m becoming more aware of the way I interact with the world and what ‘too much’ feels like. I’m also learning that removing myself from it temporarily isn’t not coping, it’s actually the smart way to function in a demanding world.
Polite Sunday
By: Lynn Browder
Tags: Life, Parenting, Autism, Life Lessons, Inspiration

Our autism journey

And so he read and read and read. The river trend continued today. Owen still wanted that same video. But I think he wanted to read with me more. He ate a ton of food throughout the day. We started with biscuits and gravy. I always try to decide if he is left-handed or right-handed. He picked up the fork and ate it using his right hand and just as quickly as that bite was in his mouth he picked up a piece with his left hand and put it in his mouth. I really want him to use the fork but I figure if he gets more in him than on him it’s worth it. With biscuits and gravy, it’s about equal. He was watching a video and singing with it. He paused it and then started singing his scales, all on his own, sitting at the table, in between bites of veggie straws. Today felt like lots of small victories but truly huge emotional moments as well. He wanted to push my buttons but he also had those moments where he couldn’t seem to complete the cycle so he could move on. He got fixated on another video but he couldn’t find the one he wanted so for over two hours he asked me to find the exact same thing. He would then screech at the top of his lungs with his toes slamming the floor. My nerves were shot. The screaming takes a grinding toll on you after a while. So I suggested we read more books. At one point he realized he immediately needed his scooter and he ran to his room to get it. He pushed himself backwards on it for over an hour. I made hot dogs for dinner. He took one bite and ran from it. I knew he liked hot dogs but I didn’t push it. He asked for shrimp so I started cooking them. By the time I put the shrimp down for him he had already devoured his hot dog, started on one of mine, and then ate all the shrimp. We finished out our emotional day with him screaming and spitting at me in bed. He asked me, “you happy today” and started crying. My heart rejoices his victories and cries when he cries. All I can do is hold him and pray for a better day. Find your strength, move forward, and know that tomorrow is a brand new day. Smiles to all and donut daze!
Voices of Misophones #8
By: Hear Our Misophonia
Tags: Autism, Misophoniaawareness, Mental Health, Misophonia

>About you:

What is your name and social media handle?

strong_for_jess

Where are you from? And what do you do for a living?

Uk, paediatric nurse

Any other diagnoses you’d like to mention?

Anxiety, depression, eupd and pcos

What are your hobbies?

Reading

Favorite song?

Uhm p!nk

What is something you would tell your younger self to help get through misophonia?

Take a breath and think about what you’re going to say to the person making the noise before saying it. You may seriously upset them.

What is some advice you’d like to give others?

Misophonia is very very real. Don’t beat yourself up for it.

>Questions about Misophonia:

What was your first experience with misophonia and how did you find out it was an actual condition?

Since I was younger my sister would hum and whistle and I would get so mad and shout and hit (as a child) and then my step dad came along in our life and eats so loud I CAN’T sit in the same room when he eats!

How do you cope with misophonia?

I don’t cope. I struggle so so much. I’m majorly triggered right now as my step dad has a cold and keeps clearing his throat and I want to sleep at someone else’s house but we are isolating so I can’t so I’ve taken sleeping tablets!

What is the reaction when you explain it to others?

Stop moaning ‘person’ is only eating, coughing, drinking, sleeping.

Why should people take misophonia seriously?

For me it causes what feels like actual physical pain. It’s mentally painful and causes so much stress and anger and distress.

How can day to day life become more accessible for Misophones? (For example: Changes in the classroom, work place or society)

I don’t know but would love to know.

How has misophonia affected your relationships? (Familial, platonic, romantic, work etc)

I can’t eat meals with my family. I have to eat alone. I have to sleep with sleeping tablets because my parents snore.

How did/does misophonia affect your journey through school?

People would laugh at me when I become distressed by teachers tapping the desks or boards or a hall full of people eating

How did/does misophonia affect you at work?

Only when I’m in the staff room with people who eat loudly.

Have you gained any new triggers and/or has the reaction to triggers changed over the years?

I’ve become more and more distressed and bang my head with my hands really hard and cry when I can’t escape the noise.
AUTISM
By: Adebari Adeola
Tags: Autism

Toyin Odunuyi, a friend of mine is trying to raise awareness for autism in Nigeria. We had a conversation and here’s what she had to say.

“I can’t remember what my childhood was like but I know life was good enough for me not to be worried about anything, at least not yet. Of course, while you grow older, things would have to change, or some things might stay the same.

Having to explain to people that my brother is autistic can be draining because they begin to ask so many questions. I once told a friend that my brother has autism and she said “oh he does not look it”. I didn’t even know whether or not to take offense to her statement. I understood that people don’t know enough about it. I can’t blame them, there was a time I was also ignorant about the topic.

A few months ago, I started writing a tell-it-all book on autism which I plan to launch on the 28th of December 2020 but seeing as Nigerians do not engage so much in reading, I decided to work on a documentary. This documentary film could help to spread awareness of autism and other developmental disorders. I felt the film would reach a larger audience than the book will.

In Nigeria, things like autism are blamed on spiritual forces and by the time reality sets in, it might be too late for basic treatments. It is not easy taking care of autistic people so I do not even blame parents that keep the children in institutions for disabilities. It can be draining, but there are a lot of things special about these individuals.

It is important to create awareness because there are a lot of people out there that need help, especially in the rural areas who might not know how to address the matter. The government needs to get involved in the awareness and management of special needs. The private institutions provided for these individuals are really expensive and we cannot blame them. I’m not saying they make services free, I’m saying they make things better. We, as a country need appropriate services.

The Nigerian media does not put these disorders out there for people to learn about so I hope my documentary will help change the perception of autism in the country. But it would be nice to see a film on autism or cerebral palsy.

I plan to use the money from my book launch to fund the documentary project, because of the unavailability of sponsors. I have sent emails and direct messages to different people. I have gotten some responses and I am trying to follow up. I also want to use social media to reach out to see if I can get sponsorships from other random people.

The documentary and book have always been a dream of mine. In my way, this is me trying to make my brother’s life better as well as the lives of other children like him. Of course, if everyone understands and accepts these individuals, it would make the world a better place.”
Exploring Autism Spectrum Disorder from an older female standpoint:
By: Saadia Mai
Tags: Asperger, Autism, Autism Spectrum Disorder

Reflection on “Autism is a Gift”. Is Asperger’s syndrome the next stage of human evolution?: Tony Attwood | Australian Story — YouTube

Tony Attwood is a recently retired clinical psychologist in Australia and the first one to see Asperger’s Syndrome as a gift. He notices in a youngster the signs: self-imposed isolation; rigidity; emotionality; and difficulty in reading social situations. He provides parents with the tools to nurture and support the child’s development and how to manage frustrations. Yet he missed the signs in his own son Will, who spun out of control and faced many challenges before his family recognized the signs for help that had been there all along.

Yes, it is true that many living adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder are incredibly brave in coping with the challenges of life. Tony says that Autism is a gift to be enjoyed, nurtured, celebrated! He listed a number of famous persons who were considered eccentric yet incredibly creative, which he identifies as very likely autistic: Einstein; Marie Curie; Andy Warhol; Peter Sellers… Yes, with hindsight, one can see all the signs.

My son recognized himself in the description of Will’s challenges and tribulations. His spirit lifted when he was able to reframe his life story in that new paradigm.
Guess who writes the most heartwarming holiday messages ever? My 26-year-old autistic son Diego.
By: Daniella Mini
Tags: Disability, Parenting, Autism, Holidays, Love

Guess who writes the most heartwarming holiday messages ever? My 26-year-old autistic son Diego.

This week, Diego had a Zoom arts and crafts class and the group made holiday cards. The short message for each card reflected his unique relationship with the recipient.

To Abuela, who brings him pancakes on Thursdays:

Make me pancakes. I love you, Diego

To cousin Eugenia, who lives in Brooklyn:

Hi Eu, I like your apartment. I like Facetiming you. Love, Diego

To his life-long friend and former therapist Caro:

Hi Caro, You like romantic comedies. I like Facetiming you on the holidays. Love, Diego

Diego writes the greeting and the “Love, Diego” part because handwriting is super hard for him and stuff comes out illegible. So I get to take down the middle part of the message, as you can see here:

Shared with Diego’s permission

For more on Diego’s beautiful mind:
Give Friday
By: Lynn Browder
Tags: Life, Parenting, Autism, Life Lessons, Inspiration

Give Friday

Owen didn’t sleep much last night. I think the river was running through his dreams. He woke with the same thing on his mind as it was yesterday. The river. I sit here beyond exhausted but it’s quiet, except for the pulse running through my headache. I have to sit. From five o’clock this morning until nine o’clock tonight it was full-on waves of sounds and emotions. He fell asleep in my arms and I think I probably could have fallen asleep in his. He let me eat a banana today without screaming. He got under the covers when I was eating it, peeking out his head to say, “you done you not done” numerous times. Then he said, “throw it in the trash” and I told him sure, that he could throw away the skin for me and he did. This meltdown worthy food has been a rollercoaster ride for years. Today was a big step. I wouldn’t even think about pushing it if he didn’t love the taste of them so much. Yesterday he had a banana smoothie and drank the whole thing down. As long as he doesn’t see it he’s fine with them and as much as he loves the taste I keep trying different ways for him to be fine with the actual banana. “River” was his focus today but momma wasn’t gonna play today. I got my serious mom face on when he tried to push my buttons. It’s amazing actually how far that got us. I deleted YouTube from his tablet. He was able to spell YouTube in the App Store and get it back. Score one for Owen. Then I wouldn’t look up the river video for him so he spelled it all day long. And the date right along with it, not only on his tablet but on the tv too. The dude had a big appetite, I guess from having to type all that stuff out because he asked for shrimp three times and ate every single bit of what I made him. We both had our share of emotions today but he was much calmer and the more I stood my ground the more we both grew. Let’s see where the river lands us tomorrow. Follow your heart, make your dreams a reality, and never forget that tomorrow is a brand new day. Smiles to all and donut daze!
Was Thursday
By: Lynn Browder
Tags: Life, Parenting, Autism, Life Lessons, Inspiration

Was Thursday

I want so bad to focus on the good for the day but the river ran through it. Owen found this five-second video of a Disney clip that someone posted. All the description had was the date and I tried to explain to him that YouTube would not understand what we were looking for when I used the voice-activated option. Next, I told him that we had to look at who posted it. This lead to hours upon hours upon hours of him repeating the word river. After me saying the title and the name of the person that posted it he then wanted to hear it every five seconds, as soon as it ended. The word “river” was part of the person’s name that posted it. This is one of those things that he saw it pushed my buttons. He also was compelled to watch the video because it gave him the sensory stimulation he was wanting but I could see the extra twinkle in his eyes as he asked me so many times. I have to walk that fine line of not letting him see what gets to me as well as not pushing him to get upset or have meltdowns if I do get upset about something. He knows how to look things up on YouTube he even wanted me to spell everything out for him so he could enter it into the search bar instead of me trying to find it with a voice-activated option. He got on the tv, went to YouTube there, and then searched for it by typing it in. At one point I told him I’d set a timer and when the timer went off I would look it up again. This lead to him standing an inch from my nose yelling, “when the timer goes off”. So today I learned that you can literally say the word “river” more than sixty times in sixty seconds for five hours. He did breathe and eat but otherwise, he wanted to watch the five-second video. I’m not sure if one of us learned a lesson today but I’m exhausted nonetheless and he fell asleep quickly. He wanted to follow no directions or work on any projects tonight. Some days we get through it. I held him a lot. I tried not to show my emotions and explain to him that we were a team and we needed to support and love each other. And that momma sure was cranky. He said, “are you happy today”. No matter what my sweet baby O teaches me the lessons I need to learn and grow from. Find your happiness, be excited for the tomorrow yet to come, and know that you make a difference. Smiles to all and donut daze!
Better Together: A Journey Through Madison Fields
By: Heirloom Cloud
Tags: Autism, Memories, Charity, Family, Digitizing

Heirloom is all about connections. We connect you with your photos, videos, and other cherished memories. With cloud technology, we better connect families by providing shared access to these treasures. But we also believe in connecting disadvantaged adults to rewarding employment. That’s why every digitizing order in 2020 generates a $10 donation to the Madison House Autism Foundation.

What is Autism?

Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by difficulties with social interaction and communication. There are helpful therapies, but no known cure. Autistic individuals present a spectrum of behaviors, sometimes favoring repetitive actions. Some on the spectrum have exceptional levels of perception, attention, and memorization. However, autistic adults in the United States suffer from 80% unemployment, often because of their limited connections to the neurotypical world.

What is Madison House?

The mission of the Madison House Autism Foundation is to create awareness of the lifespan challenges of autistic adults and their families. This includes finding, developing, and promoting the solutions that allow adults with autism to make choices, live as independently as possible, hold jobs, feel connected to their communities, and become participating members of our society. This 501(c)(3) non-profit operates Madison Fields, a working farm in Gaithersburg, Maryland where autistic adults receive job training.

Geoff and Nancy Weber discuss job training at Madison Fields

Heirloom thanks Madison Fields for providing a tour of their exceptional facilities. They are a model for connecting autistic adults to job training and employment. Heirloom believes we’re better together, and is pleased to make a $10 donation for every digitizing order received in 2020.
After thinking of your critique of that film, it seems to be more emotional about Forrest's…
By: Ray Gibson
Tags: Autism, Conservatives, Forrest Gump, Entertainment, Propaganda

After thinking of your critique of that film, it seems to be more emotional about Forrest's disability (and yours) than rooted in reality. You seem angry about this fictional film. The first time I saw it, I kept saying, "Oh, nobody can have that kind of dumb-luck." I thought nothing of his disability. I kept thinking about how all those things could never happen to one person; nobody has that kind of luck.

But then, I'm not autistic; I'm neurotypical. These words people keep creating are starting to annoy me (hahahaha). Neurotypical ... SMFH. I thought the character was silly to think nothing of the important things going on around him, but not once did I think of the writer who made him that way.

I've got a huge chip on my shoulder about being an elder who experienced things during Jim Crow and am experiencing those very things in the 21st century. I’m pissed, too. But, I know it! And, you've got a huge chip on your shoulder for being autistic. Own it; it will give you power in the matter.

You did make me rent The Shawshank Redemption; I kept forgetting to put that on my wish list of movies to see. For that, I thank you.
Too Wednesday
By: Lynn Browder
Tags: Life, Parenting, Autism, Life Lessons, Inspiration

Too Wednesday

Owen slept a little better last night, woke early but immediately went back to sleep. I think I’m still in sleep mode from yesterday. He had a pretty calm day. I felt on edge most of the day. His words were great and kept coming. And I felt like he was making a lot of connections to those words. He fell off his yoga ball and he said, “be careful”. Earlier he asked, “is it pair of shoes or parachute”. I thought that was very clever. Some of his words don’t always associate with the object or meaning he is trying to express so when he comes up with words and phrases on his own it’s very cool to me. Even if some of the words he is using are from other things I’m still impressed. He ate a lot of food throughout the day. I keep trying new foods or expanding the choices that I give him. He had a cheeseburger and he’s had them before but tonight he ate it with ranch dressing. I asked him if he wanted to try the “sauce”. I made him try a bite and then he asked me to put the sauce on each bite. It’s important to me to get him to try a wide variety of foods. He does pretty well with it but sometimes we still have to work through the process. He played a lot with the laptop and off and on it went. He is truly amazing when it comes to learning technology. He took his bath and he was really tired as he got into bed. The fake snoring commenced almost immediately. “I gotta go to sleep”, he said and then, “you gotta go to sleep”. It wasn’t much longer and he was. His smile made my day, his laughter filled my heart, and his words made me rejoice. Find your inspiration and watch your world grow. Smiles to all and donut daze!
Jump Into Tuesday
By: Lynn Browder
Tags: Life, Parenting, Autism, Life Lessons, Inspiration

Jump Into Tuesday

When you want to cry but you have to remain strong, that about covers my day. I was screaming on the inside and crying on the outside but I’m giving myself credit for coping. Right now we are all in challenging times. We all have a story that is changing daily. And we all would like a moment of calm. Owen doesn’t understand what is going on in our world. Heck, how can I even explain it to him when I don’t completely understand how this is all possible. He was watching a video on his tablet and he randomly said, “I want spring please”. I’m not really sure what it was in reference to but I thought spring is the new awakening every year and as daunting as our daily lives are I should still be thankful for the little things. Owen hugged me more today than he normally does, which is generally a lot. He probably knew I needed it. Or maybe he needed it. Either way, I was thankful. His reading is coming along beautifully. He is getting more and more frustrated with the voice-activated option and he is learning to spell the words he wants into the search. I remind myself once again the doctors told me he might not talk. Not only is he talking but he is soaring. He pulled up YouTube on the television and he was searching for the video he wanted. He had to arrow through each of the letters. I wasn’t watching him at first and then I started hearing him say letters out loud as he was finding them on the letter grid. The progress was amazing and I thought what a gift it is to be able to see this unfolding. When we came home today as soon as we turned on our street he started saying the name of it. This was the sprinkles on top of that hot fudge sundae kinda day. I dream of life skills for my sweet baby O and they are getting stronger every day. Never give up. Keep pushing forward, dream big, be inspired, and be the change. Smiles to all and donut daze!
This really clicked with me!
By: Ellie Jane
Tags: Logical, Autism, Books, Organisation, Autism Spectrum Disorder

This really clicked with me! I have the same issue, well not exactly the same. I’m a classics student (I study Ancient Greece and Rome), and while Homer is deemed a classic, I have always felt weird putting all my so called classics together especially something like ‘the old curiosity shop’ and ‘the Iliad’. Some people have said to put my more historical classics: Homer, Herodotus, Thucydides, etc; with my history books but that also feels really wrong. They’re beautiful pieces of literature some of them written 2000+ years ago, to me they don’t belong with text books written a maximum of a century ago. But they also don’t belong with the ‘classics’ of the 18th and 19th century, which I have quite the collection of.

It’s a real dilemma mainly because I often wake up at night thinking about reorganising my bookshelves, just because of that one issue.
Bounce Monday
By: Lynn Browder
Tags: Life, Parenting, Autism, Life Lessons, Inspiration

Bounce Monday

The overwhelming sensation of being overwhelmed was overwhelming. Owen slept all and for that I was thankful. Off he went to school after I had tried to prepare him for the rest of his day. He was going to a physical therapy evaluation after school. This meant I would as picking him up a little early instead of him riding the bus home. This was the first part that was hard on him because he loves his routine and he loves riding the bus. The therapy place was about forty minutes away so this caused him to have anxiety about all the red lights that weren’t green and any slow down on roads that I had to turn on. I tried again on the way there to explain to him what was going to happen but how do I even prepare him when I wasn’t a hundred percent for sure myself. The place was a lot bigger than I expected. When we walked in there were doors everywhere. This was hard for him to process. Some were open, some were closed and then we got to the slider window to be checked in. That was too much for him. The receptionist left it half open, several times. This was several times too many for him. I could feel his anxiety increasing by the moment. He was distracted by the cartoon that was on the tv but he wanted Mickey Mouse so as much as it was good it was still hard on him. There were too many people coming and going for him. A little boy was crying and we still “had to wait our turn”. When the therapist came to get us we went to a room. He immediately started saying he needed to go potty but that is code for I want to run around this place and not be in here. I could tell by the gleam of his eyes and he uses it a lot to get out of sitting at the kitchen table. The evaluation kept him in high gear. Spitting, biting, pulling my hair, and numerous other things kept me on the emotional rollercoaster. The therapist understood but it’s still tiring and hard. My sweet baby O is incredibly strong, flexible, and has amazing balancing skills that show such stamina and body awareness but when you look at the big picture he has low muscle tone and no understanding of his surroundings or how his body works. After the first part of the evaluation, the therapist wasn’t sure if he needed physical therapy but once she saw how he handled the steps she could tell he would benefit from it and not just occupational therapy. I left there drained and he left hyper. He screamed the whole way home and all I could do was think I wish it wasn’t so hard on him. The rest of our night he was still very overstimulated but the session completely wore him out. He was asleep quickly and this momma has sat since then reflecting on our day. I dream of tomorrow because I know that it will be a better day. We grow, we learn, we love. Don’t let today stop you from seeing the bright spot of tomorrow. Smiles to all and donut daze!
Self-Care Assessment for Special Needs Parents
By: Jackie Schwabe, Mba
Tags: Autism, Caregiving, Special Needs, Self Care, Assessment

Caregiving Circus

Self-Care Assessment for Special Needs Parents

Assessment Questions

PART 1

Can you make and take time for yourself without feeling pangs of guilt?

Yes ____ No ____

Are your leisure activities a priority in your life?

Yes ____ No ____

Do you know what your needs are?

Yes ____ No ____

Do you take care of your needs and desires?

Yes ____ No ____

Do you regularly take some time for “me time”?

Yes ____ No ____

Do you feel okay about sometimes slowing down?

Yes ____ No ____

Do you understand the difference between self-indulgence and self-care?

Yes ____ No ____

Do you feel as though you deserve self-care?

Yes ____ No ____

PART 2

Do you say yes to requests from others when it is best for you to say no?

Yes ____ No ____

Do you constantly worry about everyone else, and not about yourself?

Yes ____ No ____

Do you do things that you really don’t want to do, or that will overextend you?

Yes ____ No ____

Are you running on empty?

Yes ____ No ____

Are you stressed out a lot of the time?

Yes ____ No ____

Are you overwhelmed?

Yes ____ No ____

Do you suffer from headaches?

Yes ____ No ____

Do you suffer from insomnia?

Yes ____ No ____

Are you chronically tired and have a lack of energy?

Yes ____ No ____

Do you crave and eat junk food often, and especially during times of stress?

Yes ____ No ____

Score Your Results

A) Part 1

Each NO answer = 1 point

Each YES answer = 0 points

Add up your score for Part 1

Total Score Part 1: ___________

B) Part 2

Each NO answer = 0 points

Each YES answer = 1 point

Add up your score for Part 2

Total Score Part 2: ___________

C) Add up both scores for Part 1 and Part 2

Total Score Part 1 + Part 2 = _________

RESULTS

If you scored 6 or more points, you can benefit from addressing your self-care practices and making a self-care plan.

The higher your point value, the more imperative it is that you address your self-care needs. If you need support, let me know.
Sophie,
By: Keira Fulton-Lees
Tags: Autism, Neuroscience, Neurodivergent, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Psychology

For this story, I have one quote that helped me accept my diagnosis and gave me a sense of validation and answered all my conflicts of how to identify myself with the diagnosis…

The quote:

“Unlike other Mental Health Conditions, Autism is unique in that it is not about what you have. It is about who you are.”

Autism is so deeply ingrained into our very being that there is no separating the two. This is the basic reason neatly everyone in the Autistic Community prefers Identity-First language.

This is in direct contrast to the Mental Health System, who not only prefer Person-First language, but they are mandated to use that type of language in all official documents they write.

This preferemce is reflected by the usage of the term “Autism Spectrum Condition” as trending in more progressive and cutting-edge countries such as Australia, the UIK, Sweden, the Netherlands, the UK, and more. Autism is in fact not a Mental Healh issue in any way. We don’t have the too often ableist terms such as “deficits or “limitations”. What we have is differences.

After all, MRI studies have found that the Autism Brain is wired radically different that the neurotypical brain, all the down to the cortical networks and neuron and synaptic junction connection levels. In some neuron connections, the neuron density is much more dense, and in other regions either absent or much less dense.

Even the mass of the different organ regions of the brains of those with Autism are different in mass. Some organs are larger, such as the Prefrontal Cortex, and some organs are smaller in mass, such as the Amygdala, which is maladaptive in those with Autism.

I would even go so far to say that:

“Autism is not just a different type of human, but a more evolved and more specialized species of human being.”

And there are many peer-reviewed studies that support my theory.

Wrong Planet indeed!

So, you know what to do now!

You are ready to join my team!

Simply email me at the email address below…
Face It Sunday
By: Lynn Browder
Tags: Life, Parenting, Autism, Life Lessons, Inspiration

Face It Sunday

Owen slept a little better than he did the night before but he still woke several times. I stood in my kitchen and he started yelling because I wasn’t sitting. He kept yelling. I was getting coffee. This did not please him. Maybe I can find a way to put a siphoning hose from the coffee pot to the living room so I can sit constantly. I have to make myself laugh because crying is way too easy. Some days are harder than others for him, for me. He wants me to do what he wants. There are days I go about doing activities and he has no problem with it and then there are other days the more I attempt to do things, like not sitting, it becomes an avalanche of emotions and no matter what I do at that point the meltdowns will be never-ending. Today’s example was his tablet went flying across the room. This is something that does not happen often anymore and when it does we go through many steps before he can have his tablet back or whatever else he threw. I tell him that I understands his emotions are very important but throwing his tablet or screaming is not something we do. We work on breathing techniques, counting, and relaxing before we move forward. I want him to find coping skills that work for him when his world is turning upside down. We are also working on ways for him to be able to explain to me when he feels like a meltdown is coming. This is easier said than done because some of them come completely out of the blue and he has no way to connect quick enough to those emotions. We learn, we love, and we grow. I asked Owen what church meant to him. He replied, “my name is church I am church you can have church”. I’m thankful that he is learning to express himself and he can tell me what’s important to him. Some days are emotional but the joy comes from seeing the progress in my sweet baby O. Never give up because tomorrow is a brand new day. Smiles to all and donut daze!
Pyaar Kee Power: A Guide to a Strong Mental Health
By: Pyaar Kee Power
Tags: Autism, Awareness, Health, Community, Mental Health

Surround Yourself with Loved Ones

Similar to doing things that make you happy, being around people that make you happy is a great way to lift your mood, and fight depression and anxiety. The people that love you are generally the first to notice if anything is wrong, and will always try their best to help you. Whether you willingly go to them for help, or they feel like they have to help you, your loved ones will always want the best for you.

It is also a possibility, however, that the people closest to you may not understand, overlook the severity of, or blame you for what you are going through. If this is the case, there are other options for you.

The first thing to do is to realize that not everyone will always be able to understand what is going on inside your head. As you may have seen already, some people can make you feel like what you are going through doesn’t matter, or is your fault. This may not always mean they are a bad person, as they could have been raised in an environment that did not value mental health. It is important to not take the blame for what you are going through and to not blame others for their reactions.

If you feel like it may help you, or them, you can help these people get educated on mental health, and the effects it can have on someone. This way they would learn how they were wrong, would be able to help you better, and would also avoid making the same mistake with anyone else who comes to them for help.

Next up, is to help yourself to a good time. Examples of how to accomplish this are given all throughout our article. These tips are meant to be ones that you can follow by yourself, without any stress or difficulty. Practicing the items on this list will take your mind off of not only what is going on inside your head, but also whoever is troubling you.

One more solution to this issue is to find help from some other source. Finding a depression group, therapist, or another friend/family member are all great ways to let out your emotions in a positive environment. Talking to someone you don’t know (people from depression groups, or a certified therapist) can actually make letting out your feelings easier since you are less worried about facing any judgment.
Blithe,
By: Keira Fulton-Lees
Tags: Autism, Sensory, Sensory Processing, Sensory Overload, Poetry

Blithe,

I really love this poem. As I am autistic, I experience the world with such great sensation and amplitude at times it is unbearable, yet ar the same time, It is an experience of indescribable intense beauty, as I experience life and Sensory Information in such an intense way.

It was interesting that you mentioned the amygdala as that is one part of me that is so dysfunctional that it creates anxiety of the most highest level tolerable by a human being, and still be able to stay alive

In a way it almost seems as if someone with Autism wrote this poem. Are you by any chance diagnosed with any form of Autism?

Thank you for your words...

Sincerely,

Keira Fulton-Lees

Artfully Autistic Advocate for Autism

Creator, Editor, Write, for the Medium Publication:

ArtfullyAutistic – The Beauty of Autism Within the Written Word, Music, and the Visual Arts
Loudly Into Saturday
By: Lynn Browder
Tags: Life, Parenting, Autism, Life Lessons, Inspiration

Loudly Into Saturday

My exhaustion is exhausted. I didn’t fall asleep until almost one last night. By two Owen decided he needed milk and to go to grandma’s house. There was no convincing him that it was still bedtime and we certainly weren’t going to grandma’s house at two o’clock in the morning. When Owen wants something Owen does not let you forget it. He will remind you about every two point two seconds if he doesn’t remind you quicker. I remind him to breathe, count to ten, and offer distractions only for him to state exactly what he wants once again. And I’m exhausted. Me handling the situation correctly means back to sleep, no screaming, and a happy Owen. Me handling it incorrectly gets him talking about going to grandma’s house all night long, all morning long, and in the car until we got there. When I picked him up he went on to the next phase of our weekend, church. Part of his anxiousness and anxiety is brought on by the fact that these routine things, that he absolutely loves, have been taken away from him during the pandemic. I think back to how many times I had to hold my baby, rocking him on the floor because he couldn’t understand how his life changed so much. All of this has been hard on everyone but Owen can’t even begin to understand this. He doesn’t understand when there are any breaks from his daily routine under normal circumstances and then add in a pandemic and what do I even say. He holds on to the things he can and needs to be reassured over and over and over times a thousand every day that he will be going back to school and church and his grandma’s and and and. My heart aches. I’m going to instead focus on the connections he’s making. He brought me his tablet. He read the title under one of the videos and before we could search it the internet went out for a moment. Luckily only for a moment. I closed YouTube and by the time I opened it again, it was working. “There we go”, he said when YouTube popped back on. He hadn’t said as many words today, I’m sure exhausted from his night so to hear the expression, using his words delighted me. Through pure exhaustion I dragged my feet to get him ready for bed, praying that he would fall asleep quickly. He took his bath, got his pajamas on, started watching “the movie” which is really a calming music video, and was out within ten minutes. This momma needed that. As soon as my head hits the pillow I pray I’m asleep too. Luckily the sleepless nights aren’t as common anymore but boy oh boy are they hard when they do. I rejoice in his growth, strength, and the inspiration he gives me to keep pushing forward. Find your voice, share your story, and know that you are important. Smiles to all and donut daze!
Plenty Of Friday
By: Lynn Browder
Tags: Life, Parenting, Autism, Life Lessons, Inspiration

Plenty Of Friday

Owen woke numerous times last night but I was able to get him back to sleep. And then he was up for the day by about five. He always wants me to “sit”. I was going to get coffee and as soon as I got up he said, “sit”. He knew what I was going to do so I said, “what am I going to do” and he said, “get coffee”. I then said, “what am I going to do next” and he said, “sit”. The words kept flowing. Expressions come left and right of his own making now but he still uses the canned phrases we have been working on for years. When he got off the bus he immediately started talking about how many sleeps until he saw his teacher again. He went through his whole routine of the weekend. And he knows he is going to see his grandma tomorrow. He started saying her name in a chant like singsong manner an hour before bedtime and didn’t stop saying her name for two hours. It was pretty much her name and nothing else. If I try to make him stop he screams, if I tell him he won’t see her he screams, if I distract him well there really is no distracting him, so I breathe. He wanted me to give him a big hug while he was falling asleep. This means he wants my arm over him and he wants me not to move while he flip-flops like a fish out of water in his bed. Every time my arm moves off of him he yells “big hug”. I pray a lot for his comfort and hope that we can find a better way to get him to sleep. So far that does not seem to be the case. I have to focus on the positive side. He’s expressing himself more and able to carry on more conversations with me. For this I am thankful. Today is one moment in time. I see his growth, I know that he is doing amazing things, and I remind him how special he is. Positive words and positive actions equal a positive life. Smiles to all and donut daze!
Ellie,
By: Keira Fulton-Lees
Tags: Suicide, Autism, Autism Acceptance, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Writing

Ellie,

I was so very touched by this story on a very personal level. I have a sister who is one year older than me and she has never accepted me as being Autistic my whole life.

But I understand the bond you too had. For me, it was my younger brother who was the only person in my family that understood me and we could talk on the same level without any conversation difficulties.

When you mentioned your brother Kirk, it brought me to tears as my brother took his own life.

What saddens me so much is that I know now he was Autistic too, but he never knew, and was never diagnosed. I was diagnosed with ASD years after I lost my brother. After my diagnosis and in doing research, I realized then all the Autistic traits that my brother had.

I came upon an intake form to a psychiatrist while going through some old papers of his to store away. In the intake form he writes in detail about having no social skills and generally everything that you would expect to see on an intake form of someone who is suspected of having ASD, or has been diagnosed with ASD.

It was a wake up call and made me understand why we got along so well. When I lost him, I lost not only my brother, but I also lost my best friend and the only person in my family I could truly talk to without any communication problems whatsoever.

I cannot help but think that had he known he was Autistic, he would still be here today.

Thank you for your words…

Sincerely,

Keira Fulton-Lees

artfullyautisticpublication@gmail.com

Creator, Editor and Writer for -the Medium Publication:
Rules About ADVISING OTHERS
By: Slavinka Mila Smilaz, Slavomila Zachova
Tags: Why, Quotes, Expla Quote, Advice, Psychology

Expla-Quote * OF THE SEASON

A humans psyche is generally as such, that if you advise without any invitation to do so, then it is usually felt as unrespectful and is therefore also not welcome.

Under the circumstances, it comes across more like criticism than advice. And that especially so if the given person you’re advising, happens to be having a hard time.

(~ explamation quote of the season)
30+ Prophet Muhammad Pbuh Inspirational Quotes || Inspirational Quotes About Life
By: Urdu Quotes Lines
Tags: Quotes About Life, Quotes, Muhammad Pbuh, Inspiration

Get new collection of Urdu Quotes on urduquoteslines.com . Here we will share Best Urdu Quotes Lines. Furthermore you also read the Famous Urdu Quotes.
Love messages in hindi|Love shayari in hindi -Best love sms for gf bf
By: Hindi Messages
Tags: Shayari For Love, Quotes, Shayari In Hindi, Sms, Love

Hello guys my name is Shiv Sanga from india
December Journal Excerpts
By: Sunday Newsletter
Tags: Reading, Quotes, Truth, Mind, Philosophy

Perhaps everything is exactly as it should be, and the fact that it doesn’t seem so is due to our limited perception.

Out of all activities, reading perhaps best epitomizes the phrase “double-edged sword.”

Scientists tell us what matter does. Artists and athletes show us what we can do with matter.

Why are you so interested in figuring out how you got messed up? Why you have the neuroses that you do? Who cares why you are the way you are? Wouldn’t you rather know how you can become the way you want to be?

The fact that you’re not there yet doesn’t mean you won’t get there eventually. This simple truth can be quite easy to forget, and is also well worth remembering.

So often, scientists have said a feat was impossible, and been wrong. So often, doctors have said a treatment was safe, and been wrong.

It’s a lot more satisfying to tell people about accomplishments than it is to tell them about your plans.

I love it when people have the willingness to say “I don’t know.”

If the the Buddha really did reach enlightenment, he did so without reading a single page of Buddhist literature. And therefore, so can you.

I’ve never been a huge fan of the new age assertion that our beliefs create our realties. But it is abundantly clear that the beliefs we hold will inevitably have a strong influence on the trajectory of our lives.

Instead of wondering, maybe you should just do it and see how it feels.

It doesn’t matter how many mystical spiritual experiences you’ve read about, until you’ve had one for yourself, you will have some doubt of their validity.

How often have you had your mind made up about actions you wanted to take in the future, but ended up changing it when the future arrived?

If you find doing nothing unbearable, it’s probably a sign that doing nothing would do you a lot of good.
5 Oscar Wilde Quotes for Creatives
By: Gregory D. Welch
Tags: Creativity, Quotes, Advice, Inspiration, Writing

Here’s a life lesson for you: you aren’t always going to get it right. Sometimes, you’re going to mess things up, and sometimes things just won’t work out for you no matter how hard you try.

The trick is to learn what to let go of, and what to hold onto tight.

Learn how to strike that harmony in your life and you’re well on your way to success whatever and however, you define it. But how do you do that? How do you learn to find such harmony as that? You probably won’t like the answer.

Trial and error. Experience. Be bold in your actions, dedicated and determined to your growth, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Just promise yourself you’ll grow from it, no matter what.
MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES-प्रेरक भाव
By: Pankaj Rai
Tags: Motivational, Quotes, Motivational Quotes, Inspirational Quotes, Inspirational

in Change Your Mind Change Your Life