To The Person Who Thinks That They Might Be Autistic
To the person who thinks that they might be autistic,
I imagine you have gone your entire life wondering why you are different, why you can’t seem to understand things the way that others can and why everything just seems so hard for you. I’m proud of you for getting this far.
Ways That Autistic People Might Find Comfort
The things which comfort us help us to feel safer in a world which is so far away from being comforting. They help us to make sense of a world in which it feels like everyone speaks a different language to us. They help us to cope with a life which is constantly overwhelming.
Hypo and Hyper Sensitivity in Autistic People
Autistic people tend to be either hypo or hyper sensitive. Hyposensitivity is the under-responsiveness to stimuli. So, someone might not be able to tell if they are hot or cold. Hypersensitivity is the over-reaction to stimuli. So someone might feel hot and sweat even when it’s not that hot.
What I Mean When I Say That “I Can’t Cope With Life” As An Autistic Person
“I can’t cope with life”.
My existence and the world just seem incompatible with each other. There are constant barriers every day that I can’t seem to overcome. The world itself just doesn’t seem like it’s made for me.
What Not To Say To An Autistic Person
“Everyone is a little bit autistic”.
This isn’t true. Someone is either born with an autistic brain or they’re not. Some non-autistic people may have one or two autistic traits, but the difference is the number of autistic traits they have and the intensity of these.
The High Prevalence of Mental Health Problems Among Autistic People
Research shows that 80% of autistic people experience mental health problems during their lives, the most prevalent being anxiety. There is also a high prevalence of eating disorders, OCD, psychosis, depression, among others.
Some theorise that this is because autistic brains are different, making them more susceptible to…
What It Was Like Growing Up Autistic
I’m not sure how old I was when I realised that I was different. I suspect it was at some point during primary school. Perhaps it was when I realised that I had no interest in the things other kids in my class cared about. Perhaps it was when I was bullied for not fitting in. But I do know that I grew up…
The Differences Between Autism and OCD
Autism and OCD have many traits which they can appear to share, or which are difficult to distinguish from each other. The overlaps between the two mean that misdiagnosis is common. People with OCD are four times more likely to later be diagnosed with autism. However, autistic people are also…
Visible Autistic Traits That I Had as a Child
It wasn’t obvious that I was autistic when I was a child. As a result, I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 16, after years of severe mental health problems.
Here are some of the signs of me being autistic which may have been somewhat visible to others:
Why Phone Calls Can be Incredibly Difficult for Autistic People and People with Anxiety
The sound of the phone ringing can immediately evoke anxiety for some people, especially for autistic people and people with anxiety. If the call hasn’t been agreed in advance, many of us find ourselves simply unable to answer it and let it go to voicemail. Why is this?
Less Spoken About Autistic Traits
Some autism traits are spoken about a lot. Others, not so much, even though they still affect our daily lives. So, what are some of these less spoken about autistic traits?
Face blindness. This is where somebody struggles to recognise other people’s faces.
My Journey Of How I Found Out That I Am Autistic
I was diagnosed with autism when I was 16, after years of struggling with my mental health and finding myself sectioned on a CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) unit.
One evening when I was on home leave from the ward, I sat my parents down at the kitchen table and…
Reasonable Adjustments in Schools for Autistic Students and Students with Anxiety
Schools have a duty under the Equality Act to make reasonable adjustments for students who otherwise are at an unfair disadvantage to their peers due to a disability or mental health condition. It is important to note that students do not need an official diagnosis in order for these to be put in place. A needs-based…
Back To School Advice for Autistic Students
Dear Autistic Students,
Going back to school after the holidays can be very overwhelming and daunting, let alone going back to school after the events of this year. So firstly let me tell you that no-one is expecting you to find it easy.
Autism and Borderline/Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder - Overlaps and Misdiagnosis
From my own experience of being diagnosed with both Autism and Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder, and from many conversations with others in similar positions, I often question the validity and reliability of diagnoses when it comes to Autism and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)…