#asperger women

[autiprism]

[bodymodificationnation]

Good VS Bad Autism Tattoos

Many people in the autistic community view the puzzle piece as a hate symbol because it implies we're not whole people. We're missing pieces and we're problems that need to be solved. Which is why a lot of us gravitate towards the infinity sign instead! It comes in both rainbow (for neurodiversity) and gold! As the chemical symbol for gold is Au.

[greeneyebrunettebambi]

Hello, welcome to my blog! My name is Kylie , I’m 19 years old ! I’m diagnosed with Autism n ADHD n want to share my journey of unmasking .. I just met with my new autism specialist early today and I’m excited that we’re going to work together to help me start the process of unmasking ! I’m going to start posting updates 🩷

[angieblogging]

tips on writing an autistic meltdown?

[karenenewman]

[quixoticclown]

Talking to someone at the club and she mentioned coffee makes her sleepy/she doesn't like loud noises and:

[thekimspoblog]

Demon trying to feed on my insecurities: "You're a bad driver"

Me: "Of course I am. I hate driving. Going 80 mph surrounded by tons of metal is nerve-wrecking. I try to do it as little as possible. Of course I'm bad at it"

Demon: "You're a bad writer"

Me: "Well that part's simply not true. I never claimed I was the greatest author of my generation, but when I put pen to paper I know what I want to communicate and I usually do it well. If someone isn't impressed with my work, that's unfortunate but they're entitled to their opinion"

Demon: "You're a bad leader"

Me: "Well I don't know about that! I mean there was that one time when... Ok look just because people don't see me as an authority figure doesn't mean... 😠 You know you can be a real asshole, demon!"

[ethicallysaucedlibraryfaggot]

Samantha Crafts Unofficial Autism Checklist for AFAB's

I just came across this resource and though I would share it. All but maybe 2 of these things apply to me and it is very validating/eye-opening.

A couple disclaimers:

1. This is not a diagnostic tool, its the result of an Autistic persons gathering and compiling the lived experience of Autistic afabs and so it may be valuable in a clinical setting as well as in ones personal journey.

2. Any reference to intelligence is not exclusive to IQ or academic capabilities or acheivement

3. Craft uses she/her pronouns in this work but as an afab agender person I believe it is relevant to most if not all afab people on with autism (self diagnoses included). I will leave it up to trans women and trans feminine people to decide how relevant it is to them.

4. Craft has historically used the term Aspergers and has a book including that word, she seems to have made some attempts to adjust her language in the present but is choosing not to do so retroactively. This choice does not align with my values and I have taken pains to make sure the version here excludes that language. If one got through, I apologize.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Section A consideration/prolific artist in place of writer and/or both.)

Section A: Deep Thinkers

A deep thinker

A prolific writer drawn to poetry

*Highly intelligent (Highly intelligent does not relate to IQ levels. Autistic individuals are often dyslexic and have dysgraphia and other learning disabilities but can be highly intelligent about particular subject matters, out-of-the-box thinking, and verbal fluency/fluid intelligence capacities.)

Sees things at multiple levels, including her own thinking processes

Analyzes existence, the meaning of life, and everything, continually

Serious and matter-of-fact in nature

Doesn’t take things for granted

Doesn’t simplify

Everything is complex

Often gets lost in own thoughts and “checks out” (blank stare)

Section B: Innocent

Naïve

Honest

Experiences trouble with lying

Finds it difficult to understand manipulation and disloyalty

Finds it difficult to understand vindictive behavior and retaliation

Easily fooled and conned

Feelings of confusion and being overwhelmed

Feelings of being misplaced and/or from another planet

Feelings of isolation

Abused or taken advantage of as a child but didn’t think to tell anyone

Section C: Escape and Friendship

Survives overwhelming emotions and senses by escaping in thought or action

Escapes regularly through fixations, obsessions, and over-interest in subjects

Escapes routinely through imagination, fantasy, and daydreaming

Escapes through mental processing

Escapes through the rhythm of words

Philosophizes, continually

Had imaginary friends in youth

Imitates people on television or in movies

Treated friends as “pawns” in youth, e.g., friends were “students” “consumers” “members”

Makes friends with older or younger females more so than friends her age (often in young adulthood)

Imitates friends or peers in style, dress, attitude, interests, and manner (sometimes speech)

Obsessively collects and organizes objects

Mastered imitation

Escapes by playing the same music over and over

Escapes through a relationship (imagined or real)

Numbers bring ease (could be numbers associated with patterns, calculations, lists, time and/or personification)

Escapes through counting, categorizing, organizing, rearranging

Escapes into other rooms at parties

Cannot relax or rest without many thoughts

Everything has a purpose

Section D: Comorbid Attributes

OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

Sensory Issues (sight, sound, texture, smells, taste) (might have synesthesia)

Generalized Anxiety

Sense of pending danger or doom

Feelings of polar extremes (depressed/over-joyed; inconsiderate/over-sensitive)

Poor muscle tone, double-jointed, and/or lack in coordination (may have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome and/or Hypotonia and/or POTS syndrome)

Eating disorders, food obsessions, and/or worry about what is eaten

Irritable bowel and/or intestinal issues

Chronic fatigue and/or immune challenges

Misdiagnosed or diagnosed with a mental illness

Experiences multiple physical symptoms, perhaps labeled “hypochondriac”

Questions place in the world

Often drops small objects

Wonders who she is and what is expected of her

Searches for right and wrong

Since puberty has had bouts of depression (may have PMDD)

Flicks/rubs fingernails, picks scalp/skin, flaps hands, rubs hands together, tucks hands under or between legs, keeps closed fists, paces in circles, and/or clears throat often

Section E: Social Interaction

Friends have ended friendship suddenly (without female with AS understanding why) and/or difficult time making friends

Tendency to overshare

Spills intimate details to strangers

Raised hand too much in class or didn’t participate in class

Little impulse control with speaking when younger

Monopolizes conversation at times

Brings subject back to self

Comes across at times as narcissistic and controlling (is not narcissistic)

Shares in order to reach out

Often sounds eager and over-zealous or apathetic and disinterested

Holds a lot of thoughts, ideas, and feelings inside

Feels as if she is attempting to communicate “correctly”

Obsesses about the potentiality of a relationship with someone, particularly a love interest or feasible new friendship

Confused by the rules of accurate eye contact, tone of voice, proximity of body, body stance, and posture in conversation

Conversation are often exhausting

Questions the actions and behaviors of self and others, continually

Feels as if missing a conversation “gene” or thought-filter

Trained self in social interactions through readings and studying of other people

Visualizes and practices how she will act around others

Practices/rehearses in mind what she will say to another before entering the room

Difficulty filtering out background noise when talking to others

Has a continuous dialogue in mind that tells her what to say and how to act when in a social situation

Sense of humor sometimes seems quirky, odd, inappropriate, or different from others

As a child it was hard to know when it was her turn to talk

Finds norms of conversation confusing

Finds unwritten and unspoken rules difficult to grasp, remember, and apply

Section F: Finds Refuge when Alone

Feels extreme relief when she doesn’t have to go anywhere, talk to anyone, answer calls, or leave the house but at the same time will often harbor guilt for “hibernating” and not doing “what everyone else is doing”

One visitor at the home may be perceived as a threat (this can even be a familiar family member)

Knowing logically a house visitor is not a threat, doesn’t relieve the anxiety

Feelings of dread about upcoming events and appointments on the calendar

Knowing she has to leave the house causes anxiety from the moment she wakes up

All the steps involved in leaving the house are overwhelming and exhausting to think about

She prepares herself mentally for outings, excursions, meetings, and appointments, often days before a scheduled event

OCD tendencies when it comes to concepts of time, being on time, tracking time, recording time, and managing time (could be carried over to money, as well)

Questions next steps and movements, continually

Sometimes feels as if she is on stage being watched and/or a sense of always having to act out the “right” steps, even when she is home alone

Telling self the “right” words and/or positive self-talk (CBT) doesn’t typically alleviate anxiety. CBT may cause increased feelings of inadequacy.

Knowing she is staying home all day brings great peace of mind

Requires a large amount of down time or alone time

Feels guilty after spending a lot of time on a special interest

Uncomfortable in public locker rooms, bathrooms, and/or dressing rooms

Dislikes being in a crowded mall, crowded gym, and/or crowded theater

Section G: Sensitive

Sensitive to sounds, textures, temperature, and/or smells when trying to sleep

Adjusts bedclothes, bedding, and/or environment in an attempt to find comfort

Dreams are anxiety-ridden, vivid, complex, and/or precognitive in nature

Highly intuitive to others’ feelings

Highly empathetic, sometimes to the point of confusion

Takes criticism to heart

Longs to be seen, heard, and understood

Questions if she is a “normal” person

Highly susceptible to outsiders’ viewpoints and opinions

At times adapts her view of life or actions based on others’ opinions or words

Recognizes own limitations in many areas daily, if not hourly

Becomes hurt when others question or doubt her work

Views many things as an extension of self

Fears others opinions, criticism, and judgment

Dislikes words and events that hurt animals and people

Collects or rescues animals (often in childhood)

Huge compassion for suffering (sometimes for inanimate objects/personification)

Sensitive to substances (environmental toxins, foods, alcohol, medication, hormones, etc.)

Tries to help, offers unsolicited advice, or formalizes plans of action

Questions life purpose and how to be a “better” person

Seeks to understand abilities, skills, and/or gifts

Section H: Sense of Self

Feels trapped between wanting to be herself and wanting to fit in

Imitates others without realizing it

Suppresses true wishes (often in young adulthood)

Exhibits codependent behaviors (often in young adulthood)

Adapts self in order to avoid ridicule

Rejects social norms and/or questions social norms

Feelings of extreme isolation

Feeling good about self takes a lot of effort and work

Switches preferences based on environment and other people

Switches behavior based on environment and other people

Didn’t care about her hygiene, clothes, and appearance before teenage years and/or before someone else pointed these out to her

“Freaks out” but doesn’t know why until later

Young sounding voice

Trouble recognizing what she looks like and/or has occurrences of slight prosopagnosia (difficulty recognizing or remembering faces)

Feels significantly younger on the inside than on the outside (perpetually twelve)

Section I: Confusion

Had a hard time learning that others are not always honest

Feelings seem confusing, illogical, and unpredictable (self’s and others’)

Confuses appointment times, numbers, and/or dates

Expects that by acting a certain way certain results can be achieved, but realizes in dealing with emotions, those results don’t always manifest

Spoke frankly and literally in youth

Jokes go over the head

Confused when others ostracize, shun, belittle, trick, and betray

Trouble identifying feelings unless they are extreme

Trouble with emotions of hate and dislike

Feels sorry for someone who has persecuted or hurt her

Personal feelings of anger, outrage, deep love, fear, giddiness, and anticipation seem to be easier to identify than emotions of joy, satisfaction, calmness, and serenity

Difficulty recognizing how extreme emotions (outrage, deep love) will affect her and challenges transferring what has been learned about emotions from one situation to the next

Situations and conversations sometimes perceived as black or white

The middle spectrum of outcomes, events, and emotions is sometimes overlooked or misunderstood (all or nothing mentality)

A small fight might signal the end of a relationship or collapse of world

A small compliment might boost her into a state of bliss

Section J: Words, Numbers, and Patterns

Likes to know word origins and/or origin of historical facts/root cause and foundation

Confused when there is more than one meaning (or spelling) to a word

High interest in songs and song lyrics

Notices patterns frequently

Remembers things in visual pictures

Remembers exact details about someone’s life

Has a remarkable memory for certain details

Writes or creates to relieve anxiety

Has certain “feelings” or emotions towards words and/or numbers

Words and/or numbers bring a sense of comfort and peace, akin to a friendship

(Optional) Executive Functioning & Motor Skills  This area isn’t always as evident as other areas

Simple tasks can cause extreme hardship

Learning to drive a car or rounding the corner in a hallway can be troublesome

New places offer their own set of challenges

Anything that requires a reasonable amount of steps, dexterity, or know-how can rouse a sense of panic

The thought of repairing, fixing, or locating something can cause anxiety

Mundane tasks are avoided

Cleaning self and home may seem insurmountable

Many questions come to mind when setting about to do a task

Might leave the house with mismatched socks, shirt buttoned incorrectly, and/or have dyslexia and/or dysgraphia

A trip to the grocery store can be overwhelming

Trouble copying dance steps, aerobic moves, or direction in a sports gym class

Has a hard time finding certain objects in the house but remembers with exact clarity where other objects are; not being able to locate something or thinking about locating something can cause feelings of intense anxiety (object permanence challenges) (even with something as simple as opening an envelope)

End

This unofficial checklist can be copied for therapists, counselors, psychiatrists, psychologists, professors, teachers, and relatives if Samantha Craft’s name and contact information remain on the printout. This list was created in 2012 and updated in May 2016.

Disclaimer: This is one person’s opinion. It is not meant to replace the DSM-V Autism Spectrum condition definition, nor is this list meant to serve as an official diagnostic tool. 1000s and 1000s of individuals around the globe have used this list, in conjunction with the DSM-IV or DSM-V and a professional mental health professional’s guidance. It has been an important tool for females, particularly, but individuals across the gender spectrum identify with the list. The list has been translated into different languages. It is based on over 8 years of communicating, almost daily, with those that are diagnosed or self-diagnosed Autistic. It is not all-inclusive. Some will fit into categories and not be Autistic. This is meant as a springboard for discussion and more awareness.

Author’s Note: I am diagnosed as Autistic/gifted-intellect, and have dyslexia, dyspraxia, GAD, PTSD, hEDS, POTS, fibromyalgia, and other chronic pain conditions. I am not unusual in my presentation; many Autistic adults have many coexisting conditions. This post was originally composed when A***********s Syndrome was a stand-alone diagnosis. At that time, not much was written or discussed about females on the autism spectrum.

In 2022, I was diagnosed ADHD, OCD, and complex-PTSD.

[autiprism]

[bodymodificationnation]

Good VS Bad Autism Tattoos

Many people in the autistic community view the puzzle piece as a hate symbol because it implies we're not whole people. We're missing pieces and we're problems that need to be solved. Which is why a lot of us gravitate towards the infinity sign instead! It comes in both rainbow (for neurodiversity) and gold! As the chemical symbol for gold is Au.

[peachyealfie]

Having a job is a privilege for me. One that doesn’t last long because no matter what I do I begin to self destruct. Meltdowns happen everyday after work. Burnout 12 hours of the day. And then comes what I fear most when I want to end it all. So I have to make the decision to remove myself before I hurt myself and others around me.

But don’t worry, it’s just a mood right? It will pass.

[shartlock-holmes]

SOMEONE HELP I CANT STOP NO MATTER WHAT I DO I CANT STOP PRONOUNCING ASPERGERS AS ASS-BURGERS HELPPPP LMFAOOII

[mysticscorpia]

There's one thing about autism and it's relationship with the world that makes me hopeful, for myself, and for others.

I had someone today ask me if I was deaf, due to my inability to follow the conversation. I didn't realise how much it felt perculiar, how unwittingly sad, until I processed it later in the day. But I replied at the time, "No, I have a sensory processing delay." (in the heat of the moment I forgot to say autistic, but I believe that this person knows I am).

I come from a background that allowed me to be given the chance to be diagnosed as early as 11 years old, and as a female, that in itself is rare. (this is due to my older brother and my mother's unyielding support in finding a diagnosis for me too).

But this has not allowed me to be always proud of my autism, or even enough to say that I am 100% unashamed of it.

But what I will say, and continue to, is that I have it. That I can go in a crowd of twenty people, and be able to announce it as a fun fact, and be able to sit there, sometimes with fear but know I've done the right thing. That I've done it, and it comes easier every time I allow myself to. You don't stop caring - but sometimes just admitting this fact, helps you feel valid. Your existence doesn't mean nothing.

That you are who you are, for better or for worse, and people have the ability to decide right then and there, whether they like you for your honesty, or decide if you're not for them.

And that itself, is freeing. As long as I am there, verbal, I am taking one step each time to broadcast how autism can appear, how it is, and some people will never know. No matter how many times, or ways, they just won't. And a lot of that is ignorance. And part of me pitties this person, who just doesn't understand autism. But despite the rest of the emotions and fears in Pandora's box, all the bad things that exist in this world, I have the remaining hope that if I take this one small step, one day, the world will be a better place for my brothers, sisters on the spectrum.

[elfwink]

Whether or not you disclose your autism diagnosis is a tricky subject! In this video, I talk about my thoughts and experiences on the matter.

If you’re ever unsure or uncomfortable about this sort of thing, I want you to know that you’re not alone! Many people out there worry about this. I hope that by sharing this content, that you feel a little less alone.

[neilpatel132]

Standing Up Against Bullying: Supporting Neurodivergent Kids | Media Reaction To Neurodivergence

Thanks for revisiting the "Everything Neurodiversity" channel. In this video, Robert Bernstein and Marcia Eckerd discuss an incident during the Democratic National Convention where Tim Walz's neurodivergent son poured out his love and pride for his father. Unfortunately, some adults in the media responded with hurtful comments, calling him weird and a beta male. This kind of bullying towards neurodivergent kids is unacceptable. Neurodivergent children face three times as much bullying as others, leaving deep emotional scars. It's time to take a stand against bullying and support these amazing kids. Join us in raising awareness and creating a more inclusive society. Please subscribe 🙏    / @everythingneurodiversity  

Robert Bernstein and Marcia Eckerd express their concern about an incident at the Democratic National Convention, where Tim Walz's neurodivergent son was seen expressing pride in his father during Tim's acceptance speech.

They highlight the overwhelmingly positive reaction from most viewers but criticize certain media figures who made derogatory comments, calling the child "weird" and a "puffy beta male." The speakers emphasize that neurodivergent kids face bullying three times more than others, which leaves lasting emotional scars.

They stress the importance of supporting neurodivergent kids, noting that while Tim Walz's son will receive support, many others do not, leading to further trauma. The key message is a call to action for everyone—kids, parents, teachers—to stand against bullying and support those who are different.

We hope you enjoyed this video. Make sure you click the "Like" button and share this video with your friends and others who might also be interested in learning about this video.

Please click "Subscribe" and click the bell icon to keep up to date with new videos from the "Everything Neurodiversity" channel. And if you have any questions or feedback about this video topic, please comment below.

[todayontumblr]

Tuesday April 11.

Autism Acceptance Month.

Today is Tuesday, April 11, which means we are eleven days into the 30 blessed days of #autism acceptance month, 2023 (previously known as #autism awareness month). April is the month and April 2nd is the day—World Autism Day, to be precise—and these first weeks of spring are a time for uplifting autistic voices of all identities, advocating for acceptance, progress, and sharing in the community's joy. It began back in 1972, as National Autistic Children’s Week, and was founded by The Autism Society to raise awareness and campaign for change in communities, schools, medical facilities, and businesses. And this same vital, wonderful work continues today, and not just for the month of April, of course—but every day of every year. The lived reality is that every day of every month is Autism Acceptance Month, and it is on all of us to do better.

Progress has been made, but there is still so much to be done in the struggle for equality and justice for all those living under the broad church of autism. And if these words sound hollow, then simply read the moving story of Debra Vines, of The Answer Inc., and of her autistic son Jason. She articulates everyday struggles that families can face, and the many joys they experience, too. Her message is simple, but powerful: don't give up on milestones.  

Want to know more, get involved, or donate? Here is just some of an impressive selection of charities sourced by the fine people at the Applied Behavior Analysis Programs Guide, where you can find the complete list of 20 charities and organizations:

The Asperger/Autism Network

The Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network

Autism Research Institute

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network

The Autism National Committee

Happy Tuesday, folks, and here's to better.