AutisticDoctorStruggles

youronlyone , 3 months ago to actuallyautistic

How do you define the term, “Openly Autistic”?

• Is it an autistic person who rarely masks?
• Or, an autistic who isn't afraid and/or shy to share that they are actually autistic?
• Or, an autistic person who is active in the autism acceptance “movement” (if we can call it that)?
• Or, perhaps, an autistic who were interviewed and disclosed they're autistic?

Maybe you have other considerations or criteria that defines “openly autistic” for you?

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NOTE: Being openly autistic is a choice and is not for everyone. I think it is safe to say that we all face discrimination, stereotyping, and prejudice for being actually autistics, thus, most choose not to be open about it.

However, recently, there has been a slow growth in numbers of openly autistics, and like with most things in life, we have different criteria, definitions, and cultural considerations.

Thus, I am curious what you think, personally or maybe your immediate environment or organisation, is an openly autistic person. Or, when do you consider one as openly autistic.

Again, this is not about if an autistic person should be openly autistic or not. ^_^

Thank you for your interesting insights!

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• Autism symbol by: MissLunaRose12
• License: CC By-SA 4.0 International
• Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Autism_Symbol_Proposed_2.png

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Tags: #OpenlyAutistic #OpenlyAutistics #ActuallyAutistic #ActuallyAutistics #AskingAutistics #Autistic #Autistics #Autism #AutismSpectrum #AutismAwareness #AutismAcceptance

Groups: @autistics @actuallyautistic

AutisticDoctorStruggles , 3 months ago

@youronlyone @autistics @actuallyautistic I think it's point 2) for me. Someone who isn't afraid to share they are autistic. Unmasking is not required for that.

Tim_McTuffty , 3 months ago to actuallyautistic

Diary of an ASD Squirrel. Day 162 , Monday 08/04/2024

TL:DR My mother warned me there’d be days like this ! (Not really she never knew I was autistic .)

Up at 5:45am, not by choice I might add!

Breakfast, being abused by the mogs & then chores started the day.

It’s really weird what triggers me.
So our new neighbours across the street from us (who I have met 1 half of (Bev) once ) asked us to be key holders while they are away for 2 weeks . Which is fine.

Me being me started doing the job properly & popping over of a morning & of an evening just to check it was all locked up.

Just went over (circa 10am) & did my checks & it turns out they have a Ring doorbell.
I’m walking away & this voice shouts out ‘Hello?’
Long story short, it turns out it’s Ian , Bev’s hubby (who I have yet to meet) wondering why I’m wandering around the property. I explain & it’s all good.
Only it isn’t … I feel like I’ve been caught burgling the place , anxiety levels are thru the roof & I’m close to closing down as I write this.
It has destroyed the whole morning - I KNOW this is illogical, I KNOW I’m catastrophising but I cannot shake the feeling I have done something wrong !
I don’t want to feel this way again so I will be giving the place a once over from our front door for the duration.

So spent the afternoon on ESO hiding away form the world !

Final Thoughts.

I always thought the catastrophising was a function of my depression , now I’m not so sure. I do know that social interaction with anyone I don’t know freaks me out.
Humaning is hard - am Squirrel !

Thank you to all those who are helping me on this journey, in a myriad different ways. I am thankful to each & every one of you! 🫂 🫶🐿️🖖

@actuallyautistic
#TimsASDjourney #ActuallyAutistic #Neurospicy #TheMammutMoves

AutisticDoctorStruggles , 3 months ago

@Tim_McTuffty @actuallyautistic oh gosh if your story isn't relatable!! This is the type of thing that would be in one of my bad dreams. Just doing everything right but still being blamed for something or mistaken for something or doing something wrong. I get very triggered by being misunderstood or wrongfully judged, so your experience would have left the same märka on me I think. I hope your day was gentle and regulating afterwards!

AutisticDoctorStruggles , 3 months ago

@Tim_McTuffty @actuallyautistic that's lovely! Oooh I haven't played ESO in a long time but I think I will come back to it in the near-ish future! Really loved it!

I started up magic the gathering (slightly out of FOMO, as my partner really got sucked into it and it seems kinda chill and I like the card art) and got some dopamine from opening beginner's packs 😁

sebwhatever , 5 months ago to actuallyautistic

@actuallyautistic #askingautistics

I'm feeling a little low today. What are some things that you #actuallyautistic folx do to help yourselves out of a funk?

AutisticDoctorStruggles , 5 months ago

@sebwhatever @actuallyautistic comfort food, a good cry, music, silly little walk for my silly little brain, rest, watching cute or funny animal videos, engaging in special interest :)

milkteawitch , 5 months ago to actuallyautistic

I wanna try something:

#autism & #ADHD questions friday.
I will answer every respectful question about (my) autism & ADHD if you ask them today, commenting on this post.

All of the answers will be provided based on my personal experience. I do not speak for all #autistic people and those with ADHD.

I will not give any medical advice.

#ActuallyAutistic @actuallyautistic

AutisticDoctorStruggles , 5 months ago

@milkteawitch @actuallyautistic what is the best part of being autistic and having ADHD for you?
Do you have a current special interest or hyperfocus and what is it (if you like to share)?
What is the single most important thing that you'd like people to know about (your) autism and ADHD?

anomalon , 5 months ago to actuallyautistic

I just came across this image in my folders and it still cracks me up.
"Mommy, what is pathologization?"

@ActuallyAutistic @actuallyautistic #hyperlexia

AutisticDoctorStruggles , 5 months ago

@anomalon @ActuallyAutistic @actuallyautistic "you're too good at this, something must be wrong with you!"

😁😁😁

Susan60 , 7 months ago to actuallyautistic

Does anyone else feel deeply offended by scam text messages? @actuallyautistic #ActuallyAutistic

AutisticDoctorStruggles , 7 months ago

@Susan60 @actuallyautistic I get mostly scam and or marketing calls but I hate them, because I hate calls. A while ago I deactivated the voicemail because I also really don't like the "I called, please call me when you get this". You gotta text me. Calls feel extremely intrusive to me.

AutisticDoctorStruggles , 7 months ago

@Susan60 @actuallyautistic the weird thing was, I think, that voicemail was activated by default at my last provider and one had to call them to deactivate it! Absolutely unbelievable! My new provider had the option to deactivate it oneself!

Tarrenvane , 8 months ago to actuallyautistic

@actuallyautistic Do any of my fellow #ActuallyAutistic peers find your #monotropic tendencies/needs are more pronounced at some times more than others?

AutisticDoctorStruggles , 8 months ago

@Tarrenvane @actuallyautistic yes, they are most pronounced when (mentally) tired since task switching takes such a huge amount of energy.

independentpen , 10 months ago to actuallyautistic

Hey @actuallyautistic how do you pace yourself at an office job? I've been contracting for years but as of this week I'm an employee. My style of work is all or nothing, but I sense that isn't going to be sustainable in this context, and I suspect the allistics aren't working like that either anyway. How do you reset or recharge throughout the workday? How do you know if you're doing "enough" versus overperforming? How do you take care of yourself in socially sanctioned ways?

AutisticDoctorStruggles , 10 months ago

@independentpen @actuallyautistic I struggle with the same thing & I kind of have to force myself to take it slow. For me it looks like not forcing myself to do things as fast or efficient as I maybe would consider appropriate to my own standards when I really don't have the energy. Reminding myself how often & long people take time to chitchat & drink coffee (all of which I would usually work through because it's more draining for me) & take that time for mental breaks when I need it.

AutisticDoctorStruggles , 10 months ago

@independentpen @actuallyautistic I 've been running at what I consider maybe 20-30% of what I usually deliver due to private stress the past 2 weeks (partially due to lest requests coming in to me) but noone has complained. That's the big indicator that I usually do too much. Now I see it as needed downtime to when I just deliver & deliver & deliver because I know I usually run at 150%.

AutisticDoctorStruggles , 10 months ago

@independentpen @actuallyautistic sometimes I check my phone, play some block game on it (I do that a bit on the bathroom or when listening to something also for stimulation), maybe go for a coffee somewhere else alone, short walk around the premise (we have a quite big site), look out the window...

AutisticDoctorStruggles , 10 months ago

@yourautisticlife @autism101 @actuallyautistic for me the biggest impact on sleep is stress &closure. If too many things are still unfinished/unsolved etc. I have anxiety & my brain tries to solve everything. Which often gives me trouble falling asleep and more often waking me up way too early. It helps if I give myself about 1 h before bed to "chill down". Reduce sensory input, play some low intensity game on my switch (enough to keep my brain from ruminating but not excite me)then fall asleep.