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The beauty in being different feature #actuallyautistic #Autistic #Autism

Reflecting on her formative years, Ayanna shared, "I always sensed my differences but lacked
understanding. I was often perceived as the weird, awkward, black girl,' when in reality, my
struggles stemmed from anxiety and overstimulation. It was only seven years ago that I
received my autism diagnosis, and it was a complete revelation. The lack of representation for
black autistics, particularly black autistic women, inspired me to advocate for greater visibility."

I would love to share this article I was recently highlighted in link is below

www.art.alorafarm.org/features/the-beauty-of-being-different

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Feeling The World Differently

Why might it be that society doesn’t seem to understand enough about autism and how can we change that?

So many groups of people who think, or feel, or behave differently, are readily accepted, understood, and even protected, but often this doesn’t seem to be the same for people who are given the labels attached to brains that divert from the majority neurotype.

There are so many myths and misconceptions leading to a myriad of misunderstandings, that the truth about what autism really is, and really isn’t, is often hidden behind the stereotypes and stigma. The same is true for ADHD, ADD, OCD and all of the different neurological ways of processing.

In the recent documentary about autistic minds, Dr Chris Packham created a digital image of the way that his brain sees and seeks out knowledge. I was excited because it was how I see things, but then he didn’t explain. Dr Camilla Pang, in her book Explaining Humans describes a similar thing, but refers to what she calls tree thinking: the way that her brain and her thoughts flow and grow.

My Sherlock Holmes thing.

I call this my Sherlock Holmes thing - but without the ability to solve crimes. I see and hear and feel and process everything all at once which often causes physical and mental meltdowns.

I know this now, but I have spent over fifty years thinking that I am just awkward or ungrateful or too fussy. There have been occasions where I have presumed that I felt uncomfortable, or unable to cope, because the people didn’t like me, or because of something that I had said or done. And whilst that might have been true, I would often cause an argument or become hysterical so that I could find a reason to leave.

If I had been able to identify what was really happening to me, and if I had been able to explain, then maybe I could have navigated life in a way that wouldn’t have left me feeling confused, rejected, and feeling unable to fit in.

If we all talk more about how we feel and hear and see the world, then my hope is that the world will become a place that is more autism friendly than we often feel it is right now.

My hope is that we start to talk about our autism, or neurodivergent ways of feeling and seeing the world, in ways that others can recognise and understand.

As part of my Post Graduate Course in Autism Studies, I have created material for autism recognition and identification without lists of deficits or impairments. Whilst the language is only negative, and focused on disorder and disability, it is not surprising that autism is misunderstood.

#feelingtheworlddifferently #womenandautism #actuallyautistic #neurodifferentminds

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I'm new here!

Hi, my name is tracyclements68. I'm here because at age 50 I found out that I feel, and see, and hear the world differently. I want to change and challenge some of the myths, the misconceptions and the misunderstanding. I am worried that autism is still not understood for what it really is and for what it really isn't. I'd like autism to be discussed without lists of deficits and impairments, and without the stereotypes that cause the stigma, meaning many of us don't dare to disclose, or even to self identify.

#MightyTogether #AutismSpectrumDisorder #feelingtheworlddifferently #actuallyautistic #womenandautism

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Listen to Autistics.

Autistics are the real Autism experts. Nothing about us without us. Listen to Autistic people.

#Autistic #actuallyautistic #audhd #adhd #Autism #cptsd #gad #AutismAcceptance #stimming #ASD #overwhelmed #executivefunctiondisorder #executivedysfunction #Hyperfocus #hypervigilant #sensoryoverstimulation #sensoryissues #sensorypain #speechless #echolalia #

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in Honor of Autism Acceptance Month

I’m autistic, and I made this to try to express what autism acceptance truly means to me! #AutisticAdults #actuallyautistic

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Ableism within the autism community

Don't take out your frustrations on your child's disability. I wouldn't get rid of my autism if I had the chance to #Ableism #Autism #ParentsOfChildrenWithSpecialNeeds #Parents #InternalizedAbleism #AutismAcceptance #actuallyautistic

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Being Autistic didn’t stop me from illustrating 22 books

I’ve illustrated 22 books to date 🙏🏽 🦋 Never make fun of someone's passion, it could just be the thing that saves them from the world 🦋 or even themselves Art is LIFE art saved my life, if I didn't have a friend I have art, if I have nowhere else to turn I have art, if I can't speak it I can draw it, art was my first form of communication I drew before I spoke! I never thought others would trust me with their visions I never knew something I did to help me continue living would be loved by others! Limitless, that's how art makes me feel, if you have a child with any type of disorder & you see their passion for it or even just a developing interest! FEED it, feed that passion because the limits the world puts on us, can't fly if we don't accept them #Autism #AutisticAdults #actuallyautistic #AutismAcceptance #AutisticNotWeird #autisticandblack #autizzy

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You Can Call Me Butterfly

I used to have a blog.

Actually I’m probably one of the original bloggers. I’ve had blogs since before blogs were a thing. In fact, even before the internet was common, I would write my thoughts in a notebook and then let anyone read it if they were even mildly interested.

Writing has always been my way of communicating with the world.

But recently, someone I thought of as a friend did a hard Google search on me and found al of my old blogs dating back to the beginning of time. Which wouldn’t have been bad… I knew they were on the internet and I never wrote anything that I was ashamed of. I always wrote the truth. My truth.

But she misconstrued everything I wrote, in such horrible ways. She twisted my words until she had. Hi,t me up as a monster in her imagination.

I don’t know if she has her own mental health issues she’s battling, it seems like it. But when my past and current blogs because something she was perseverating on constantly, I had to delete them all for my own safety and peace of mind.

But I’m lost without a blog. So many things I’ve been wanting to tell the world, but I can’t!

So I’ve decided to start writing here.

I know this isn’t exactly a blogging platform, but it’s a place where I can express my thoughts and feelings to people who might understand and might even be interested.

So if you’re wondering, my name is Butterfly (not really, but it’s what I’m calling myself to keep myself somewhat anonymous so nobody I know in real life can find a way to use my own words to destroy me.) I live in a weird little town where everyone knows everyone else’s business and almost everyone is just a little bit……. Well, let’s just say I like to call this place the Island of Misfit Toys. I’m a 43 year old who looks 14, lives in overalls and weeklies, loves painting, adores animals, and contends with autism, ADHD, depression, anxiety, and probably more.

If you read my posts, I hope you’ll stop to say hi!

#Autistic #actuallyautistic #ADHD

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I'm turning 65 next month, and just yesterday they added ASD (Autism) to my permanent medical record.

I've written before about how I was misdiagnosed as bipolar for a few decades, and the therapies and various prescription medicines never helped me. In fact, they nearly killed me.

In my last year on the meds, I got lithium toxicity, and was rushed to a trauma center a hundred miles from home, and spent a week in ICU. That was the autumn of 2021, and I am still recovering now in February 2023.

Yesterday I saw my third psychiatrist in a row who told me I had never been bipoloar, but I am Autistic. This time he put it all on paper, and entered it into my medical records. I guess that means it's official. Or maybe 'I' am official? Nah. I'm still just me.

I never had an inkling that I might be Autistic before sometime last summer, when I read a story in The Mighty by someone who found out accidentally that she was Autistic while she was having one of her children tested and assessed. When she described her life and her challenges, she sounded to me like she was describing my own life.

From that point onward, I started reading everything that I could get my hands on about the Autism Spectrum.

Then there were the internet tests, the books with tests, and finally talking to doctors and to Autistics.

Eventually, I was convinced beyond any reason of a doubt that I myself was, and am Autistic. Thereafter, I brought it up with my psychiatrist, and it took off from there.

That brings me back to yesterday, and the third psychiatrist to agree, and who added it into my medical record.

Now if I can get my General Practitioner to remove the bipolar label from my record there, I will feel like I can finally relax a little.

I don't have a problem with bipolar in itself. I just have a major problem with being misdiagnosed for decades and spending the bulk of my money on therapy and prescriptions that kept me physically exhausted and in a heavy mental fog for decades, and didn't help me in any way. I feel like the majority of my life was wasted.

So to have the label removed from my records is removing a constant painful reminder of all the life that I missed in my youth and middle age.

I am going to spend the rest of my years as a happy, grateful Autistic old dude. Peace be with you all.
♾️♾️♾️
🖖

#Autistic #actuallyautistic #audhd #ADHD #Autism #ComplexPosttraumaticStressDisorder #GeneralizedAnxietyDisorder #AutismAcceptance #Stimming #Dysgraphia #dyscalcula #pathologicaldemandavoidance #PDA #AutisticInertia #AutisticBurnout
#EFD #ExecutiveFunctionDisorder #executivedysfunction #RejectionSensitiveDysphoria #RSD
#ReactiveAttachmentDisorder #rad #MajorDepressiveDisorder #MDD #Dysthymia #Specialinterest
#Hyperfocus #hypervigilant #SensoryOverstimulation #SensoryIssues #SensoryPain

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