THIS is the misdiagnosis that is happening. Not people being ‘handed’ autism and ADHD diagnoses. But neurodivergent people being given inappropriate mental health diagnoses and inappropriate treatment as a result.

Just because I managed to prevent a meltdown doesn't mean I'm magically in the clear.

In fact, for the next few days, I'm way more likely to experience a meltdown.

I need time and space to recover. Time & space that is just as necessary as it is hard to get.

○ An autistic person's personal priorities or definition of happiness may be miles away from the neurotypical definition of happiness.

● Forcing us to adopt the neuronormative standard for happiness could very well make us completely miserable.

When I'm asked, 'How are you?' by an allistic person, I feel dread as I run through scripted responses in my mind.

When asked, 'How are you?' by a fellow autistic person, I'm so ready to finally share!

Bonus: My fellow autistic will probably tell the truth of how they are, too!

It's contradictory to say that autistic people lack self-regulation skills and then tell us to stop stimming.

I often wonder why:

1. We use the word hyperfocused when honed in on a subject that is neutral or positive, but...
2. If we're honed in on something that feels bad, it's called rumination.

It took me ages to connect these experiences because these two words are so different!

Since the neurodivergent umbrella is so vast (i.e. from dyslexia to autism to depression to tourettes), is there such a thing as a 'neurodivergent community'?

Or is neurodivergent more of a classification than a community identity? /genuine

They said my autism was social anxiety.

Years later, I learned that my social anxiety was caused by receiving no supports for my then-undiagnosed autism.

Autistic me: I don't need sleep! I love my special interest too much to sleep!

Also me:
•If I don't get 8 hours of sleep, my sensory needs are way more intense...
•I can't sleep when I want to because I'm socially & sensory overloaded!
•I'm exhausted & napping all the time...

If there's 1 thing I've learned that radically changed my life since my Autism diagnosis, it's this:

Never underestimate the impact of sensory overload.

What's labeled 'just a little overstimulation' so often throws my emotions, routine, & executive functioning completely off.

That autistic moment when I'm too tired to go to bed because I can't summon the energy to do my night routine but I can't fathom sleeping without doing my night routine.

Autistic catatonia is not talked about nearly enough.

Here is the link to the Bold Strokes Books READINGS: Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day: BIPOC Authors from 1/15/24, featuring Sander Santiago, Anne Shade Romance, Lauren Melissa Ellzey (she/her), and me. ✍️🏾📚🌈 #sapphicromance #mmromance #MLKDay #lgbtqbooks #boldstrokesbooks

youtube.com/watch?v=xMPWdC…

Despite popular, neuro-normative belief: I am not happier when I'm forced out of my special interest flow states to socialize with folks find my interest is silly, trivial, or boring.

I'd much rather play with my interest than pretend I don't have it just to make others like me.

There's a unique kind of psychological turmoil that occurs when:

1) I'm doing everything I can to not have an autistic meltdown, but...
2) I have to keep masking my autism in order to get to a safe space.

What are the top 3 signs you're masking your autism?

1. become quiet + reserved so as to side step participating in small talk
2. use scripted responses in conversation, recycle same topics w/ new people
3. agreeable + not opinionated, i lose sense of values + opinions