Fact

good advice

Hey megs, if you do, how do you deal with feeling unproductive? I get sick a lot in the winter and also can’t work as much as others as I’m autistic and I never feel I am doing enough and it’s especially bad when I’m ill (I have poor attendance in college) as I try and do anything but it’s nothing and I’m not even in school. thanks :)

hi! i also struggle a lot with fluctuating health and energy levels, especially where uni and work are concerned. i try to keep myself feeling positive and motivated (and in turn productive) by tricking myself into doing fun but productive things e.g. watching a documentary when at home so that im learning while resting, going to museums to recharge and draw for fun (getting outside and learning while also getting in illustration practice), changing up my environment (healthy habit) by going to a coffee shop to work for a couple of hours instead (or if im not up to working, then to read for an hour), going to the botanic gardens for an hours walk on days when my head feels too foggy and i’m restless, etc.

i also try to be really kind to myself and mindful of my thinking habits. i work really hard to not ‘beat myself up’ mentally- if i don’t do anything at all productive in a day, i dismiss it and instead think “ok well thats happened. what can i do now to better tomorrow?” and though it was really hard at first, it’s definitely gotten easier with time and i’m hugely better off for it. there’s no point dwelling on things that have already happened.

i also try to be mindful of my autistic health (though its a bit harder because alexithymia). i try to be as productive as i can until 5pm, then in the evenings i make time for resting, stimming and engaging in special interests. i find that special interests are really important in helping me feel positive and motivated in general, so relaxing in the evenings helps me to feel much better the following day, and i always prioritise/value this time, no matter how little work i got done in the day etc (i never ‘punish’ myself for not doing well).

if i feel that i’ve had a particularly bad or unproductive day, i tend to sit down with my planner/bullet-journal for a while and just sort of dump my brain out- making lists of priorities and out-standing/unfinished work/tasks. getting it all out onto paper helps me to remember and feel more on top of my to-do list, even if i’m not actually getting /that/ much done. sometimes when i’m doing particularly badly, i’ll rewrite these lists 3 or 4 times a week + it just helps me to feel grounded and aware.

i dont know if any of this will be helpful to you but i hope it is + i wish you the best

[Image description: A woman with red hair standing on the green grass of her back yard next to a small black and grey tabby cat. Both the woman and the cat are inside a small fenced in area about 5 square feet in area.The black thin wire fence is about four feet high. The cat is sitting on a white towel. In the background you can see the larger wooden fence for the whole back yard, and the trunk of a large maple tree. There are a few houses visible behind the fence]

 This is a picture of freedom within limits: an autistic red-haired person (me) with my blind cat inside a playpen fence made I think for dogs. This was Nancy’s first time touching the face of Mother Earth! She (mother earth) was touched in a heartfelt manner.  It took us a long time to figure out a plan how Nancy (the cat) could enjoy being out of doors safely, and without her companion (me) freaking out. The mission was successful. It took her about ten minutes to venture off the towel onto the grass. Then she walked around the limits of our cage in order to arrive at an accurate assessment of our situation. 

It’s like butter

Alia El-Bermani

[Description of image: there’s a soldier standing in full body armor because it’s his/her job to defuse bombs. The soldier looks like an astronaut because the suit is so thick and heavy and includes a helmet and dark glass shield over the face. Next to the soldier there is a robot device with a gun and camera. The robot device would be controlled remotely by the soldier.]

I sometimes feel like the character in The Hurt Locker. As a queer autistic person, I feel I have to get suited up in protective armor before entering the heteronormative world. I never know if I’m going to set off a trigger in their normal world, which will cause them to blow up at me and say, “That’s so inappropriate!” or “You’re so childish” or ridiculous or annoying. Those are bombs exploding in my face. But the triggers are hidden and I don’t know the rules for avoiding them. So their normal world is like a minefield for me. 

Oh yeah, I want that. No, I need that cat! And I need it fast

‘RedInstead 2018 ’ by TanfasticAnna

• Buy this artwork on apparel, stickers, phone cases, and more.

This design available on Redbubble for April in case you need some autism pride stuff for Autism Acceptance Month. 

shoot me a reblog if you can! Links don’t show up in the tag I don’t think

I know that. Oh I got a text message from the cute girl I met at anime group! She likes me!! I’m finally going to have a friend!

Two days later: Why hasn’t she texted me back? I must have said something to turn her off. I’m going to be alone for the rest of my life!

that feeling when you’re hit with a manic wave of affection and positivity that you know will pop the moment something minutely goes wrong

me @ my anxiety: not our fault, shut up.

anxiety: OK but what if it is?

Great tribute to power of writing and reading

Artist Uses 100,000 Banned Books To Build A Full-Size Parthenon At Historic Nazi Book Burning Site

My feeling is that in general there is no reason to make a distinction between the ways in which people were (or were not) diagnosed. The main thing is usually that the person identifies with a set of issues and challenges, and their internal voice says: “That’s a lot like me!”

Of course, if a person is facing some kind of challenge related to NOT having an official diagnosis, and they want to talk about it, that’s up to them. But otherwise I can’t really see why it should come up in our discussions.

Also it makes me think: I’m not blind, or deaf, but because of my sensory issues I find it very helpful to read about and discuss things that blind or deaf people experience. Mainly I’m interested in the sense of touch, which it seems to me is neglected by five-sensed people and culture.

Anyhow, my point is: for Tumblr discussions and things of this sort, it matters more that we have something in common. and that we learn from each other. And I would say: our differences may be interesting to discuss; but our differences should not be what define us.

So I’m seeing a new meme I guess? Where posts have (professionally diagnosed) or (self diagnosed) and it’s making me uncomfortable?

There’s a lot of stigma on being diagnosed with mental disorders, illnesses, or the like

People treat it as you trying to get attention or faking it or even ridicule you for it

I’m just worried that this meme is going to turn out horribly for those that use these terms seriously

So please if you do see it can you not make it any bigger?

Sincerely from a self-diagnosed autistic

(You can add to it if you feel the same)

Earth Visitor

I read somewhere that many people on the autistic spectrum feel like aliens looking in on human society from the outside. It certainly is how I feel. I don’t believe it’s actually true, but I find it helpful to play with this idea and develop my story. 

I found a planet called Kepler 452b, which is one of the many planets astronomers have identified as conducive to some form of life. I like the name, because Johannes Kepler was a super cool guy, so I decided that’s where I’;; be from. And I’ve decided that I’ve been sent here to Earth on a mission. 

Mainly my mission is to observe and try to understand what’s going on here in human society and its relationship to the rest of the amazingly lush and diverse life forms. If possible, Mission Control authorizes me to communicate some messages that may help to redirect the destructive behavior of humans.

The idea that I have my own mission from my home planet is very helpful. By the standards of the neurotypical, heteronormative, capitalist human world, I will always be labelled a failure. “Fine by me,” I try to tell myself. “We have a very different set of standards on Kepler 452b. By our standards, most of you people are failures! So there! Take that, Earthlings!” 

In this blog, I’m going to continue the story like this--communicating with others on the spectrum, doing what I can to cultivate autistic culture, and recording my observations as I compile my report before I return to my home planet. 

Time is short. I must complete my assignment to the best of my ability.