Spectrum-speculation - Autistic Earth Visitor

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

Fact

heartbreaker

Sometimes noise is all consuming and you can feel yourself fading out of reality.

amen

I would rather let a “special snowflake” into the autistic community than exclude an autistic that needs support and cannot get a clinical diagnosis. I would rather validate ten “special snowflakes” than invalidate one autistic who needs support and cannot get a clinical diagnosis.

I would rather welcome a hundred “special snowflakes” without question than force an autistic to disclose their entire life to me just to get the support they need when they cannot get a clinical diagnosis.

I would rather help those that don’t need help, than deny help to those that need it.

Peony and Iris by Hanne Lore Koehler

quelle jolie fille

tbh i think im gonna skip uni today and go to the museum and draw instead because honestly im really not in the mood for (life) the noisy and bright illustration studio

i’d much rather see the illuminated manuscripts and walk by the river than spend 8 hours at uni in an unworkable atmosphere only to come home overloaded and exhausted i just cba!! im tired

i shall have to work on this

Helpful Links:

types of anxiety disorders

what causes anxiety?

calm breathing technique 

coping with a panic attack

counseling: does it work?

four As of stress management

grounding techniques

home tips to reduce anxiety

learning to say no without feeling guilty

ocd help

overcoming chest tightness

medication info

muscle relaxation

trick for social anxiety

rules for coping with anxiety & panic

self help strategies for PTSD

sleep aid kitten

social skills tips

more ptsd help

vitamin deficiency & anxiety

yoga poses for stress relief

12 foods for stress relief

9 steps to reduce anxiousness

Activities and DIY:

alpaca sock plushie

anxiety workbook for teens

anxiety relief - jar spell

calming glitter jar

comfort box

cute stress relief kit

panic workbook

stress relief bath and shower recipes

worksheet: learn to attack unhelpful thoughts

zen and anti stress colouring sheets

Interactives: 

100,000 stars

6 games for anxiety & depression

blahtherapy

boosterbuddy

disgruntle me

do nothing for 2 minutes

emotions wheel

make everything ok

mindshift phone app

neonflames

planetarium

rainymood

stress analyst

the thoughts room

the quiet place project

worry rockets

Ah-meen

“Nothing would mean anything if I didn’t live a life of use to others.” — Angelina Jolie