Autistic and Living the Dream

Category: Autism

  • Technological capitalism trundles on

    Technological capitalism trundles on

    I’ve now been asked to make a profile / have an app for my dentist, GP and Pharmacy. I don’t understand how to do this and I don’t want to. I used to have a GP online portal thing and then it changed and I got locked out. Back to phoning my GP 82 times…

  • Counterculture: Autistic shielding and neuro-anarchy

    Counterculture: Autistic shielding and neuro-anarchy

    “There are several aspects to neuro-anarchy and several ways it can be engaged with consciously and unconsciously, it is a big part of Autistic shielding, especially the conscious choice to engage in counterculture and culture which sits on the outskirts of counterculture itself.”

  • The difference between Autistic masking and Autistic shielding

    The difference between Autistic masking and Autistic shielding

    “Autistic shielding appreciates that there is no such thing as invisible differences or disabilities – simply that people do not care enough to educate themselves and really see other people. Shielding is projecting the most intense, strange and wonderful things about yourself – waving our freak flags high for all to see. “

  • What is Autistic shielding?

    What is Autistic shielding?

    Autistic shielding is leaning into your neurological differences and behaviours. It is embracing neuro-anarchy: being who you are, doing what you do and bollocks if others don’t like it. Shielding for me is being aggressively Autistic and Attention Hyperactive and doing my OCD rituals and behaviours with no shame. Shielding is liberation; protecting myself by…

  • My over-empathy blurring my boundaries

    My over-empathy blurring my boundaries

    I used to go on automatic ‘help mode’ in every support group I was in. I wanted to help people, send resources, send sympathy and ask questions to better understand. Most of the time it didn’t seem like it was appreciated: “I’ve already tried that”“That won’t work for me” And I’d feel less than useless.…

  • The switching of the flags: Pride take 2

    The switching of the flags: Pride take 2

    Today,  we take down one pride flag and put up another – Disability Pride. This ceremonial changing of the flags is done by so many of us who are both LGBTQIA+ and Disabled. I wanted to look at Disability Pride flags, their colours and their meanings whilst also sharing the journey it has been on…

  • Autistic parenthood: inertia – my get-up-and-go got up and left

    Autistic parenthood: inertia – my get-up-and-go got up and left

    The lack of sleep, inconsistency in sleep and the constant change in hormones has done a number on my energy levels. I no longer have energy for the most trivial of tasks, cleaning, house work, cooking and self care. These are all things I struggled with before having a baby and now they are seemingly…

  • Autistic Pride: joy, pain and activism

    Autistic Pride: joy, pain and activism

    As I explored in What Pride Means to Me, pride is a confusing emotion. It is love for yourself, self care and appreciation. Pride is self love in the face of oppressive systems which constantly try to break us down. So what am I proud of today? I am proud to be a non-binary, neuroqueering,…

  • Attention hyperactivity: ditching the ‘disorder’ and ‘deficit’

    Attention hyperactivity: ditching the ‘disorder’ and ‘deficit’

    I only recently came to the conclusion that I am ADHD. There are so many reasons why this has only occurred to me at the blessed age of 31, and most of them are due to word usage. Attention deficit: I only experience a deficit of attention when something is particularly boring! I am noinattentive…

  • Autistic parenthood: where has my self-care gone?

    Autistic parenthood: where has my self-care gone?

    I have always struggled with self-care, both physical and emotional, and I still often forget and avoid things which would actively make me feel better: showers, tooth brushing, haircuts, down time, relaxing (what’s that!?). They have always been tasks that I’ve struggled with due to inertia (see Autistic Inertia) and my skipping delightfully around demands…