Autistic and Living the Dream

Tag: #ActuallyAutistic

  • 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.…

  • Alexithymia: emotional processing ‘gone wrong’

    Alexithymia: emotional processing ‘gone wrong’

    An example of my experience with alexythima… This morning I woke up feeling a feeling. It felt like a big feeling but I couldn’t explain what is was let alone what it meant. I went on with my day with this weird feeling sitting somewhere in my stomach and chest. I fed little man, put…

  • My experiences in a long-covid support group

    My experiences in a long-covid support group

    Joining a Long-Covid online support group has definitely been an experience. Listening to people who were able-bodied experiencing disability for the first time definitely brings up some serious feelings for me, anger, frustration, annoyance, to name a few. I just want to shout through my computer screen “some of us live like this all the…

  • 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…

  • The price of ‘functioning’

    The price of ‘functioning’

    To most people I would appear to be a well ‘functioning’ human being – I work, have a home, am studying a post graduate degree and I’m a parent. I appear to have my shit together but often, under the surface, this couldn’t be further from the truth. I am incredibly privileged to be able…

  • 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…

  • Schools Bill MP letter / email template

    Schools Bill MP letter / email template

    I have created this template for people to use in whatever way you think will be helpful, including sharing with your local MP. Don’t know your MP? Find them here. Dear _____ I have some major concerns over the proposed Schools Bill, as the bill shall: 1. Make it more difficult for home educators to…

  • The Schools Bill – making education harder for Disabled children

    The proposed Schools Bill (UK) has so many red flags! If it becomes law it will affect every parent / carers rights long term. Under the new bill, if you decide to home educate, you will need to obtain consent from the school your child is registered at. You may then get local authority staff…

  • 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: mental load burnout

    Autistic parenthood: mental load burnout

    People tell you a lot about parenting but what they never explain is just how much mental load it takes up: all of it. As an Autistic, Attention Hyperactive person I struggle a lot with mental load. I experience consistent executive dysfunction and I forget things easily. Then I am overly harsh with myself when…