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The truth about ‘challenging behaviour’
Cw: bullying, mention of abuse, mental health, substance use and death. Challenging behaviour refers to a range of intense and frequent behaviours that threaten the quality of life and / or the physical safety of the person and those around them, behaviours can include aggression, verbal abuse and bullying (Imray, 2017). Challenging behaviour is socially…
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Where my OCD and Autism overlaps
It can be difficult to tell Autistic and OCD experiences apart! Some may wonder why this matters, but to manage OCD intrusive thoughts and compulsions it’s of utmost importance to understand how these two neurodivergences clash but also how they overlap. I have summarised my main experiences of being an Autistic OCDer: Autistic experiences:HyperfocusSensory differencesSocial…
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Autistic and OCD: left adrift
I started working with Autistic and otherwise neurodivergent and disabled young people when I was about 23. When I started doing home visits with families I kept thinking “I do that. I completely and utterly understand what you mean when you say something utterly outrageous, or what other people might see as peculiar.” And the…
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Unusual Medicines by David Gray-Hammond: book review
When I first heard that David Gray-Hammond was releasing a new book: Unusual medicine: Essays on Autistic identity and drug addiction, I knew it was going to be an important and affirming read. David’s previous writing is powerful and meaningful to me and many other Autistic people who have experienced addiction and substance use. …
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My experience of Masking
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Tired but not broken
I asked the community: If you could let people know one thing about being Autistic what would it be? This blog is based off your amazing answers. Anyone of any identity, culture or heritage can be Autistic so we obviously aren’t all the same! However, we do seem to experience similar things across cultures, namely…
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OCD Subtypes
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health difference which can affect any child or adult. It usually starts in early adulthood but can happen during puberty (as it did for me). People with OCD usually experience frequent obsessive thoughts, which are unpleasant and cause feelings of anxiety, disgust or shame. These thoughts can include…
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Are Mental health groups accessible to Autistic people?
Content warning: mention of abuse, neglect, suicide, hospitalisation, food, body image, mental health. Autistic communities exist on and offline, some of them are based in charities, some of them are less formal, and some are Autistic led. They may not suit everyone but there is a choice for most Autistic people, if you have the…
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Living with Seasonal Affective Disorder
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Autistic and ADHD: Who’s driving this car!?
Being Autistic and ADHD, I am in a constant struggle to keep both of these elements of myself content, and sometimes, under control. They’re like young siblings, sometimes they love each other and play along nicely, and the rest of the time it’s pure chaos. My Autistic self wants routine, to eat the same foods…