Posts Tagged ‘autism and mental health’
Decoding My Body’s Signals: Navigating Autism and Interoception
I’m twenty five and still don’t know what my own systems are trying to tell me. Why? Because I have autism, and that brings problems with one’s interoception. Which tells you if you are you are hot, you are cold, or when you have to go to the bathroom, or when you should be feeling pain. One night this week, my mom and I were up about every two hours; I was in immense pain. We agreed not to go in the middle of the night because of the deer…
Read MoreNavigating Holiday Gatherings with Autism
Don’t judge. It’s everyone’s holiday season. With the holiday season upon us, I’ve been reflecting on my autism journey as a younger child. It looked much different than it does now as an adult. Whether it was during Christmas with the family or a holiday gathering, I’d often be alone in the corner, trying to avoid too much social interaction and strong sensory input. While my family would be eating beef, chicken, or some other holiday feast, I’d be snacking away on my favorite snacks like cheese doodles and goldfish.…
Read MoreWhy Can I Show Empathy to Others but Not My Mom
I went into quite an uproar. I was not thinking about the person who had been up since five-thirty in the morning and couldn’t sleep. I only thought about myself, my needs, and how I didn’t want to do my homework. You see, due to my autism, I am incredibly literal, and that can make some school work harder for me to interpret now that I am climbing the ladder of my college-level classes. I felt insecure and inadequate but I didn’t know these were my feelings. All I knew…
Read MoreEmbracing Autism and Finding Purpose – A Personal Story
How I Became the Strong Woman, I Am Today My name is Jennie Logan. I am twenty-five years old and on the autism spectrum, and I was diagnosed when I was thirteen years old. My mom knew I had Autism as early as I was six months old. I didn’t like to be held by anyone but her. I didn’t like much love or affection, and she would lay me on the floor and notice me happiest when I was stimming off the TV, not being touched. I would often throw…
Read MoreGrowing Up With Autism: Putting My Mental Health First
One of the best things I ever did for myself was to put my mental health first and not be afraid to talk about it. Please teach our society that seeking support for mental health challenges doesn’t make someone ‘crazy.’ When I was a kid growing up on the autism spectrum, I saw a therapist for a short time due to my challenging behaviors. Being bullied in school, I would avoid mentioning this as getting help and seeking good mental health was often labeled as being ‘weird.’ Some of my…
Read MorePride Month: Autistics in the LGBTQ+ Community
We are all human and deserve to have our voices heard. Far too often, autistics in the LGBTQ+ community fall through the cracks leading to misconceptions, stigmas, and a lack of overall services. During Pride Month in June and all year round, I stand with our entire community to receive reliable autism resources across the lifespan so each autistic individual can live the best life possible. While I’m not part of the LGBTQ+ community, growing up with autism, I’ve met many fantastic individuals in this community. Here are some ways…
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