A Reminder To All The Self-diagnosed Neurodivergents Out There: The People Who Tell You You're Not "qualified

Growing up is realizing that, as a neurodivergent or disabled person, you'll always have to assume certain actions as mistakes, even if they were caused by your condition(s).

Whether you have some control over it or not, it doesn't really matter most times. If you try to justify it, people will tell you you use your condition(s) as an excuse for everything.

They want you to adapt yourself to their world and often they don't realize they're being ableistic.

But they are.

We constantly have to change ourselves, because the world won't change for us, while they get a chance to be themselves out there.

It isn't fair, but it's the way of the world, I suppose.

It was made by neurotypicals, for neurotypicals.

By able-bodied, for able-bodied.

New year writing goals

Trying to write more often is self-care. We write because we love it. Let's not make it a chore.

There is more to writing than getting words on the page. Research, plotting, outlining, daydreaming, making moodboards... all that is writing.

Not being able to write some days is NOT failure. Breaks are essential to refill your creative energy. Maybe just listen to your writing playlist and relax a bit or read a book or watch a show that inspires you.

Word counts are not absolute. If you realize you can't achieve your word count in the set timeframe, revise it. It's NOT failure, it's being efficient and aware of your own energy.

Be kind to yourself. Not finishing your goal is okay. Just engage with your creativity. Your mental health is more important.

How do I tell my classmate who thinks autism is "the next stage of human evolution" that I, an autistic, cry every time my mother leaves my crystals slightly further away from each other than I do?

Adding to this so we can make it relatable for more neurodivergents:

Lack of/little empathy doesn't imply lack of sympathy.

Delusions aren't just strong beliefs.

Psychosis is more dangerous for those who experience it than to the ones around them.

Compulsions aren't just habits.

Hallucinations aren't exclusively auditory or visual.

Maladaptive daydreaming is an important coping mechanism.

Slow learners aren't dumb.

Intrusive thoughts don't make anyone a bad person.

"Narcissitic abuse" and "borderline abuse" are unnecessary, stereotype-spreading terms.

Meltdowns aren't tantrums.

Burnout isn't procrastination.

Stims aren't pointless.

Shutdowns aren't just lack of attention.

Verbal shutdowns aren't a "silence treatment".

Hyperfixations aren't useless.

Special interests are more than obsessions.

Phobias aren't regular fears.

Panic attacks aren't controllable.

Self-harm isn't a trend.

Autistics of Tumblr, what is your favorite or most random vocal stim?

I used to say "Eren Jaeger" in a deep voice whenever I saw a bird.

in case anyone on here needs to hear it:

if you're hitting yourself during your "panic attacks," that's more likely an autistic meltdown not a panic attack

if it's really really hard to speak when you get overwhelmed, that might be verbal shutdown (you might have heard "going nonverbal" but those who are nonverbal - all the time - have asked not to use that phrasing)

if you get really angry over seemingly little things like people making noise, too many things happening, etc. that might be sensory overload

if you hate tags, or "fancy clothes," or the wrong kind of socks, or the way the belt doesn't sit quite right on your hips, or the feeling of doing dishes, or lights, or the sound of your air vents, or being the tiniest bit sweaty, or being hot at all, or the wrong types of fabrics, or the way your shirt creases at your elbow, that could be sensory issues

if you can "make eye contact" but you feel like you're staring into their soul, and you feel kinda weird and anxious about it and don't quite know where to look or how often to break it, and you can only do it when the other person's talking but you have to look around when you're talking to be able to "think," that's still having trouble with eye contact

if you've accumulated a huge list of comorbid conditions (OCD, BPD, chronic fatigue, EDS, anxiety, social anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, sleep disorders, ADHD, epilepsy, IBS, eating disorders, PTSD, psychosis, OCD) autism can often be the underlying missed diagnosis

if you had an evaluation before 2013 and were diagnosed with only ADHD, you might still have autism because the diagnoses used to be exclusionary (they would only choose one) even though they very commonly occur together

if you identify as a "highly sensitive person" you should definitely look into autism because the traits all overlap

if you "can socialize fine" but it's actually just people-pleasing and putting on a mask to fit in, that's not socializing naturally like a neurotypical would

if you "don't have special interests" but you're obsessed with a band, or a show, or psychology, or makeup, or some other socially acceptable interest.. those can still be special interests, it doesn't have to be something obscure

if you "don't stim" by hand flapping/jumping/using fidget toys, but you play with your phone all the time, or your hair, or pick at your skin, or repeat words/phrases/songs in your head, or hum to yourself, or make random noises, or crack your knuckles, or play with the clip on your pen, those are also stims (note: everyone stims to some degree)

if you have trouble with eating but can't quite figure out why, it feels disordered but you're confused because it has nothing to do with weight/body image, alexithymia and ARFID are both common issues that cause eating difficulties in autism and ADHD

OK, so, I've heard many autists mention that they have abnormal levels of heat tolerance or, in other words, don't feel heat and cold with the same ease and intensity allistics do.

But I was wondering if anyone else is just specifically sensitive to either cold or heat.

Like, I feel cold very easily, but can wear a hoodie during summer with no problems and a friend of mine is the exact opposite.

Is this an autism thing or are we just weird?

You gotta write for funsies sometimes. Everything doesn’t have to be groundbreaking. Like. Who cares if it’s a little silly it is made out of love

“You shouldn’t self-ID as ADHD/autistic, you’re turning a very real mental condition into a trend” Ok then stop saying delulu. Stop speculating on which cluster C personality disorder the criminals you hear about on the news have. Stop saying “schizoposting” and “acoustic” and “is it restarted?” Stop using “psycopath” and “sociopath” as catch-all ways of calling someone a bad person. Stop saying “the intrusive thoughts won” when you bleach your hair and then turn your nose up at people who suffer from very real, very scary urges of physical/sexual violence. Stop saying “I’m so OCD” as a way of calling yourself neat. Stop treating BPD/ASPD/Bipolar as inherently abusive. Stop saying “OP I am living in your walls” without tagging for unreality. Stop diagnosing complete strangers you’ve never met on r/AITA with NPD.

You first. If you don’t want our disabilities to be treated like trends then stop belittling and minimising them. I’ll NEVER judge a person for trying find labels for their symptoms when an apathetic, racist, sexist, ableist healthcare system refuses to. But I will absolutely judge a hypocrite. Which a lot of you are

real people being partially closeted or ambiguous about their own sexuality while making Gay Art is not queerbaiting