This!!!

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?

Here's to the people who can't get the words on the page. The people who are too tired after all life throws at them to write. The people who are blocked. The people who are burnt out. The people who can't write because of physical or mental illnesses. The people who don't know why they can't write. And the people struggling with all those other things that get in the way of writing and make it seem or be impossible.

You're still a writer, you're still an artist. And you matter. This world is better since you're in it. Thank you for wanting to write, even if you can't right now. I hope you and your words find each other soon.

Want to be part of a group blog on how to write neurodivergent characters?

[Large text: "Want to be part of a group blog on how to write neurodivergent characters?"]

I've found Tumblr blogs on writing physically disabled and POC characters, but nothing specifically for neurodivergence.

Maybe there is something I just haven't found yet, but even if so, I think the most resources the better.

So, hi! I'm Amethyst — amateur writer and neurodivergent, and now looking for people to help me out with this project.

I could try this on my own, but I would rather have other neurodivergents with me (especially with different conditions from mine)

Does anyone want to help me make a change?

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.

Shoutout to the dedicated cheerleaders of wips who comment on each chapter and motivate the poor fic writer to keep going you are crucial to the ecosystem

"Lack of personality" in autism (spoiler: it's the masking)

[Large text: "Lack of personality" in autism (spoiler: it's the masking)]

I was scrolling through # autism questions and noticed a bunch of people asking stuff related to not being able to figure out their personality so I thought I'd share something I've realized some time ago.

My entire life, I always had this idea that my personality was just "too broad" to be normal, as in, I acted in completely different ways in different situations and with different people.

Of course, everyone tends to change their behavior a little when dealing with different people (you're not the same with your friends vs with your teachers or boss), but there's limits.

Being aware of this, one of the first conditions I looked into once I decided to start doing research on neurodivergence was DID — and, eventually, OSDD — but I quickly understood that wasn’t it.

(It was great doing that research though, because the idea media gave me (and most people) on """split personality""" has nothing to do with what DID and OSDD are. And they're very interesting conditions, so more knowledge for me!)

But if it wasn't an identity thing, then what was it?

It was masking.

Four years into research, one year as a self-diagnosed autistic, I realized the thing that made my personality so "broad" was just masking. And a year after that, I'm still certain that's the answer.

Because, my entire life, I've been changing myself to fit in with others, especially with neurotypicals.

While masking, you don't just "tone down" the very clear traits of your autism (or any other condition, by all means), you also copy other people's behaviors and personalities (usually subconsciously) so you don't seem like the "weird one".

I've been like a bloody mirror my whole life, and that's likely what others are struggling with when trying to figure out their personalities as well.

Hope this helped someone.

Cheers to all the autistics whose special interest is autism itself;

Cheers to all the autistics whose special interest is any other condition they do or do not have;

Cheers to all the autistics whose special interest is seen as stereotypical within the community;

Cheers to all the autistics whose special interest is their job, career or degree;

Cheers to all the autistics whose special interest is a person, a group or a character;

Cheers to all the autistics whose special interest is a show, a movie or a series;

Cheers to all the autistics whose special interest is town, a country or another location;

Cheers to all the autistics whose special interest is an art or a craft, even if underrated;

Cheers to all the autistics whose special interest is an activity or a sport;

Cheers to all the autistics whose special interest hasn't been mentioned above;

Cheers to all the autistics who do not have a special interest;

Cheers to all the autistics who are still figuring out theirs;

Cheers to all the autistics.

The autistic mood of knowing you should ask questions back to people but only remembering hours/days after and wondering if they felt hurt or upset because of it.

For narrative: if you find it too confusing to use multiple pronouns for the same character when there are a lot of characters present and acting, you can switch pronouns each chapter — in chapter X you only use "he/him" and in chapter Y only "they/them", for example.

For dialogue: make a list of which pronouns you think other characters should address them by — this is also a nice detail about how your other characters view non-binarity (if it isn't normalized in the story) and even how they view the NB themself. While one character will use multiple pronouns for them, others might choose to only use one.

It's not that difficult, really

We need more non-binary characters who use multiple pronouns.

I understand why we often advise binary writers to only use they/them for non-binary characters and how it can be a little confusing to have multiple pronouns being used for a single character in narrative, but there's ways to make it less confusing and we should remind the world that:

1. not all enbies use they/them pronouns

2. not all enbies use ONLY they/them pronouns

Multiple pronouns, both for non-binary and even for binary characters is just accurate representation.

Quick reminder: regardless of what condition you have, you are allowed to have your own experiences.

You don't have to be like everyone stereotypes people with your condition to be and MUCH LESS be the exact opposite of said stereotypes.

Never feel like you're giving your community a "bad image" just by experiencing things.

It will never be your fault if some ableist asshole uses you to "prove" they were right about your condition.