#aspieproblems

[saltywinteradult]

that feeling when you try to explain executive dysfuncion to someone and they tell you “so you’re just procrastinating” like no

[growingupautie]

That awkward moment when you are replaying a conversation in your head and your Neurotypical mask starts playing back the facial expressions and body language you made during it.

What's your #nonobadmask?

[casnonotbcofspn]

I'm not rude, I'm autistic.

@ everyone at my school

[ellem-nop]

Aspietip: Every social encounter with someone new, I feel like I'm walking on a creaky bridge. I'm trying to step carefully, pour over my internalized social scripts, and say all the right things. Sometimes I have to remember: When someone says an awkward thing to me, I usually brush it off and forget about it quickly. Shouldn't I hope the best of people who I talk to, believing that they aren't counting up my wrongs? #aspieproblems #treadlightly #socialanxiety

[highqueenseleni]

#firstteaofmyday @yunnan_sourcing Purple Needle Black Tea of Jing Mai Mountain. It's delicious, very full bodied too. My plans for today are in disarray since Ben had to do something for work last minute. I don't do well when my plans change.#aspieproblems 😶 but this tea is lovely so yay. Cup is also from YS and #jianshui #gaiwan from @bitterleafteas #gongfucha #purpletea #teaofinstagram #hongcha #dianhong #lightningcup

[the-anxious-aspie]

[growingupautie]

"EXPECTAMUNDO"

"Lower your expectations." Another wonderful phrase that people seem to think is helpful. Also seen as "Just get any job!" "Just date whoever you can get!" "Aim low and you'll reach it." And many more unhelpful advice.

The issue with this particular bit of "advice" it makes a lot of assumptions about a person's situation, and it causes Autistic people to see themselves as worth less than others and often lowers their self-esteem based on their new perception of how they think you see them.

It also assumes that the person in question isn't trying hard enough, isn't talented enough, isn't attractive enough, confident enough, or whatever else pertains to that situation. We are trying. You have no idea how hard. And telling us this lets us know you either don't believe us or don't care.

Not to mention this particular advice has caused me to take on the wrong friends, the wrong relationships, the wrong jobs, and made me feel like I was less than because I was always being told to settle for scraps. And several of these choices added up and destroyed the life I had.

And yes, sometimes we have to settle for what we can get until we get what we want or deserve. And that message is fine. You don't start in the best job after all. But the idea of "beggars can't be choosers" leaves us feeling worthless and can make us choose the wrong path for ourselves. A much worse path.

And for those like me who heard this for years and followed it numerous times, that bar is already pretty low and we need your love and support to bring it back up. So don't tell us to lower our expectations. Tell us to meet or even surpass our own expectations. And we will.

-Nathan McConnell

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Books, shirts, music and more ways to support my work can be found at:

WWW.GROWINGUPASPIE.COM

[autistic-black-girl-blog]

How being Autistic affects me

Just a few things about how Autism presents for me:

I'm a very literal thinker so I often need time to process what people say to me which can make me seem "slow" or "off". It's hard for me to tell my space in time and I often reach too hard for things that are near and too short for things that are far. I tend to be really clumsy and drop small items because of fine motor skills development.

I have trouble understanding social cues and sarcasm so if a person doesn't outright insult me, sometimes I won't notice that they are. I don't look at people's faces often. I tend to be more focused on the ground, the walls, or ceilings looking for patterns rather than faces.

Eye contact is very uncomfortable for me and makes me unable to focus on what is being said to me. I have sensory issues and usually can't be in large crowds. Too much movement, sounds, certain lights, smells, and touches send my brain into overload and I will become over stimulated quickly.

I have no real interest in people. My interests have usually been in specific topics that interest me, such as Psychology. I'm often misunderstood because my lack of social intellect. I have texture issues. I can only eat certain foods. Very picky. Things have to be made a certain way and if it is off, I will physically be unable to eat it.

I have extreme anxiety when I know I have to do anything outside of the house and when I'm out, all I can think about is quickly doing what I have to do so that I can get back home where it is safe and quiet.

#AspieProblems #Aspergers #AutistcBlackGirl #AwkwardBlackGirl #LifeOnTheSpectrum

[ellem-nop]

Aspietip: I'm a dreamer, and my big goals are usually in view. But since I lack executive functioning skills, I often lose my path on my way to my dream. One way to combat this is to sit down with a friend (and a notebook) and chart out the baby steps as a checklist. I'm able to turn to the checklist when I feel discouraged or need guidance. #aspieproblems #achieve #makeaplan

[livelongandaspieon]

I don't think of my Asperger's as a disability, but family, friends, and coworkers do things that make me FEEL disabled.  Have you ever had any of these things happen to you? http://pensiveaspie.wordpress.com/2014/04/19/you-make-me-feel-disabled-yes-you/

[evenemidesign]

Why do people ask about things if they don't want your honest opinion. Like, if you just want to hear it's nice, why not say "Can you tell me my shirt is gorgeous?" instead of "What do you think about my shirt?"

[hannahbarlettauthorblog-blog]

When you'd rather spend time with yourself than other people.

[growingupautie]

Imagine being singled out, picked on, excluded, and bullied your entire life for "not doing things the right way" only to grow up and find out none of these humans actually know what they are doing.

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Support my work at PATREON.COM/IRISHWOLFPRODUCTIONS

[ellem-nop]

Aspietip: Sometimes I have to watch myself when my energy is flickering. I may say something rude in my confusion. Instead of letting this give me anxiety, I simply approach the person afterward and apologize for my behavior. #aspieproblems #burningdimly #itsoktomakemistakes (at Elgin Park)

[aspiestvmusings]

I don’t relate well to “normals”.