Mory (she/her) 🫧

Ya son más de 15.000 los firmantes de la petición online lanzada por la campaña europea destinada a combatir el uso ilegal de cebos envenenados. Se trata de una iniciativa del proyecto LIFE Eurokite www.revistaquercus.es/noticia/9081...

Polillas gigantes: las increíbles sorpresas de unas mariposas que no merecen ser aplastadas con una zapatilla Sin ser una plaga, la alta proliferación de los lepidópteros estos días ha disparado las reacciones de desagrado en redes sociales por unos insectos sobre los que existen muchas ideas equivocadas

Casi siempre, la mala fama de las polillas gigantes no está justificada y no merecen ser rociados con insecticida o aplastadas con una zapatilla, pues cumplen un papel ecológico y son inofensivas. Algunas son más bonitas que las mariposas diurnas

🧠 Thread of Interoception!

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🎭 Thread about Masking & Women!

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📴 Thread about Shutdowns!

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🧵 Thread of all threads!

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INTEROCEPTION SUPPORT Some strategies that can help autistic individuals improve their interoceptive awareness: - Education and body awareness: teaching autistic people to identify and name their internal sensations can be a crucial first step. - Structured routines: establishing regular schedules for eating, drinking and resting can help mitigate the effects of impaired interoception. - Use of reminders: apps or alarms can serve as reminders to perform necessary activities, such as drinking water or taking breaks. - Therapeutic interventions: therapy can include exercises focused on improving interoceptive awareness and developing coping strategies.

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INTEROCEPTION IMPACT - Self-care: get sick or screw up your health for eating, drinking, or wrapping up at the wrong time because internal signals are not perceived or interpreted. - Pain and health: reporting pain late or mistaking it for “bad mood”. - Mental health: increased vulnerability to anxiety and depression; some studies link lower interoceptive accuracy to higher anxiety levels. - Behavior and learning: sensory overloads, meltdowns or shutdowns when the body warns of stress and the person does not recognize it until it is too late.

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INTEROCEPTION DIFFICULTIES Difficulties with interoception can manifest in a variety of ways in autistic individuals: - Challenges identifying hunger/thirst: some people may not recognize these needs or their satiety level until they are extreme, which can lead to more serious problems such as dehydration. - Difficulty regulating body temperature: they may not realize that they are too hot or too cold. - Problems with sphincter control: lack of clear signals may lead to accidents. - Altered sensitivity to fatigue/pain: they may not realize they are exhausted or injured until symptoms are severe.

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WHY LOW INTEROCEPTION HAPPENS? Impaired interoception in autism may be related to neurological differences that affect how the brain processes sensory information. This difference in processing may influence how autistic individuals perceive and respond to internal cues. Some autistic individuals don’t receive these signals from their body, or don’t receive it until the sensation is too strong and, therefore, it is too late. But others can receive it in an increased level.

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INTEROCEPTION & AUTISM In autistic individuals, interoception may be impaired, meaning that they may have difficulty identifying or correctly interpreting internal body signals. These alterations can vary significantly from person to person, specially in the autistic spectrum, that is really diverse. So, it can impact daily life in a variety of ways. When the interoception levels are really low, it is also difficult to identify and regulate emotions. Several studies find a relationship between “interoceptive confusion”, alexithymia and less effective emotional regulation strategies in autistic adults.

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INTEROCEPTION Interoception is the sense that allows us to register and give meaning to the body's internal signals (heartbeat, breathing, hunger, thirst, temperature, muscle tension, etc.), and convert them into conscious experiences (“I am thirsty”, “I am nervous”). This ability helps us to be aware of our physical and emotional state and to respond appropriately to bodily needs.

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COVER Interoception in Autism Knowledge is trying to understand each other

🧠 Did you know that many autistic people do not perceive well their internal signals?

🧵 In this thread I explain what is the interoception, why it's key to self-care, and its impact 👇

#autism #interoception #neurodiversity #actuallyautistic #autismawareness #disability

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MASKING SUPPORT Some strategies to provide inclusive environments can include: - Awareness and education: educating society about autism and breaking down associated stigmas can reduce pressure for autistic people to camouflage. - Safe environments: create spaces where autistic people can be themselves without judgment or pressure to change. - Emotional support: provide access to mental health services that understand autism. - Encourage self-acceptance: helping autistic people accept and celebrate their identity.

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MASKING IMPACT Masking can have a significant impact on the mental and emotional health of autistic individuals: - Emotional exhaustion: Constantly adapting behavior and suppressing one's true personality can be extremely tiring and lead to burnout. - Anxiety and depression: The pressure to maintain a social façade can increase anxiety levels and contribute to depression. - Loss of identity: Striving to appear neurotypical can lead to a sense of loss of identity and authenticity.

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WOMEN & MASKING Masking is particularly prevalent in autistic women for several reasons: - Gender expectations: cultural norms often dictate that women be socially competent and emotional, which can lead to try harder to fit in. - Late diagnosis: women are often diagnosed later, which means they may go longer without understanding why they feel different and thus develop masking skills to fit in. - Different behavioral patterns: women may display characteristics less obviously than men, resulting in greater pressure to camouflage their traits in order to be socially accepted.

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WHY MASKING HAPPENS? Masking occurs primarily due to social pressures and the desire to be accepted in a world that is often not designed for autistic people, and which may reject any type of difference. Cultural expectations and fear of rejection or discrimination may motivate an autistic person to hide their true self (behaviours, expresions, emotions...) It is especially common in autistic women, who socially tend to have more pressure to exhibit “normative” behaviors, so they usually show higher levels of masking.

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WHAT IS MASKING? Masking involves camouflaging,suppressing or modifying natural autistic behaviors to appear “neurotypical”. This may include mimicking facial expressions, body language, and social responses of neurotypical people. Also, it may involve rehearsing conversations, suppressing intense interests, or forcing eye contact, even when it is uncomfortable or unnatural.

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MASKING Masking refers to the act of showing yourself in a way that aligns with others' expectations. It is like adjusting to social norms and standards. This practice may arise as a coping mechanism to manage social expectations and avoid stigma, but it can also have significant consequences for mental health and personal well-being. But masking is something everyone does or may have done at some time in their lives, it’s not just exclusive of autistic individuals. “Women adapt to everything, my mother used to say. It’s surprising what we can get used to.” — June, The Handmaid’s Table.

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COVER Masking in Autistic Women Knowledge is trying to understand each other

🎭 Masking is a common autistic mechanism for managing social expectations and avoiding stigma, especially in women

🧵In this thread I tell you what it is, why it happens and how we can support 👇

#autism #masking #neurodiversity #actuallyautistic #autismawareness #disability

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SHUTDOWN GUILT & SHAME Many autistic people experience profound guilt and shame during and after a shutdown. They may feel like are screwing up their environment, especially if during the shutdown they were unable to communicate, collaborate, or keep up with the expected pace. Difficulty in “responding as expected” generates a sense of personal failure, even though the breakdown is actually a legitimate and necessary response of the nervous system to overload. This guilt is intensified if the reaction of others was one of incomprehension, impatience or judgment.

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SHUTDOWN SUPPORT Some strategies to help someone experiencing a shutdown may include: - Reduce stimuli: decreasing noise, bright lights and other sensory stimuli can help. - Provide space: offer physical space without pressuring them to communicate. - Be patient: show understanding and patience while the person regains control. Understanding and recognizing shutdowns is an important step in creating inclusive and supportive environments for autistic individuals.

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SHUTDOWN IMPACT A shutdown can be a frightening and disconcerting experience for an autistic person. And most of the times, it also may generate a feeling of guilt in the person suffering the shutdown. The inability to communicate or control their body can lead to feelings of frustration and vulnerability. Understanding that a shutdown is not something they can voluntarily control is key to providing support.

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SHUTDOWN TRIGGERS Shutdowns can be triggered by a variety of factors, including: - Sensory overload: noisy environments, bright lights, or crowds can be overwhelming. - Emotional stress: high-pressure situations or emotional conflicts can trigger a shutdown. - Fatigue: physical/mental fatigue can contribute significantly to the occurrence of a shutdown. - Unexpected changes: disruptions in routine or unforeseen changes can be difficult to handle for autistic individuals.

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WHAT DO SHUTDOWNS CONSIST OF? During a shutdown, an autistic person may experience: - Inability to speak: may find it extremely difficult, or even impossible, to express themselves verbally (mutism). - Loss of physical control: may not be able to move or control their body normally. - Emotional disconnection: may feel emotionally numb/disconnected from their own feelings. - Unresponsiveness: may not respond to external stimuli, such as speech or physical contact.

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WHAT IS A SHUTDOWN? A shutdown is a kind of mental and physical “blackout” in which the person becomes partially disconnected from their environment. During a shutdown, the person may appear absent or distant and may lose the ability to communicate verbally and to control body movements. This state can last from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the individual and the situation.

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AUTISTIC SHUTDOWNS Shutdowns in autism are a response of the brain to sensory or emotional overload. They are often likened to a protective mechanism that the body and mind use to handle overwhelming situations. This phenomenon can be confusing to those unfamiliar with autism, but it is important to understand in order to properly support autistic individuals.

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