Louise Ting

It can be so hard finding the right people. I struggled for a long time but got there eventually and hope you do too ❤️

Glad you found them! 😊 Sounds like they’ve made the world of difference ❤️

You can be in a room full of people and still feel lonely

And when you’re autistic, that feeling can be even louder

But everything changes the moment you find your people - the ones who get you, celebrate you, and make the world feel a little less overwhelming ❤️

Perfect! 🤩 I’ve seen these around and they’re such a nifty idea :)

Aww, hope she’s ok!

Yes exactly! The hold times can be really stressful and it really is a lot of inefficient repetition 😩 I often struggle to hear what they’re saying too, unlike written communication where you have all the words in front of you and can read at your own pace

Yeah, maybe! Occasionally I find it helpful but there really should be more than one option so it’s not the only way 😕

It’s wild that in this day and age, some companies still say the only way to reach them is… the phone

For autistic people, that’s not a small ask

A “simple” phone call can mean anxiety spikes, rehearsing sentences, overwhelming dread, adrenaline crashes, and many hours’ worth of energy gone 😢

Aww, how lovely!

Thank you ❤️ It’s all very stressful 😅

The autistic experience of having far too many co-occurring conditions, all of which worsen with stress…

Including the neverending stress of being autistic in a neurotypical society

E.g.
- migraines
- gastrointestinal issues
- chronic fatigue syndrome
- anxiety disorders
- sleeping problems

That is… surprising

Did you know…?

Over 50% of autistic adults are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder in their lifetime

Causes of anxiety for autistic people include:

- sensory issues
- feeling misunderstood
- having to mask
- social challenges
- information overwhelm
- managing emotions
- unexpected changes

differ (diverge) from the norm/ average and that’s bad

Yeah, I know what you mean! But, to add an extra layer, once it becomes “NEUROdivergent”, it actually doesn’t bother me anymore. I guess “diverse” can be less jarring because it just implies variety/ richness, whereas “divergent” can feel more judgmental… like we

“Room for acceptance without the need for labelling” is a very good way to put it. I personally find “neurodivergent” less stigmatising as a term but have also benefitted from more specific labelling in certain contexts… It’s definitely a complex and nuanced topic

Great to hear it’s of interest! 😊

100%! The number of times this has happened to me just this year 🫠

Research paper in full:

journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

Authors: Aimee Grant, Jennifer Leigh, @drmbothapsych.bsky.social, Stephen J Macdonald, Kathryn Williams, Gemma Williams, Kieran Rose, @annmemmott.bsky.social and Amy Pearson

What autistic people – and those with ADHD and dyslexia – really think about the word ‘neurodiversity’ A new UK survey of more than 900 neurodivergent adults has revealed strong feelings about the language of neurodiversity.

Based on an article in The Conversation by @draimeegrant.bsky.social, @dramypearson.bsky.social and Jennifer Leigh

theconversation.com/what-autisti...

Recommendations:

Those providing services to neurodivergent people should:

- Mirror each individual neurodivergent person's language choices

- Use neurodiversity-related terminology correctly

“Instead of replacing those words, we should focus on reducing prejudice and discrimination against neurodivergent people, and also on using language that reflects respect and understanding”

“Our research shows that while umbrella terms like neurodivergent can create community and belonging, they shouldn’t replace more specific identities such as autism or ADHD. Both have an important place”

✨New research

Language shapes how others see us. So, what do neurodivergent people think of the words “neurodiversity” & “neurodivergent”?

- mixed views
- important that it’s used correctly (it often isn’t!)
- for some, it’s a safe umbrella term
- for others, it can be too broad or add to stigma

Aww no 🥲 Still, your contribution was clearly of huge value to the inquiry. What an intriguing and challenging experience overall

Glad the outsides are looking mostly ok! Hopefully less and less pain with each week that passes too ❤️

🐼 ❤️✨

The autistic experience of thinking deeply before speaking… only for the moment to pass because everyone else already jumped in

Sometimes we just need a little more time to process and sort through our thoughts

And when we do speak, it’s with care

#AutismAwareness #inclusion

More children should be introduced to nature early 🙂 It can be a wonder to behold and helps ground us whilst reminding us that we exist alongside many, many other living things 🌱

Love how much you appreciate and treasure nature! It’s such a precious gift 💖