I was thinking about my school years the other day. In particular the problems my parents faced having an autistic child and not knowing they had one. Can you imagine that? Just think of the behaviour a child in full meltdown can give you constantly, every day. Even at 23, my mum received a phone… Continue reading Navigating Life with Autism: A Personal Journey
Tag: autism
Changes; big and small
What makes you most anxious? It has to be change, whether big or small it makes me anxious. If I get a long lead up to the change then I can find myself relax into the expectation, but if it happens quickly then I am looking at a meltdown or a shut down. Meltdowns are… Continue reading Changes; big and small
Art
What activities do you lose yourself in? I could just write the one word - art - but I think it needs some explanation. My autism is not great, although I guess that, because it is mine, I don't notice how bad I am... Maybe if I ask R. "How big is the effect of… Continue reading Art
Movies and autism
What movies or TV series have you watched more than 5 times? Autism can be about familiarity, about not changing and having something that grounds you, like an old pair of slippers or that particular jumper that has a hole in it but you can't bring yourself to throw it out. Well, for me, movies… Continue reading Movies and autism
Black Cats and Lucky Socks
Are you superstitious? Once I was very. Once I wouldn't step on a crack or cross a black cat or walk under a ladder. Once I would have worn lucky socks and shirt and shoes. But it wasn't superstition. Can't remember why I had a dislike of black cats as a kid. I think it… Continue reading Black Cats and Lucky Socks
You look a little pale
What is one question you hate to be asked? Explain. How are you? How's you pain level? How are you feeling? These are the questions I dread from those I don't know because my autistic brain wants to answer them properly. I have only just recently learnt that you are meant to say that you… Continue reading You look a little pale
Hay and Pain
How has a failure, or apparent failure, set you up for later success? Many times I have found myself almost a passive character in my own story; watching as I have been steered by circumstance or others into a path that I never considered. One of these occurred after my first degree. The job centre… Continue reading Hay and Pain
First Words
You're writing your autobiography. What's your opening sentence? My first words are tricky. You see I think I did - Mum and Dad and want and give - , but then I hit a problem. I stopped speaking. I probably came very close to being non-verbal. My parents checked my hearing and such and there… Continue reading First Words
THE THREE
What are three objects you couldn't live without? A pen. A pencil. A sketchbook. With those I can create and work. With those I can disappear into another world. With those I can stim. With those I can live. I can smile. I can cry. I can laugh. I can write. I can draw. A… Continue reading THE THREE
Diagnosis
What experiences in life helped you grow the most? I lived the first 38 years of my life thinking I was mad and lazy and wrong and just not meant to be. I worked differently. I didn't see the world the same. I couldn't hold down a real job, I couldn't hold a boyfriend that… Continue reading Diagnosis
Kate Murray - Cleaver 