autisticemmalyn – Autistic Emmalyn

04Oct 2021 by autisticemmalyn

Simple Ways to Bring an Autistic Person Joy

Tips

Hello! Today I’m delighted to share some tips with you on how to bring an autistic person joy. Maybe you have an autistic loved one, an autistic client, or you yourself are autistic and looking to find a little more happiness in your day. Here are some simple, easy ways to make an autistic person feel content. Listen to them talk about their special interests. Everyone appreciates a good listening ear, and the same goes for autistic people, especially when they’re passionate about something. Take a moment to pay attention and ask questions. They’ll really enjoy it! Take them somewhere soothing. Autistic people tend not to like the hustle and bustle of busy places. Try bringing them somewhere where they can relax. A cozy room, a nature park, and a…

30Sep 2021 by autisticemmalyn

Weekly Update 9/30/21 – Something New

Updates

Welcome back to another weekly update! This week, I had a lot of new stuff going on in my life. It was all good, thankfully, but I still had a little trouble adjusting to the change. A Struggle From This Week One of the awesome things that happened this week is that I started readings for the play I was recently cast in. There had been some switches in the cast and I ended up with a different, but still great role. It was a little difficult to get used to at first, but I was happy with whatever character I’d be playing! Another change involving the play is that I was the only one in my age group. I’ve been the youngest and among the oldest before, but I…

27Sep 2021 by autisticemmalyn

Autism and Assertiveness

Experiences

Something I’ve noticed within myself and other autistic individuals is that we don’t take ourselves seriously as others. We’re more prone to believe what someone else says about us and our situation than what we think on our own. Whether it’s our condition, our circumstances, or a combination of both, autistic people struggle with assertiveness. I’m 20 at the time of writing this, and only recently have I realized that other people can be wrong about me, no matter how insistent they are. Growing up, my autism made me naive in certain social situations. Along with that, I had the feeling that I had to go along with what others wanted all the time in order to avoid conflict. I had also been told my whole life that I needed…

23Sep 2021 by autisticemmalyn

Weekly Update 9/23/21 – Talent and Tiredness

Updates

Hey guys! This week, I mainly focused on my acting, but I also had a lot of fatigue… talent and tiredness. I did my best to balance the two (and more!) A Struggle From This Week My struggle this week was just figuring out how to go about my day with the constant feeling that I was going to fall asleep anywhere at any time. Along with my autism, I have a condition called premenstrual dysphoric disorder, also known as PMDD, and it can make me really fatigued and irritable. What was really bothering me was that I wanted to get up and do things, but I had zero energy to do so, nor specific interest in anything. I needed to find something to do that wasn’t just sitting around. …

20Sep 2021 by autisticemmalyn

Professionals and Poor Treatment

Feelings

Hey there. Today I want to talk about a serious issue a lot of autistic people face, and that is poor treatment by “professionals.” For various reasons, an individual may not be fully equipped to truly aid an autistic person, even if they have a license or degree, and this can have catastrophic consequences for the autistic patient. Unfortunately, the biggest problem is that many professionals seem to think they are doing a great job, and so they continue to exercise harmful behavior towards the very people they’re supposed to be helping. One way autistic people can be hurt by professionals is the failure to take another perspective (related - This is My Reality.) Many autistic people find themselves the victim of bullying, abuse, other conditions, and more. However, some…

16Sep 2021 by autisticemmalyn

Weekly Update 9/16/21 – Everything and Nothing

Updates

This week, I did quite a lot. I cleaned, worked, did projects, hung out with Marlowe and my boyfriend, and overall just stayed on the go - that is, until Wednesday came around. In essence, my activity level had dropped from doing everything to doing nothing. A Struggle From This Week Something that was hard for me this week was suddenly having no energy, motivation, or interest in doing anything, not even my hobbies or online job. I’d been on the go for days and I was loving it! To lose that streak so abruptly definitely messed with me. One of my other conditions is called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (read more here.) In a nutshell, it’s basically extreme PMS. This fatigue and general disinterest are some of my most prominent…

13Sep 2021 by autisticemmalyn

How to Find a Good Job for Autistic People

Tips

I started my first job when I was sixteen. I had been volunteering with activities at a local nursing home and I wanted to do more. One of the positions that was open for kids my age was a junior server. I applied as quickly as I could. What I found in my first few days of work was that it was way different than I’d anticipated. The kitchen was a completely different environment that the activity room. It was extremely fast-paced and full of sounds and smells and demands. On top of that, I had a coworker that convinced everyone else I didn’t need training. I had to jump right in and race her so she could get done with her shift early. Additionally, my uniform was way too…

09Sep 2021 by autisticemmalyn

Weekly Update 9/9/21 – The Great Escape

Updates

This week, I spent time traveling and daydreaming. Something I’ve been working on is improving my mental health, and having an escape has been super beneficial as it allows me to forget about my worries for a little while and focus on new possibilities. A Struggle From This Week One struggle I had this week is trying to figure out how I can use escapism in a healthy way. More specifically, I want to incorporate new, unexplored elements into my life without just running away. Right now, I’m trying to handle a difficult situation at theater. Theater is important to me and I don’t want to abandon it forever, but something in the present needs to change in order to refresh my perspective. One of the ideas I have is…

06Sep 2021 by autisticemmalyn

Autism and the Pressure to Perform

Experiences

The preschool class had an annual performance at the end of the school year. I remember mine. We all shuffled across the stage, shyly looking out at the dim figures in the audience. Bright lights illuminated our faces, and music pushed through the speakers. My classmates began to sing and mime the movements demonstrated by the teacher. I went solo and covered my eyes. Newly five-year-old me had never been onstage before. She’d never had to hear that soundtrack so loud, never had light shone on her, never had to stare directly into the eyes of hundreds of people, all the while being expected to perform. My parents laughed. I started getting into theater around second grade. First, I was a mouse in a day camp production of The…

02Sep 2021 by autisticemmalyn

Weekly Update 9/2/21 – Productivity and Patience

Updates

Hey guys! This week was pretty laid back. I spent most of it at home, but I did go out a couple times. I focused a lot on productivity and patience. A Struggle From This Week One struggle from this week came packaged within a joy - my new parakeet Marlowe (related - Weekly Update 8/26/21 - Taking the Leap.) Marlowe is the absolute sweetest little baby, but she’s still quite shy. Although she was hand-raised by a breeder and knows how to interact with humans on a general level, she isn’t used to me personally and we’re still working on our bond. Sometimes when I put my hand in the cage, she shrieks and jumps away from me. Other times, she’ll run away from me when we sit on…

Author: autisticemmalyn