autisticemmalyn – Autistic Emmalyn

30Aug 2021 by autisticemmalyn

This Is My Reality

Uncategorized

It’s midnight and I’ve been thinking. I’ve been feeling. I’ve been remembering. And forgive me if this all sounds harsh, but this has been building up inside me for far too long and it needs to be said. Whether it’s pounded on a keyboard in the middle of the night or scrawled in my journal as the sun streams in, I have to let this out before this swallows me whole. I do not have a warped sense of reality. The notion of it has been instilled in me for almost twenty years. “You’re in your own little world,” people say. “It’s not really too [this] or too [that.]” “It’s all in your head.” The thing is though, what you’re judging is my reaction to reality. I have working eyes…

26Aug 2021 by autisticemmalyn

Weekly Update 8/26/21 – Taking the Leap

Updates

Overall, not much happened this week. I spent a lot of time relaxing and taking care of myself. My boyfriend went back to school on Sunday, and I had a sleepover with my friend Monday night, which was fun! Wednesday, however, was packed with events. A Struggle From This Week On Wednesday morning, I woke up feeling very upset. I hadn’t been doing a ton over the summer, and now everyone else around me was back to school, had a job, had their own place, or some combination of the three. It was crushing to think that I wasn’t doing enough to sustain myself and save up for the future. I talked with my mom and started researching jobs (I already do some work from home, but I wanted to…

23Aug 2021 by autisticemmalyn

The Importance of Comfort Characters and Media for Autistic People

Experiences, Feelings

Hey everyone! Today I’m going to discuss comfort characters and media and why they’re especially important for autistic people. What is a Comfort Character/Piece of Media and How Do They Help? In essence, a comfort character, book, movie, etc. is a person or work that helps someone calm down and relax. Anyone can have a comfort character or piece of media; however, in this post, I’m going to be writing about how they’re helpful to autism specifically. These creations are beneficial for autistic people in a variety of ways. They make the person happy. When you’re reading a book or watching a movie in your spare time, the overall goal is to feel good. Whether it’s comedy, fantasy, or even horror, the media you’re likely to choose is enjoyable to…

19Aug 2021 by autisticemmalyn

Weekly Update 8/19/21 – Autistic Adventures in Shopping

Updates

Hi guys! This is the first of hopefully many weekly updates where I’ll be sharing a struggle and a win from the past week. All or most will be in relation to my autism, so if you’re curious about what it’s like living with autism or you just want to catch up with me, this is the page to check out! In general, this week has been spent relaxing and trying to rebuild after a rough time. I was in a play and there was a very complicated situation going on, so I decided to leave to take care of my mental health. In the days before I left, I had felt anxious and depressed. It had been hard to get out of bed or find the motivation to do…

16Aug 2021 by autisticemmalyn

Helpful vs Harmful Ways to Respond When Someone Has Autism

Tips

Hey there. Today I’m going to explore a topic that I’ve noticed many parents, professionals, peers, and even strangers struggle with, and that is how to respond when an autistic person discloses their diagnosis (related - The Big Secret.) Many people believe they are correct, but unfortunately, many are wrong in their attitudes toward their autistic acquaintance or loved one. If you’re here, chances are you’re seeking to change or direct your behavior in order to have a more positive impact on an autistic person. You might also be an autistic person looking to educate others on how to treat you and others who share your diagnosis. In both cases, I applaud you. Your actions are much appreciated. For this article, I’m going to start off with a few harmful…

09Aug 2021 by autisticemmalyn

Break Strategy for Autistic People

Tips

Hi there! I’ve been thinking about this lately for myself and I wanted to share this information with you in case you find it beneficial too. This is a break strategy for autistic people that’ll help with overstimulation, burnout, or any other challenging situation. Want to listen instead? Check out the video! https://youtu.be/kMTw7bb0sbc Speaking from personal experience, my recommendation is to spend at least one hour of quiet, uninterrupted time in a comfortable space without excessive movement. I’ve found that this is really great at resetting the mind and body. It is useful for both recovering from and preparing for stress. Here’s why I prefer each of these tenets. As always, feel free to adapt or disregard any that you feel will not work for you. One hour. In the…

02Aug 2021 by autisticemmalyn

Observations about Autistic Communication

Feelings

Hi readers! Today I want to share some things I've noticed about autistic communication styles that neurotypicals may initially misunderstand or not even be aware of. These observations are fascinating to me and I'm so excited to share them with you! Want to listen instead? Check out the video! https://youtu.be/xoDj2gX_4Is Autistic people talk freely. When us autistic people talk, we tend to share whatever's on our mind. This can be pretty much anything from the current environment to theories to special interests. We tend not to ask questions. Autistic people tend not to ask questions in conversation. Why? It's because we assume that like us, if you want to share something, you're going to share it. While this may seem like we're rude or uninterested, it's really just that we…

26Jul 2021 by autisticemmalyn

How Autistic People Experience Pain

Feelings

Today I want to delve into a topic that I don’t see discussed very often, and that is how autistic people feel pain. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of misconceptions around autistic pain, and many people may not even recognize that an autistic person is physically uncomfortable or worse. Audio coming soon! The first thing I want to describe to you is touch. Touch is probably one of the most widely recognized means from which autistic people receive pain. Many of us absolutely hate light touch, especially if it’s unexpected. Why? This is because it can cause a number of irritating effects - itchy or crawly skin, tight muscles, and even a burning sensation. These feelings tend to radiate outward from the spot and linger, thus making them even more dreadful…

19Jul 2021 by autisticemmalyn

The Big Secret

Experiences

There was a secret I used to keep for a long time. I kept it hidden in the back of my mind, disguised in my behavior, and wiped from every introduction and small-talk conversation I had. If anyone found out, my fear would absolutely skyrocket. Audio coming soon! You know it already. It’s in the title of this blog. Yes, I’m autistic. It’s pretty clear now. But only a few years ago, that would never be the first thing you knew about me. When I was first diagnosed around the age of ten, my mom came to my fifth grade classroom and did a presentation about autism to teach them more about me. I have to admit, it was a really cool day. For once, all my classmates seemed genuinely…

12Jul 2021 by autisticemmalyn

Travel Tips for Autistic People

Tips

Hi everyone! Today’s blog post is going to be full of travel tips for those of you who are autistic or accompanying an autistic person. If this sounds interesting to you, read on! Audio coming soon! Planning Give a notice before the trip. Us autistic people love our schedules, and part of going on vacation is knowing exactly when you’re going. Give yourself or your autistic companion plenty of time to prepare. Too early is always better than too late. For a short trip, let us know at the very least a few days in advance. For a longer trip, you may need to give a notice three weeks or more before you head out. Keep a calendar visible that includes both the departure and return dates as well as…

Author: autisticemmalyn