questioning-autistic-dreamer

[questioning-autistic-dreamer]

evacuation preparedness when traditional means are inaccessible to you

article describing multiple alternatives to evacuating if you don’t have a car: https://crisisequipped.com/how-to-evacuate-without-a-vehicle/

comprehensive guide to evacuation preparedness when you are disabled: https://crisisequipped.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Emergency-Evacuation-people-with-disabilities-June-Kailes.pdf article details information for all kinds of disabilities, including people who use mobility aids and other assistive devices, people who use service animals, vision, hearing, psychiatric, respiratory, fatigue/exertion, communication, multiple chemical sensitivities, etc. it also includes information for people who have conditions they may not consider disabilities, but who end up needing assistance in an emergency regardless, so please read through even if you don’t identify as disabled. the article emphasizes how much you cannot rely on employers or others to have included you in an emergency plan, and gives detailed guidance on how to create a support network and a plan to ensure you can evacuate. the biggest thing that stood out to me was the author describing that during 9/11, the wheelchair users who survived broke protocol and evacuated against policy with the help of coworkers. the ones who followed the rules waiting to be rescued died. you cannot rely on employers or the govt to have prioritized or even barely considered your needs as a disabled person in a crisis, and need to have a structured plan in place to be able to escape when the time comes. fire season is upon us on the west coast, please be prepared!

(and please feel free to add more resources to this post)

#resources #emergencies #death Tw

[questioning-autistic-dreamer]

i hope all of my neurodivergent folks know that you don’t owe it to anyone to be less of yourself. less “weird.” less enthusiastic about your hobbies, interests and hyperfixations. less loving or sensitive or emotional or picky or less of your genuine and raw self. the people who will love you won’t demand of you to fit into their boxes. if they demand you to show any less of who you are & your struggles with navigating a world as a neurodivergent person, then they’re not it. 

[questioning-autistic-dreamer]

Dealing With Executive Dysfunction - A Masterpost

The “getting it done in an unconventional way” method.

The “it’s not cheating to do it the easy way” method.

The “fuck what you’re supposed to do” method.

The “get stuff done while you wait” method.

The “you don’t have to do everything at once” method.

The “it doesn’t have to be permanent to be helpful” method.

The “break the task into smaller steps” method.

The “treat yourself like a pet” method.

The “it doesn’t have to be all or nothing” method.

The “put on a persona” method.

The “act like you’re filming a tutorial” method.

The “you don’t have to do it perfectly” method.

The “wait for a trigger” method.

The “do it for your future self” method.

The “might as well” method.

The “when self discipline doesn’t cut it” method.

The “taking care of yourself to take care of your pet” method.

The “make it easy” method.

The “junebugging” method.

The “just show up” method.

The “accept when you need help” method.

The “make it into a game” method.

The “everything worth doing is worth doing poorly” method.

The “trick yourself” method.

The “break it into even smaller steps” method.

The “let go of should” method.

The “your body is an animal you have to take care of” method.

The “fork theory” method.

The “effectivity over aesthetics” method.

#for anyone else who like me gets intimidated at masterposts because you don’t have the energy to read through 10 full articles: #these are links to other tumblr posts #most of which are fairly short #thank you op!! #executive dysfunction #resources

[questioning-autistic-dreamer]

Do you have any alternatives to your shop if this is closing? I haven't been able to find stim toys anywhere

We are gathering sites run by autistic/ND folks and here is what I have so far:

Aukquill Creations (a long time Stimtastic creator): https://aukquillcreations.tumblr.com/

Soft Stims https://www.etsy.com/shop/SoftStims

A Sense of Self (another long time Stimtastic creator): https://www.etsy.com/shop/asenseofself

John Elliot Knits (maker of the knitted marble fidgets): https://www.etsy.com/shop/JohnElliotKnits

RuthDoodle: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ruthdoodle

All Things Sensory Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/AllThingsSensoryShop

Jenedeer (they were making the cow marble mazes for us - not sure if that's still a thing): https://www.facebook.com/byjenedeer

Space Robot Studio (on hiatus, but maybe they will come back): https://www.etsy.com/shop/SpacerobotStudio

#sad that Stimtastic is closing but it’s understandable given the situation #here’s a growing list of alternatives! please add to it if you know more stores #stimming

[questioning-autistic-dreamer]

EMAILS TO MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER

Hello friends and enemies,

I have decided to do a masters degree for some fucking reason. Due to these godforsaken circumstances, I am going to be a student again.

Now, based on my experience being an undergrad with my Brain and Misc Issues, I knew that my hubris in pursuing YET MORE EDUCATION would result in having to write a lot of stressful emails, while dealing with a stressful situation.

So, to help myself cope in advance, I’ve decided to write drafts of these emails in advance, so that it’s less agonisingly painful to deal with this shit when it comes up.

And you can use them too!

under the cut, I have some draft emails for when you need to tell your lecturers:

I’m going to miss a lecture.

I have missed a lecture

I will be turning in an assignment late

I have missed a deadline

I have had a personal crisis which impacts my studies.

SEND AT START OF SEMESTER: explaining that you fidget/stim without using the word stim.

Keep reading

#this looks so helpful! #saving for next year when I gotta do school again #school #resources #accommodations #communication

[questioning-autistic-dreamer]

hey bros, I thought that since Seasonal Depression Time is starting to haunt my ass I thought I’d share what I do to help myself feel better

• brush my teeth and hair and wash my face. I’ve started washing my face daily with a cleanser I bought to treat myself and it really helps get the funk and muck out. I’m worth the energy to keep myself clean, even if I can’t shower.

• stay on top of meds. not only my brain meds but my birth control, allergy pills, and Vitamin D. I am worth the effort to keep on track.

• put away stuff and clean little messes. this keeps the tasks from being too daunting, and keeps my depression from manifesting physically in a messy room. if I can handle something small now I can keep it from becoming big. I am worth the time it takes to tidy up.

• allow myself time to rest and relax. as a whole we need to be kinder to ourselves. we need to listen to ourselves, and let our bodies and minds rest when we are tired. too often I associate rest with laziness, but that is not true. I am worth the off time to rest so I can do stuff later.

• communicate my feelings. this journey is rough but I don’t have to go through it alone. I have friends and family who care about me, and can help me when I need it. I’m still learning that talking about my emotions is okay to do, and I know it’s not always easy. I am worth the strength it takes to talk about these things.

• don’t isolate myself. I have the habit of hiding away from the world when I get really down. I end up stewing in my own sadness. it’s ok to have a resting day now and again but too much creates a bad cycle. I’m worth the energy to go out.

there’s other things like hobbies, my comfort objects, indulging in some of my favorite things, but those 6 things are the big ones. those help me to keep moving forward. those allow me to function.

the most important thing I want to share is that YOU ARE WORTH IT. you always have been and you always will. you are worth the time and energy. things get hard, believe me I know, but we fight on to keep moving forward, to see another day.

I’m so proud of all of you. take care of and be kind to yourselves, ok?

#positivity #self-care #mental health #resources #depression

[questioning-autistic-dreamer]

One of the most helpful things I've learned to do with ADHD is when I need to start a task, I don't think "I need to do this task" I think "I need to do (first step of task)".

I don't tell myself "I need to wash the dishes piling up in the sink." I tell myself "I need to get the scrub brush and turn on the facuet." That's easy, so I do it and bam, I've started the task.

"I need to brush my teeth" -> "I need to get my toothbrush wet and put toothpaste on it."

"I need to write this essay" -> "I need to pull up the assignment guidelines and open a word doc."

"I need to go to the store." -> "I need to put on my shoes."

Tasks are easily overwhelming when you constantly think about them in their entirety, so picking the most immediate part you need to so and only focusing/doing that helps to get you to start it with less anexity & stress.

#adhd #resources #brain hacks

[questioning-autistic-dreamer]

IT IS NOT JUST YOU - A NEW SCHOOL TERM IS ALWAYS AN UNCERTAIN TIME, BUT WITH COVID-19, IT’S EVEN MORE UNFAMILAR!!!

YOU ARE GOING TO DO OK!!! WHETHER IT’S REMOTE LEARNING (which can take getting used to) OR IT’S GOING TO SCHOOL DESPITE THE RISKS - I BELIEVE IN YOU!!! YOU CAN DO THIS BECAUSE YOU CARE!!! WORRYING ABOUT SCHOOL MEANS YOU WANT TO DO WELL, AND THAT MEANS YOU WILL DO YOUR BEST - WHICH IS MORE THAN ENOUGH!!!

(i really hope school is safe for you. if it is not, all my love and concern)

#school #positivity #caps #covid

[questioning-autistic-dreamer]

autism culture is seeing a post about ADHD culture that has a Very Relatable Feel but being unsure if you can reblog it because you don’t have ADHD

#no gatekeeping in this chili’s tonight!! #memes

[questioning-autistic-dreamer]

I tell people about my autistic traits all the time, they just don’t know it because I don’t say “autistic.”

It’s kind of funny sometimes, like this text, but it is also genuinely a good strategy.

“Oh, I don’t get hints very well! Feel free to be direct!”

“I apologize if I forget your name/face, I’m pretty face blind so if I don’t seem to remember you next time we see each other it’s not because I hate you haha, just remind me who you are”

“It’s not that I don’t like you guys, I just need breaks from people now and then or I get burnt out.”

“Maybe this is silly, but I’m bad with inflections—can you clarify if that was a joke or if you meant it seriously?”

“No thanks, I don’t eat that, the texture is a sensory issue for me.”

“Lemme know if my wiggliness is distracting and I’ll find a different way to fidget :)”

“I’d love to get together sometime! I have a hard time with unexpected changes and can’t guarantee I’ll be able to go without advance notice so let’s plan ahead and do it!”

Literally, as long as the person you’re talking to is a decent human being, most of the time you do not need to actually disclose that you’re autistic in order to explain your autistic traits.

#this is so much easier for me #it’s okay to disclose your diagnosis of course! but i usually get the yOU dOnT lOoK AUtiStiC thing

[questioning-autistic-dreamer]

If you guys have ADD/ADHD, autism, OCD, or something else that affects your ability to concentrate, I highly recommend the chrome extension Mercury Reader. You just open whatever link you're using, then click on the MR icon (it should look like a rocket) and it'll simplify the page so that it's in a focus-friendly layout. Instead of having random pictures and word boxes all over the screen, it'll be in a vertical format with nothing to distract you so you can focus on what's important. You can also adjust the text size (small, medium, large), font (serif, sans), and theme (light, dark). And the best part is, it's completely free! It's honestly one of the best things I've ever downloaded.

This is an article without the extension. See that messy format, and how the actual article content only takes up a fraction of the page? It's no wonder it took me 7 hours to write that paper.

The same article, this time with Mercury. The user-friendly settings are at the top, and the rest of the article is formatted vertically down the middle with no free-roaming pictures or words. How nice.

#resources

[questioning-autistic-dreamer]

don’t know what parent of an autistic child needs to hear this but as long as they’re not harming anyone your kid’s stimming is not a “problem behaviour”

#stimming

[questioning-autistic-dreamer]

Autistic Tip #5

Executive dysfunction can make it feel impossible to be productive, even when you need to be. Especially during the pandemic, when we’re stuck at home without our usual routine, this is a big issue. Here’s some things that help me work through my executive dysfunction:

Note: These tips might not work for you! If you don’t feel comfortable doing some of these things, don’t feel pressured to! I have memory issues along with my autism so I need a highly structured life to be productive. You may not need as much structure as me!

Write down events and to dos.

Having everything you need to do written down takes a lot of burden off you mind and helps you feel less stressed. It also helps with memory issues if you have them.

Checking tasks and events off of lists and calendars help with a passive sense of accomplishment, which can make it easier to be productive.

Always looks at the amount of things you did throughout the day. You do much more than you think you do!

Suggested methods:

1) Write events down on a calendar.

Write everything you need to do on a calendar. Meetings, classes, family events, work, etc. You want to have this information in multiple places. For example, I use my phone’s calendar, which is synced to my laptop’s calendar. I also have a sticker on my wall that’s a weekly calendar, so I can focus on the things I need to do for the week!

Check off events as they pass and look at all the functions you attended! Be proud of yourself for not missing things!

2) Have a daily and weekly to do list.

These are lists of things you have to do every day and every week. This will mostly consist of chores, self care, pet care, and meals. It’s your choice what is a daily thing and what is a weekly thing. Put absolutely everything down, no matter how small!

It’s a good idea to hang these lists somewhere you can easily see them. As you do the tasks on the lists, you can check them off (I use sticky notes so I don’t ruin the list, since mine is paper.) You can use a whiteboard for this if you want!

As you check things off, you’ll notice just how much you actually get done and how fast you do it! That alone can make it easier to keep doing tasks so you can see that list filled up with checks! You can even reward yourself once your daily to do is done!

3) Make another daily to do list.

Alright, this one is different from #2. This list is a list of electives to do in a day.

I use this mostly for my college assignments. I pick 3-5 assignments (usually small ones) to do that day, but are not due that day. (I try to stay ahead so I can keep my lists as electives, since close due dates can make executive function worse.) Make sure to make this list the day that you’ll be doing the tasks. Planning in advance can make it harder to actually do them. You want to catch your own brain off guard here!

Again, as you complete things, check them off! The point of this list is to feel super good! You’re doing things ahead of time! Look at how productive that is!

Alternate between work and fun

Moving between something fun and something not so fun can help you get things done without getting bored or side tracked!

Doing something you enjoy right after doing work is rewarding!

Suggested methods:

1) Listen to/Watch a video while you work.

This is best for when you’re doing tasks that don’t require too much thinking, like chores or cooking. You can watch a YouTube video, watch TV, listen to a podcast, or something else while you do the things you need to get done.

This makes it 100x easier for me to do chores! Yeah, I might be folding laundry, which is long and boring, but I’m also watching an episode of my favorite show! Or a video on my current special interest! As far as my brain is concerned, I’m relaxing, not working.

2) Work, Relax, Repeat.

For things that require more thought, you can use this method. Pick an item on your to do list and do it. Or, if it’s too long for you to bring yourself to do, do a part of it. Need to type a paper but you can’t even get out of bed? Just move to your desk or grab your laptop and move on to the next step.

Now, pick something you enjoy doing, but be conscious of what it is. Don’t pick something you can easily get stuck on, like reading or social media. Pick something that has clear start and end points, like one battle in pokemon, or one episode of a show.

Then, go and do another task. After that, do something else you enjoy. And repeat again and again until you’re done for the day! This switching can get time consuming, but it’s so much better than not being able to do anything at all!

Know when to take a break

Take as many breaks during the day as you need to! Take an entire day off to relax if you feel you need it! Don’t burn yourself out by trying to brute force through everything. In the long run, this will make it harder for you to be productive.

Be mindful of health conditions

This section may seem counter productive, but these tips are meant to help long term.

If you have a condition that makes you feel unwell or causes you pain, addressing that condition will make it easier to be productive.

Suggestions:

1) If you feel unwell, lower your work load

Regardless of how busy you are, if you feel sick, don’t push yourself! Listen to your body. If it’s telling you you’re done for the day, you’re done. It’s not the end of the world if you miss something for your health. And don’t feel guilty about it either. Your well being is more important than a chore or assignment.

2) If you’re physically incapable of something, don’t try to do it

I’ll use myself as an example for this one. I have double-jointed wrists that get strained easily, so I can’t type a lot despite being a college student. So, I can only spend so much time on assignments in a day.

The first week of quarantine, I worked on my laptop twice as much as usual (among other things) and I got an overuse injury. I couldn’t even use my phone, much less my laptop for four (4) days. That was a lot of missed time.

TLDR: you might think you’re being more productive short term by pushing your limits, but in a few days there’ll be consequences. Please don’t hurt yourself.

Anyone with executive dysfunction can reblog!

#resources #executive dysfunction

[questioning-autistic-dreamer]

Just letting you all know that I’m rooting for you during this difficult time.

These circumstances are causing massive amounts of uncertainty and sudden forced changes in routine which as you all know are very difficult for autistic people. Contamination OCD may be going through the roof. Anxiety about the health of our parents and those close to us.

Please know that as much as this absolutely sucks I’m here for you. Let me know if there’s anything I can do- and if not know that I’m keeping my autistic family in my heart during these times. <3 <3 <3

#hope y’all are okay ❤️❤️

[questioning-autistic-dreamer]

Hey everyone! I’m part of a discord server for teens/young people with chronic pain. It’s a really supportive space, and I was thinking it could be helpful to people here. If you’re interested in joining or want more info, message me or @afewregretsmaybe (the admin)

#this isn’t directly autism related but i know many autistic people (including me) have chronic health issues #my post #discord #not asd

[questioning-autistic-dreamer]

Gentle reminder to all my fellow spoonies today: if you need to eat different food than everyone else due to food allergies, sensory sensitivities, or any other reasons, do it. If you need to eat at a different time than everyone else to take medicine, prevent yourself from getting low blood sugar, or any other reason, do it. If you need to take a break or leave, do it. Remember to take care of yourself y'all.

#yearly reminder for people doing thanksgiving today!

[questioning-autistic-dreamer]

"How Was Your Day?" A Flowchart For Autistic (Alexithymic) People Who Have To Answer This Stupid Question

(Please click image for better view)

I made a fun flowchart based on my own experiences, but if I missed something, feel free to point it out! I will add it into this post.

Hopefully this is helpful to more people than just me. I'm not expecting it to get a lot of notes, but if this helps even a few other people it's time well spent.

Okay for allistics to reblog!

#resources #social skills #flow charts