What a bummer that Stede is technically 'dead' in Barbados. No parading around the super-hot leatherdaddy (who calls him 'zaddy' and middle-fingers all rules and mores of acceptable levels of PDA) in a much deserved in-your-face-haters glow-up tour.
i feel really bad for saying this, but something i struggle with regarding my autism is trying to sound interested in other people's interests. i try so hard to seem interested because i know that feeling of being ignored when infodumping about your interests, but also, my own interests are so restricted that i cant get into/seem interested in anyone elses interests.
i cant get into things people recommend me, at all, no matter how hard i actually want to because it just feels like a demand. i also cant get into anything else even if i myself really want to get into it. especially if someone else's interests involve anything with real humans. cant watch anything thats live action, it needs to be animated and usually has to involve animals in some way.
Working with Autism PDA (pathologic demand avoidance) by "strewing" (setting up an activity that u want to do for your later self even thought PDA wont do it right now)
Doing this removes barriers from doing the activity for later when the stress and pressure to do it has released without executive dysfunction of setting up the activity
Sometimes when we are afraid we have to center ourselves. Take deep and slow breathes, remind yourself who you are, and where you are. Feel the world beneath your feet and know you are connected to earth and it will hold you steady. Now go make that phone call you’re avoiding, I see you.