Autism awareness month is upon us. And if you do not know April is the month of autism awareness and acceptance. So, in celebration of that, I will be giving autistic individuals or just anyone in general tips for this season.
1: Set Boundaries
Setting boundaries with yourself and others. Do not put too much on your plate, only do what you need to do, not someone else’s work. No need to put extra stress on yourself, you deserve a break from other people’s baggage. So, saying no, setting boundaries, or telling others what is and is not acceptable to you is needed so you do not burn yourself out.
2: Getting Rest
Getting rest is a necessity to function. So, taking a nap and a break and letting your mind rest can reduce stress and help you reduce burnout. Taking care of yourself can be hard so give yourself the time of a day and let yourself relax. Take a break now so you do not break down later.
3: Get Stimming
Stimming is a healthy part of autistic people. Allowing yourself to stim and express yourself can help let go of your stress. Using fidget toys, listening to the same song on repeat, repeating the same words, twirling your hair, etc.
4: Create a Safe Space
Creating a safe environment is key to opening up to being yourself. Fidget tools, sensory lighting, seating, certain textures, weighted blankets, etc. Anywhere that you feel safe or comfortable is a good place.
5: Sensory Items are Key
Get earbuds like loop earbuds to get rid of excess noise or headphones, weighted blankets, sensory lights, fidget toys, plushies, stuffed animals, etc. Find items that make you comfortable and find items that make you less stimulated and overwhelmed. Mainly just find what works for you.
In my personal experience feeling left behind was a common theme. Feeling, Like I did meet milestones like so many other people feeling slightly down because of people “seeming” to appear further in life than I did. For instance, not having many friends or just having one to two close friends and feeling exhausted after hanging out with people to the point where I went nonverbal thinking was just a common experience. Figuring I could just push through like some others looking down on myself because I was not ahead like some allistics were feeling like I could not keep up. Looking at myself like a passion project you can see the vision and potential, but it is not there yet. That’s how it felt being able to do so many things like hobbies and special interests but when it came to smaller stuff like cleaning, hygiene, etc. it was just difficult. Emotionally draining feeling like you have to go above and beyond just to be seen as important, constantly masking to stay afloat. Not to mention Autistic burnout that stops you from masking because you are exhausted. And the recovery from this is like 3-5 years. So just a little rant but if anyone can relate just drop a comment.
Two years ago, I discovered that I had Autism Spectrum Disorder: a disability and a neurodevelopmental disorder. Finding out I was Autistic was truly a come-of-age moment. Let us just say I was not like “other” kids. For the majority of my life, I was confused, hurt, and even heartbroken over the fact that I was “different” or “weird.” I got bullied by people even though I had done nothing but be kind towards others, I recognized that my “quirky” traits that people hated was believe it or not just me being myself, being Autistic, coming to the realization that I was different from them. Being Autistic is what made allistics (or non-autistic people) dislike me. I felt like a broken wind-up doll. Broken but there is nothing I can do to fix it. Being Autistic was not an obstacle to overcome, but a fundamental piece of me that needs to be embraced. Being Autistic is meaningful to me because it helped me grow as a person, demonstrates where my limits are, and helped me find the positives of my diagnosis.
I had various realizations before I was Autistic I never knew how much it impacted my life. When I grew up I did not realize that most of the people around me were disabled individuals for instance, my family, my brothers, like Sky he has ADHD and Saber he has Autism, epilepsy, and Dravet syndrome. Growing up I had a lot of Autistic symptoms such as being non-speaking for the majority of my life. When I tried to speak it hurt me physically and psychologically. Instead of responding, I would just respond with sounds. Realizing now how when I was younger I got overwhelmed by loud sounds, bright lights, and crowds. I would stim to self-soothe or whenever I got excited by pacing back and forth, rocking, shaking my hands, tapping my face/fingers, or using stim toys to focus.
My disability has shown me what my struggles and limitations are, and how it has helped shape my identity. After I discovered I was Autistic I then started to grasp how many sensory issues I actually have, and how much it affects me severely. For instance, loud noises and bright lights can trigger meltdowns for me. Half of my struggles are social skills, for example, not knowing when to start, join, or end a conversation with someone, or when I accidentally interrupt someone midway through a discussion. Autism hinders my ability to make and keep friends. In the Dsm5-Checklist A3 ”difficulties in relationships” trouble with personal relationships, making or keeping friends. For instance, I was friends with this one person for years and one day they suddenly just ghosted me with no warning. In both cases, whether it be with social skills or difficulties in relationships, being Autistic has affected me greatly.
My diagnosis has led to many positives in my life. This diagnosis has made me have this inner knowing and understanding of the way I am, helped me be more patient with myself, and helped me find accommodations for myself such as weighted blankets for sensory issues, and earbuds for reducing noise.
Ultimately being Autistic has given me a multitude of revelations in my life such as being able to understand myself in-depth now, being more compassionate towards myself because of my limitations, and helping me comprehend how to be happier in life. Having a disability impacts all areas of my life, but it has mainly shaped my identity by now knowing that accommodations are necessary for autistic people. That is the main reason why I created my blog to be an advocate for disabled individuals and mainly to be a voice for others who are afraid or cannot speak up for themselves. That is why my hope is to become a journalist that can share their voice and make an impact on the world.
The Personal Writings of Ace Vee 