Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #neurodiversity
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🧵Common warning signs of autistic burnout:
Either that it's coming soon, or that you’re in it.
People in burnout may experience some of these, but probably never all of them.
#AutisticBurnout #ActuallyAutistic #Neurodiversity #AutisticTwitter #AuDHD
1/26
Either that it's coming soon, or that you’re in it.
People in burnout may experience some of these, but probably never all of them.
#AutisticBurnout #ActuallyAutistic #Neurodiversity #AutisticTwitter #AuDHD
1/26
Also, all comparisons (more, increased, longer, etc) are using YOUR personal best functional time in life as a baseline. This is not a comparison to others, this is a comparison to you alone.
In no particular order:
2/26
In no particular order:
2/26
Low energy.
Exhaustion.
Sleep disruptions, lack of sleep, or sleeping all the time without feeling rested.
3/26
Exhaustion.
Sleep disruptions, lack of sleep, or sleeping all the time without feeling rested.
3/26
🧵How to get out of #AutisticBurnout when you can't quit responsibilities (parenting/work/etc).
This is meant as a framework, a guide. Please adjust for your own circumstances and needs.
#ActuallyAutistic #Neurodiversity #AutisticTwitter #AuDHD
This is meant as a framework, a guide. Please adjust for your own circumstances and needs.
#ActuallyAutistic #Neurodiversity #AutisticTwitter #AuDHD
Before we get practical:
Recognize that things are going to have to change eventually. You may not be able to quit your kids or your family or even this job, but something is going to have to change.
You can't heal in the environment that made you sick.
Recognize that things are going to have to change eventually. You may not be able to quit your kids or your family or even this job, but something is going to have to change.
You can't heal in the environment that made you sick.
1. You can make a lot of gains for free, with little or no extra time, by picking apart and dissolving the untrue thoughts that are causing you pain.
You can do this even when the kids and loud and you're cleaning up peach juice flung against the wall, or your boss is raging.
You can do this even when the kids and loud and you're cleaning up peach juice flung against the wall, or your boss is raging.
Living with ADHD, a personal recount written by my 14-year-old daughter. I post it here with her permission:
ADHD is one of the very peculiar neurodevelopmental disorders. It stands for ‘attention deficit hyperactivity disorder’. It is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders to develop or have. And it may be caused by these: genetic inheritance, brain injury, exposure to
environmental risks, alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy, premature delivery, and low-birth weight.
As a teenager with ADHD, I have to take pills just as I did as a kid in order to control the disorder. I prefer not to refer ADHD as a disorder, b
As a teenager with ADHD, I have to take pills just as I did as a kid in order to control the disorder. I prefer not to refer ADHD as a disorder, b
1/ Interesting #antisocial on @BBCRadio4 w/ @adamfleming, @mocost, Rachel Winder, others on #neurodiversity (bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00…). It relates to our recent work on ‘perceptual diversity’, and our attempt to measure it with #ThePerceptionCensus perceptioncensus.dreamachine.world
2/ Why use a different term ‘perceptual diversity’? The original definition of neurodiversity from @singer_judy, rightly emphasised that *everyone* is different and that differences are not deficits. So there is no single ‘neurotypical’ ‘textbook’ brain (as @mocost said). But:
3/ The term neurodiversity has tended to become associated with neurodivergent conditions, such as autism and ADHD – as evidenced by the focus on these conditions in @adamfleming’s programme.
Ich will heute mal eine Lanze brechen und den Begriff, den ich neulich in einem Beitrag verwendet habe, etwas erklären.
Was bedeutet eigentlich #neurodiversity und wie spüre ich das im Alltag?
Also kurz runtergebrochen heisst es, dass mein Gehirn anders funktioniert als das
Was bedeutet eigentlich #neurodiversity und wie spüre ich das im Alltag?
Also kurz runtergebrochen heisst es, dass mein Gehirn anders funktioniert als das
von Neurotypischen Menschen. Bei allen funktioniert es anders, deshalb rede ich hier nur von meinen Auswirkungen.
ZB finde ich viele Sachen witzig, die andere nicht mal verstehen. Und wenn ich nervös bin (wie zu 99% in sozialen Interaktionen), mache ich Witze. Die kommen aber
ZB finde ich viele Sachen witzig, die andere nicht mal verstehen. Und wenn ich nervös bin (wie zu 99% in sozialen Interaktionen), mache ich Witze. Die kommen aber
oft nicht gut an und/oder werden falsch verstanden.
Oder mein Gehirn kann kaum Reize filtern. Ich höre grundsätzlich immer alles, rieche alles, sehe alles und es wird nicht in wichtig und unwichtig unterschieden, so wie bei anderen Menschen, sondern es ist alles wichtig. Das
Oder mein Gehirn kann kaum Reize filtern. Ich höre grundsätzlich immer alles, rieche alles, sehe alles und es wird nicht in wichtig und unwichtig unterschieden, so wie bei anderen Menschen, sondern es ist alles wichtig. Das
Exactly this. Disgusted by @Spectrum’s irresponsible tabloid-style journalism. Intentionally misrepresenting #neurodiversity to fuel this toxic manufactured autism “war” that helps NO ONE, especially those who would be considered to have #profoundautism. /1
Is the #autism “community” in a delusional time warp? Because the value of non-stigmatizing language & participatory #research is well documented in many fields. It’s not some new phenomenon conjured up by random #ActuallyAutistic ppl. Seriously? /2
Last I checked, the #DenverPrinciples came out in the early 80s. A rallying cry from the #HIV community for respectful terminology & meaningful community inclusion. And guess what? The field of research wasn’t DERAILED ONE BIT by adopting these critical changes. /3
Considering that modern humans, due to the Neanderthal assimilation (we carry their DNA), are entirely different from the misnamed extinct pre-contact Homo sapiens, it might be time to rename the latter in order to distinguish them from us, maybe as Homo socialis.
1/N
1/N
Since the Neanderthal assimilation most Homo sapiens have retained their predominantly social nature & therefore tend to ostracise those of a predominantly individual nature who, beginning in the 1940s, are being pathologised with the label of #autism
2/N
2/N
“modern human-specific alleles that could correlate with a shift towards prosociality in modern-humans, we highlight one allele in AVPR1A (rs11174811), found at high frequency and linked to prosocial phenotypes in modern humans,…”
biorxiv.org/content/10.110…
3/N
biorxiv.org/content/10.110…
3/N
This is part of the same process where I take time to COLOR code and BOLD emails to people.
Folks seem SO overwhelmed with information I swear I spend 50% of my time, just making it clear.
A lot of this also helps me with my neurodiversity because I SEE information this way.
Folks seem SO overwhelmed with information I swear I spend 50% of my time, just making it clear.
A lot of this also helps me with my neurodiversity because I SEE information this way.
My brain races to TIMES, DAYS, ACTIONS.
It breaks down sentences into "INFO", "FILLER", "ACTION".
It's so hard for me to just read through emails that are all over the place without a clear CALL TO ACTION.
So when I create documents/emails they are Organized like my mind.
It breaks down sentences into "INFO", "FILLER", "ACTION".
It's so hard for me to just read through emails that are all over the place without a clear CALL TO ACTION.
So when I create documents/emails they are Organized like my mind.
My entire 2018 book was in a guide before I wrote a single word.
My mind sees entire projects at once.
It's really hard and it makes it difficult for me to stay in sync with groups of people.
My mind sees entire projects at once.
It's really hard and it makes it difficult for me to stay in sync with groups of people.
Like many #ActuallyAutistic comrades, I was subjected to ABA as a child. The damage it inflicted on me, my sense of self, and my day-to-day behavior is still very much felt today. ABA instilled in me that I was bad, that I was small, that I was a burden, not good enough🧵🧶
Of course one doesn't need to go thru formal ABA to have these feelings. Those who became self aware or dx later in life have also gone thru behavioral modification, simply via a different process and using different tools. The methods different, the results the same.
Today we are afraid to take up space, afraid to be ourselves, afraid to take our hands out of our pockets, afraid to sing whenever it damn well pleases us. It takes years to undo all of this negative programing and self defeating talk.
#neurodiversity #leadership #Empowerment
🧵1/12 Today was my work business area's conference. I was asked to speak about #ADHD and empowerment and how my boss and I work to create a good environment for me. Below is a little of what I covered.
🧵1/12 Today was my work business area's conference. I was asked to speak about #ADHD and empowerment and how my boss and I work to create a good environment for me. Below is a little of what I covered.
2/12 I realised that usually if I talk about my adhd it's from the perspective of the people I'm addressing, the symptoms they see, and that I'm basically justifying and trying to apologise for my adhd symptoms, like interrupting or being loud.
I didn't do that this time.
I didn't do that this time.
3/12 I talked about how lucky I am to work for an employer who cares about inclusion and removing barriers. About how that wasn't the norm for most ND people. I told them that even in this environment, the behaviours of individuals can undo the good work an organisation might do.
🧵How to recover from autistic burnout.
Once you've figured out you're in #AutisticBurnout, the natural question becomes, how do you get out of it? How do you recover?
Here's my philosophy, in 5 parts.
#ActuallyAutistic #Neurodiversity #AutisticTwitter #AuDHD #AutismAcceptance
Once you've figured out you're in #AutisticBurnout, the natural question becomes, how do you get out of it? How do you recover?
Here's my philosophy, in 5 parts.
#ActuallyAutistic #Neurodiversity #AutisticTwitter #AuDHD #AutismAcceptance
I've recovered from two severe, years-long burnouts, and several weeks-to-months-long ones. I've also been burnout free since 2015!
Over the last few years, I've been helping others create their own versions of this journey.
Over the last few years, I've been helping others create their own versions of this journey.
Everyone is unique, and every recovery journey is unique. Nevertheless, there are some pretty consistent patterns, and my pattern-loving brain has synthesized my own take on what it takes to get out of burnout, and stay out.
🧵 What your senses experience is real. What you feel is what you feel. If you're cold when others are hot, or overwhelmed by noise when others are not, you really are cold, or overwhelmed, etc.
#ActuallyAutistic #Neurodiversity #AutisticTwitter #AuDHD #SPD #HSP #sensory #autism
#ActuallyAutistic #Neurodiversity #AutisticTwitter #AuDHD #SPD #HSP #sensory #autism
Acknowledging sensory experiences is the beginning of acceptance.
Instead of responding like, "You're cold? It's not cold in here. It's hot. Stop complaining. Get over it."
Try responding like, "You're cold? That's interesting, as I'm hot. Would you like a sweater or blanket?"
Instead of responding like, "You're cold? It's not cold in here. It's hot. Stop complaining. Get over it."
Try responding like, "You're cold? That's interesting, as I'm hot. Would you like a sweater or blanket?"
Many of us autistics grew up with people around us ignoring, dismissing, or punishing our sensory experiences. As adults, even a little validation can feel like a huge relief.
1/4 Often Autistic people assigned female birth are missed as Autistic people because for 70+ years research & researchers were only looking for a narrow Autistic presentation.
Lots of women, non-binary people, & men were missed their earlier Autistic identity discovery.
Lots of women, non-binary people, & men were missed their earlier Autistic identity discovery.
2/4 And Black Autistic people & Autistic people of colour are really overlooked, which must change.
My interests, for instance, were not the stereotype of trains. I was dedicated to buying & applying makeup in a meticulous way.
My interests, for instance, were not the stereotype of trains. I was dedicated to buying & applying makeup in a meticulous way.
3/4 I know far more Autistic people interested in snails 🐌 than trains or buses.
We are seeing a shift from non-autistic led theories & understanding of the abstract "autism", to Autistic led theories and discussion about Autistic experience.
We are seeing a shift from non-autistic led theories & understanding of the abstract "autism", to Autistic led theories and discussion about Autistic experience.
A lot of people are tweeting about Jack Black supporting Autism Speaks. Rather than digging at Jack Black for supporting it, I think it's important to explain WHY Autism Speaks has become so prominent and why so many autistic people find it dispiriting.
Given, I've written a book about this and went a bit into Autism Speaks's history, so I kind of know what I'm talking about. It's important to remember that Bob Wright, the former head of NBC Universal, after the his grandson was diagnosed as autistic. 2/
harpercollins.com/products/were-…
harpercollins.com/products/were-…
As @jpitney writes in his book the Politics of Autism, parent lobbying was not that lucrative, even after movies like Rain Man increased autism's presence in the public consciousness. 3/
🧵Common warning signs of autistic burnout:
Either that it is coming soon, or that you’re in it.
Any individual may experience some of these, but probably never all of them.
In no particular order.
#AutisticBurnout #ActuallyAutistic #Neurodiversity #AutisticTwitter #AuDHD
Either that it is coming soon, or that you’re in it.
Any individual may experience some of these, but probably never all of them.
In no particular order.
#AutisticBurnout #ActuallyAutistic #Neurodiversity #AutisticTwitter #AuDHD
Also, all comparisons (more, increased, longer, etc) are using YOUR personal best functional time in life as a baseline. This is not a comparison to others, this is a comparison to you alone.
Getting sick easily.
Taking longer that usual to recover.
Minor, or major, injuries or accidents.
Taking longer that usual to recover.
Minor, or major, injuries or accidents.
When I notice I'm dissociating out of habit or boredom, and don't want to, I find it helps to feel sensations in my physical body as a way to stay in the present moment. Stimming or moving helps that, or deep breathing.
#ActuallyAutistic #Neurodiversity #AutisticTwitter #AuDHD
#ActuallyAutistic #Neurodiversity #AutisticTwitter #AuDHD
This sensations could be anything. Heat or cold, the movement of a finger, discomfort, the feel of clothes against my skin, the sensation of my lungs expanding. Anything, so long as I don't judge it as good or bad, just notice. It's about staying in the moment, nothing else.
A few minutes of this noticing, and I find I'm not dissociating and am more amenable to doing something useful. It still takes a bit of effort to switch tracks, but it's now possible.
Hearing story after story re: non-speaking patients presenting w/significant behavior changes and urgent symptoms, and being dismissed or told they'll get eventual care. After advocacy resulting in faster care, turns out they had bad cavities, kidney stones, etc.
#SafeInitiative
#SafeInitiative
Too many high-support and nonspeaking disabled patients have their basic rights ignored, and are essentially incarcerated in hospital beds because informed and accommodating care is not available/training has not happened.
#SafeInitiative
#SafeInitiative
Now: @DonnieTCDenome is talking about how disabled people being mistreated and mis-accommodated in medical settings can lead to trauma, which in turn can lead to avoiding needed future medical care. This is a significant problem for healthcare access. #SAFEInitiative
1/7 Rejection Sensitivity (alt text in picture descriptions)
2/7 Rejection Sensitivity
3/7 Rejection Sensitivity
1/8 Situational Mutism Pt. 2 (alt-text in picture descriptions)
2/8 Situational Mutism Pt. 2
3/8 Situational Mutism Pt. 2
1/5 Situational Mutism Pt. 1 (alt text in picture descriptions)
2/5 Situational Mutism Pt. 1
3/5 Situational Mutism Pt. 1
Autistic PT Iris @warchall had SO much great advice about supporting autistic people with EDS chronic pain, injuries, dysautonomia, pelvic health issues, & other neurologic issues etc. that we're putting the highlights in a thread. Full interview here:
thinkingautismguide.com/2022/08/autist… 1/
thinkingautismguide.com/2022/08/autist… 1/
@warchall "Each individual PT or OT has their own specialized area of practice and specific skill set. If you need support for a particular issue, it’s best to seek out a PT or OT who specializes in providing that particular support." 2/
@warchall "I want to help my patients discover what strategies they as individuals can use […] and I think I’m more likely to be open to supporting my patients in using “atypical” strategies. I’m less likely to suggest goals that are trying to fit a patient to a “reference norm." 3/
Therapist Tip: 1 in 44 children are now born with #autism A core theme in many #autistic #aspergers #adhd individuals is self hatred or self-loathing, in both the diagnosed & undiagnosed. Many are unaware they are #neurodivergent Many are misdiagnosed or have missed diagnoses
Those who were late diagnosed (after kindergarten) are included. A common theme is growing up feeling 'different', 'not fitting in', being bullied, not being accepted, 'feeling like an alien', not understanding oneself, confusion, negative self-esteem, #adhd #selfesteem
