🧵 Are you hiding your natural Autistic reactions from people? Maybe you've done that so much, for so long, that you don't even notice anymore. Here are the top 20 signs that you might be masking your autism.

#ActuallyAutistic #AutisticTwitter #ADHDTwitter #AuDHD #Neurodiversity So, where do these top 20 signs come from? In November and December of 2022, mostly, I tweeted over 60 examples of everyday situations that might be signs that you’re masking your autism.

🧵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 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:
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If you're working on:

#burnoutrecovery
#AutisticMasking
#sensory quality of life improvements
figuring out your wants and needs

trying to get better at noticing and responding to what's going on in your own body is an essential part of making progress.

#AutisticBurnout
1/7 If don't know what's going on inside come on you can't tell when you are pushing too hard, or what things are affecting you, or how, whether your being your masked or unmasked self, etc.
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🧵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 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.

Notice even tiny moments when there's no panic attack, and stress is a tiny bit lower. Simply remind yourself in the slightly better moments that it is slightly better.

#MentalHealth #AutisticBurnout #Depression
1/4 As opposed to just waiting for it to be bad again, or discounting that it is slightly better because it's worse a lot of the time.
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🧵about autism "treatment"

When I got my #autism dx (at 35) and started trying to figure this stuff out, I scoured the Internet, researched standard “treatment” options, and searched high and low for anything that would help.

#ActuallyAutistic #AutisticTwitter #AutismAcceptance I was quickly frustrated that most autism services were only available to kids, but later learned that most of those were crap anyway. So, blessing in disguise.

🧵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 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.

🧵 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 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?"

🧵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 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.

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 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.

Let's make a list:
How can NTs be a better friend to autistics?

My students asked me this yesterday, and we had a great discussion. I'd love to gather more ideas.

#askingautistics #ActuallyAutistic One of our suggestions: use more tone tags. And in person, tell me when you are being sarcastic/joking if it looks like I don't get it.