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Lou (she/her)🌈 Autism | Finding a place in a neurotypical world 🌎| 📧neurodivergent_lou@yahoo.com
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Mar 31 13 tweets 3 min read
The Media is Obsessed with Autism Diagnosis Being a Trend But the reality is that it Saved my Life and the Lives of Many Like Me...

#Autism #ActuallyAutistic #AutismAwareness #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Disability #Disabled #DEI The Media is Obsessed with Autism Diagnosis Being a Trend But the reality is that it Saved my Life and the Lives of Many Like Me... Slide 2: text reads- Currently, it seems that parts of the media are obsessed with the fact that autism and ADHD diagnosis is trend, acting as if getting a diagnosis is as easy as buying a bag of sweets from ASDA or are comparing a neurodevelopmental disability to knowing your own star sign. It is being discussed as if being autistic or ADHD is just being a ‘little quirky.’  But, to me, that feels so heartbreaking. Because, my autism diagnosis genuinely saved my life and the lives of so many people like me. How did realising I’m autistic saved my life?
Mar 30 16 tweets 4 min read
14 Triggers of Autistic Meltdowns that Other People Find Hard to Understand

#Autism #ActuallyAutistic #AutismAwareness #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Disability #Disabled #DEI All slides have a pink background with black text. All slides have my username @neurodivergent_lou in the bottom left hand corner. Slide 1: text reads - Autistic Meltdowns that Other People Find Hard to Understand Not understanding what is being communicated. It can be really hard when you are continually trying to understand what other people are trying to say but no matter how hard you try, you just don't understand. It can feel like we are the only person who doesn’t automatically understand what is being said. Not understanding what is being communicated This meltdown trigger might be misunderstood as someone being ‘too sensitive’ or distress being interpreted as ‘defiance’ or ‘rudeness’
Mar 1 11 tweets 3 min read
As an Autistic Person, I really struggle to complete tasks which I am being watched…

#Autism #ActuallyAutistic #AutismAwareness #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Disability #Disabled #DEI As an autistic person, I really struggle to complete tasks while I am being watched… Slide 2; text reads - As an autistic person, I really struggle with being perceived or ‘thought about’ by other people. For me, the potential of being perceived can lead to a variety of different feelings including heavy anxiety, a deep sense of discomfort and an 'I want to hide and not be seen' feeling.  One way that this shows up is in really struggling with completing a task if I feel like someone might be watching. Equally, this can extend to struggling to do a task if someone else is in the same room as me, even if they aren’t directly watching me.
Feb 28 13 tweets 3 min read
As an Autistic Person, I often Need to be Alone. It doesn’t mean I don’t like you…

#Autism #ActuallyAutistic #AutismAwareness #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Disability #Disabled #DEI All slides have a purple background with black text. All slides have my username @neurodivergent_lou in the bottom left hand corner. Slide 1: text reads - As an Autistic Person, I often need to be alone… It doesn’t mean I don’t like you… Slide 2: text reads- One of the reasons why an autistic person may need alone time is because we struggle with sensory input. Autistic people may struggle with being hyper-sensitive to sensory input, meaning that sound, smell and taste is amplified for us. My brain is constantly taking in tonnes of sensory input. When you are around other people, there can be associated sensory input. Being alone can give us time to de-compress in a safe space. Sensory Issues.
Feb 11 10 tweets 3 min read
As an Autistic Person, Person, When I say I’m Tired I mean…
#Autism #ActuallyAutistic #AutismAwareness #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Disability #Disabled #DEI All slides have a light purple background with black text. All slides have my username @neurodivergent_lou in the bottom left hand corner. Slide 1: text reads - As an autistic person, when I say I’m tired I mean Slide 2: text reads- My brain is picking up all the layers of sensory input.
Feb 10 13 tweets 3 min read
The Autistic Need to Stay Up at Night to Process, Not be Perceived

#Autism #ActuallyAutistic #AutismAwareness #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Disability #Disabled #DEI All slides have a pink background with black text. All slides have my username @neurodivergent_lou in the bottom left hand corner. Slide 1: text reads - The Autistic Need to stay up at night to process, not be perceived and experience quiet. Slide 2: text reads- Autistic people are often under high levels of stress during their daily lives, whether that be due to sensory issues or communication differences. Similarly, there may be lots of expectations on us, during the day, which are overwhelming and difficult to manage. Staying up at night, can be a way to wind down and to regulate. It can be a time where we can relax and often are not under the same level of stress that we are under during the day.
Feb 8 7 tweets 2 min read
How Might Rejection Sensitivity Show Up?
#Autism #ActuallyAutistic #AutismAwareness #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Disability #Disabled #DEI All slides have a light green ground with black text. All slides have my username @neurodivergent_lou in the bottom left hand corner. Slide 1: text reads - How Might Rejection Sensitivity Show Up. Slide 2: text reads - How Rejection Sensitivity Might Show Up? Interpreting the smallest change in someone's behaviour as rejection. Experiencing deep emotions or numbness in response to rejection/perceived rejection. Often feeling 'cringe' or 'easily embarassed.' Completely hyperfocusing on rejection or perceived rejection.
Feb 6 11 tweets 3 min read
Things you probably weren’t taught about autism at school…
#Autism #ActuallyAutistic #AutismAwareness #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Disability #Disabled #DEI All slides have a green background with black text. All slides have my username @neurodivergent_lou in the bottom left hand corner. Slide 1: text reads - Things you probably weren’t taught about autism at school. Slide 2: text reads- Autism may not be a linear line. Autism may look more like the colour wheel than a linear line from less autistic to more autistic. Traits impact us differently and we may struggle with different autistic traits to a more or lesser degree.   Some autistic people might have high support needs whereas other autistic people might have lower support needs.
Jan 20 12 tweets 3 min read
27 Ways Hyposensitivity Might Show Up As an Autistic Person...
#Autism #ActuallyAutistic #AutismAwareness #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Disability #Disabled #DEI All slides have a yellow background with black text. All slides have my username @neurodivergent_lou in the bottom left hand corner. Slide 1: text reads - 27 Ways Hyposensitivity  Might Show Up As an Autistic Person... Slide 2: text reads- Unexplained injuries due to walking into objects Handwriting with heavy pressure High pain threshold
Jan 6 11 tweets 3 min read
Reasonable Adjustments for Autistic People at Work
#Autism #Neurodivergent #ActuallyAutistic #Disability All slides have a light blue background with black text. All slides have my username @neurodivergent_lou in the bottom left hand corner. Slide 1: text reads - Reasonable Adjustments for Autistic People at Work Slide 2: text reads- Reasonable Adjustments For Autistic People At Work Using Assistive Technology such as, speech to text software. Having support to organise calender/ tasks. Having regular breaks. Having uninterrupted work time. Being allowed to work flexible hours.
Jan 5 13 tweets 3 min read
Autistic people may get used to…
#Autism #ActuallyAutistic #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Disability All slides have a light background with black text. All slides have my username @neurodivergent_lou in the bottom left hand corner. Slide 1: text reads - Autistic people may get used to… Slide 2: text reads- Being lonely in a room full of people. Too often, autistic people get used to feeling lonely, even in a room full of people. Being autistic in a room full of non-autistic people can give you a heightened sense of being different and we may feel like we don't fit in.
Dec 26, 2024 11 tweets 3 min read
Early Warning Signs of Autistic Shutdowns

#Autism #ActuallyAutistic #AutismAwareness #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Disability #Disabled #DEI All slides have a purple background with black text. All slides have my username @neurodivergent_lou in the bottom left hand corner. Slide 1: text reads - early warning of autistic shutdowns. Slide 2: text reads- Early Warning Signs of Autistic Shutdowns Urge to isolate self Difficulty regulating emotions Staring into space Less patience than usual
Dec 24, 2024 11 tweets 3 min read
I went 15 years without knowing that I was autistic ⏪

Here are 7 less commonly know autistic traits I experienced…

#Autism #ActuallyAutistic #AutismAwareness #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Disability #Disabled #DEI All slides have a blue background with black text. All slides have my username @neurodivergent_lou in the bottom left hand corner. Slide 1: text reads - 7 lesser commonly known autistic experiences Hypersensitive of existence in social situations. In social situations, I am so aware of what I am doing and what I am not doing. As well as this, I queue what I feel that I am expected to say and do. For example, I know to quickly look in between someone's eyes so that I look like I am engaging with them, I am careful to ensure that I ask the other person enough questions and make sure I limit my monologues.
Dec 14, 2024 13 tweets 3 min read
45 Apps for Autistics and ADHD’ers All slides have my username @neurodivergent_lou in the bottom left hand corner. Slide 1: text reads - 45 Apps for Autistics and ADHD’ers Tappy. This app has a fidget section, feelscapes and simple arcade games. Anti- Stress - Relaxation Tools. This app has a variety of different stim and fidget toys. Stellarium A planetarium app which is stimmy to watch. It shows what the stars look like above you. 3D Fidget Toys. It has so many different ways to stim including a fidget cube, sand and a toothpaste tube to squeeze. Heat Pad. This app simulates different heat-sensitive surfaces which react to touch. Fluid. This app simulates liquid, gas and water. It creates pretty patterns.
Dec 9, 2024 12 tweets 3 min read
Autistic Traits I assumed I didn’t experience (And How I Actually Did)

#Autism #ActuallyAutistic #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Disability #Disabled All slides have a yellow background with black text. Slide 1: text reads - Autistic Traits I assumed I didn’t experience (And How I Actually Did) Why I assumed I didn’t experience this trait?  Social Difficulties I can’t be autistic, I socialise and communicate in the same way as my (family member [who I now think is likely autistic]) How this trait showed up?  Having to prepare scripts in my head, before socialising Always feeling like I never quite fitted in, like an alien who landed on another planet The absolute exhaustion from socialising, even if it was an event I loved Found navigating social hierarchies impossible For a time, had a special interest in human behaviour and body language, as a way to ‘make up’ for not understand...
Dec 8, 2024 18 tweets 4 min read
Autism and ADHD Inner Conflict

Do you feel this?🤝

#Autism #Neurodivergent #ActuallyAutistic #Disability #AUDHD #ADHD All slides have an orange background with black text. All slides have my username @neurodivergent_lou in the bottom left hand corner. Slide 1: text reads - autism and ADHD  Inner Conflict (image two people in tug of war. Red circle round the person on the left hand side with red text reading autism. Blue circle round the person on the left hand corner with blue text reading ADHD. Blue circle round the person on the left hand side with blue text reading ADHD. Red circle round the person on the right hand corner with red text reading Autism. Autism. Relying on routine and structure to cope. ADHD Needing novelty and struggling to stick to structure.
Sep 16, 2024 11 tweets 3 min read
Autistic Traits I struggle to describe to non-autistic people #Autism #Neurodivergent #Disability #ActuallyAutistic All slides have a blue background with black text. All slides have my username @neurodivergent_lou in the bottom left hand corner. Slide 1: text reads - Autistic Traits I struggle to describe to Non-Autistic People Slide 2: text reads- Autistic Spiky Skills Profile Lots of autistic people have a 'spiky skills set.' This means that we have more variation between our strengths and our weaknesses than for example, a non-autistic person.  I’ve spoken in the House of Lords but I can’t answer the phone to the doctors. When I’m struggling people only see the struggles but when I’m thriving, people only see the joys.
Sep 14, 2024 12 tweets 3 min read
As an autistic person, this is your permission to stop…
#Autism #ActuallyAutistic #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Disability All slides have a pink background with black text. All slides have my username @neurodivergent_lou in the bottom left hand corner. Slide 1: text reads - as an autistic person, this is your permission to stop… Holding yourself to neurotypical standards... As an autistic person, my life got significantly better when I stopped holding myself to neurotypical standards. For example, No longer holding onto the standard of always being productive and pursuing success. No longer holding onto the standard of eating a variety of food that is seen as 'grown up' or socially acceptable.  No longer holding onto the standard of fitting in being the most important thing in life.
Sep 2, 2024 11 tweets 3 min read
As an autistic person, the simple tasks feel impossible and the impossible tasks feel simple #Autism #Neurodivergent #Disability #ActuallyAutistic All slides have a pink background with black text. All slides have my username @neurodivergent_lou in the bottom left hand corner. Slide 1: text reads - Advice From Non-Autistic People Which Confuses me as an Autistic Person Slide 2: text reads- As an autistic person, I have often felt like the tasks which should be simple are often difficult and some of the tasks which other people find more difficult, are actually simple to me.
Aug 31, 2024 9 tweets 2 min read
I thought I was depressed when in fact I was experiencing autistic burnout
#Autism #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #Disability #ActuallyAutistic All slides have a light green background with black text. All slides have my username @neurodivergent_lou in the bottom left hand corner. Slide 1: text reads - I thought I was depressed when in fact, I was experiencing autistic burnout... Slide 2: text reads- For so long, I passed off my autistic traits to other things. For example, I assumed that my communication differences was just social anxiety, my executive functioning difficulties were laziness and my autistic burnout was depression. Often, it seems like we pass off our autistic traits as 'bad parts of our personality.'
Aug 18, 2024 7 tweets 2 min read
20 Ways Slow Processing Speed May Show Up

#Autism #ActuallyAutistic #Neurodivergent #Disabled #Disability #Autistic Image Image