Tag: autistic

Autism and Telepathy

Greetings Earthlings!

This week we’re really going through the looking glass to discuss the notion that nonverbal autistic people have telepathic abilities- a supernatural superpower.

Give me strength!

So where has this notion come from Aoife?

Over the last few months, a podcast called ‘The Telepathy Tapes‘ has been getting a lot of online attention claiming to showcase scientific evidence that nonverbal autists are telepathic. Experiments based on the theories of former psychiatrist Diane Hennacy Powell were conducted where parents and children were separated and shown images, numbers, words etc. and the child used tools to communicate what was shown to their parent, supposedly with 95% accuracy. The podcast also claims that autists can predict the future, see dead people, heal people and meet others in some sort of subconscious plane called ‘The Hill’ (buuutt I’d be here all night if I was to delve into those claims🙈).

But are autists really telepathic?

Whilst I haven’t personally listened to the podcast (as one does not have 10 spare hours to indulge this notion 😛), the feedback from the scientific community has condemned the experiments as pseudoscience. Experts have looked at the videos shown in the podcast (which are conventiently hidden behind a paywall) and it seems that the pseudoscientific rapid prompting method (which I have discussed previously) was used to help the children communicate. This method requires the facilitator to hold a letter board and ask the subject to spell out the answer to a question, but the results can be easily manipulated (either consciously or unconsciously) by directing the board in a certain way or prompting the child to give the answer in other ways.

In the video clips some researchers noticed the parents visibly prompting their children to give the right answers. In one case a child gave the right answer when tested with her mother (who showed signs of prompting behaviours) but they could not replicate this result when tested with her father. This is really reminiscent of an episode of the Simpson’s where they thought Maggie was a genius, but Lisa was subconsciously giving her answers.

From another perspective, these results could also be explained by some autists excellent pattern recognition skills, observational skills and neurodivergent ways of thinking that allow them to make conclusions that may appear like extrasensory perception (ESP). Many of us autists may appear to have somewhat of a sixth sense for predicting the outcome of a TV show, finishing sentences or guessing quiz answers- but it’s all educated guesswork. Even premonitions can be explained by our tendency towards overthinking and imagining all possible scenarios in a situation. I once had a premonition that I might sit on a pile of caramel squares that were setting on a chair in my kitchen while I cleaned. It seemed like a mad notion when I thought it, but of course I did end up sitting on them in the end while distracted 🙈. No superpower about it, I’m just really good at predicting potential pandemonium from years of analyzing my mistakes 😜

The credentials of anti-vaxxer Diane Hennacy Powell are also a little bit sketchy. She claims her medical license was suspended in response to her research and reinstated based on the results, buuuttt the truth was actually related to her medical practices including poor paperwork, boundaries, medication management and response to serious patient symptoms. In light of this, one would seriously question how reliable her research practices are. The field of parapsychology research (i.e., the study of psychic and paranormal phenomena) is a very dubious discipline with results that are difficult to replicate. Flaws and weaknesses have been found in every single study that has every been conducted in this field over the last 200 years. You can read more about the telepathy tapes and how unreliable parapsychology experiments are here https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/critical-thinking-pseudoscience/telepathy-tapes-prove-we-all-want-believe.

While there are many things we cannot explain in this life, it seems fairly clear that autists are not telepathic.

Hope you enjoyed this post dear Earthlings!

Have a lovely weekend!

Aoife

2

Autism and Snow

Greetings Earthlings! 🙂

Happy new year! 😀 As I am snowed in this week, I thought I would take some time to discuss this weather phenomenon and how it can have a ‘polarizing’ impact on autists❄️.

As I’ve discussed in previous posts, autists can be sensitive to temperature and changes in weather, so snowy conditions can be particularly triggering. Extreme cold temperatures and the added glare and brightness from our snow covered environment can be a real sensory challenge. Textural changes in our surroundings can also bring added challenges with new crunching sounds and the feeling of snow against the skin, not to mention the sensory impact of wearing many constrictive layers to combat the cold. There are also additional challenges for those of us who have coordination issues on slippery surfaces (I may have taken a tumble on walk with my dog the other day as a car was coming up the road straight at us🙈) as well as stressful routine disruption due to snow related travel restrictions.

On the other hand, many autists find snowy conditions to be a rather positive experience. They relish the peaceful silence that accompanies snowfall, muffling the often overwhelming noises of the world. Moreover, they view the time out from the hustle and bustle of every day life to be soothing. With dangerous impassable roads (especially in rural Ireland where we are not prepared for heavy snowfall), school, work and social plans are often cancelled, allowing autists to take some socially acceptable time out to retreat from the world. Having had an especially busy and socially heavy Christmas period, I have been particularly grateful for the weather this week as it has allowed me much needed time to recharge my batteries 🙃

Snow can also be a rich source of sensory stimulation for some autists. The simple tactile sensations of running in the snow, making snow angels, rolling snowballs and building snowmen can be soothing, with the added benefit of building your coordination, and spatial awareness skills.

Hope you enjoyed this post dear Earthlings!

Have a lovely weekend! 🙂

Aoife

2

Does Santa have autism?

Greetings Earthlings! 🙂

This week I’d like to take a lighthearted look on whether or not our favourite bearded man may in fact by autistic- yep, I’m talking about Santa Claus!🎅

I know it seems crazy but hear me out, as many people have observed Santa’s autistic traits:

  • Restrictive diet– Santa’s diet is known for being very fatty and restrictive, mainly consisting of milk, cookies and other holiday treats like mince pies. Many autists can relate to this tendency towards beige foods
  • Christmas is his specialist interest– For us mere mortals Christmas comes but once a year. Santa’s entire life however, revolves around this single calendar day and his efforts to make it the best day possible for children all over the world
  • Tendency towards sameness and routine– Santa wears the same clothes day in day out which are loose fitting and comfy (which could be indicative of sensory issues). Moreover, his choice of red clothing is interesting as red is a colour often dismissed by autists, meaning he could have diminished sensitivity to the colour red making it an ideal colour choice for someone with colour sensitivity. Santa also works on the 25th of December every year without fail, completing the same working routine in children’s homes across the world
  • Black and white thinking/rule orientated– Naughty and nice list, need I say more?
  • Repetitive behaviours– Lining up and naming out his reindeer over and over, repeatedly saying Ho Ho Ho, and checking the list twice are all classic repetitive behaviours
  • Avoids social interactions/unaware of social rules– He slips into our homes in the dead of the night, but never engages with us, just get’s the job done and moves on to the next house. Similarly, he is completely oblivious to how casually breaking into someone’s home to deliver presents in the middle of the night isn’t exactly a socially acceptable behaviour 😂
  • Santa is an introvert– Santa prefers to live in his own space in the North Pole far away from the prying eyes of the world with only Mrs Claus and the elves for company
  • Creative thinker- When the whole world bullied Rudolph for his nose, Santa found a way for him to be useful, highlighting neurodivergent creative thinking at it’s finest

So there you have it Earthlings- do you agree that Santa might be one of the most famous autists in the world? 🤔

Wishing you and yours a very merry Christmas and every blessing for 2025!

Aoife

0

Animal Whisperer Autism

Greetings Earthlings! 🙂

Leading on from my previous posts about autism and animals, alpacas, and assistance dogs, this week I’d like to discuss a concept that has been floating around the neurodiversity reels on social media- “animal whisperer autism”.

There have been a number of reels floating around where autists claim to have “animal whisperer autism” and not “good at maths autism”, and I have to admit this sums me up in a nutshell 😂 I have always had a love and affinity with animals that has become increasingly apparent in recent years. It’s gotten to the stage lately where random dogs have pulled their owners towards me for snuggles walking down the street! 🙈

It’s not just dogs, all kinds of animals just tend to gravitate towards me- when I’m out walking my dog the local horses, cows and sheep all come up to the gate or follow along beside us in the field as we go. Once I was pulled out of bed to herd some cows that had escaped into our field (I’ve never herded cows in my life), I just walked up to them and they all randomly formed a line in front of me 😂🐄

@allkindsinmind

I’d rather be the animal whisperer anyway #animalwhisperer #autism #latediagnosedautistic #autisticadult #autistic #actuallyautistic #animallover #friendsnotfood #sheep #cats #catlady #squirrel

♬ This Is The Life – Micky

But is there any explanation for our animal magnetism?

The evidence for this phenomenon is mainly anecdotal, so it’s not an easy one to explain. As I’ve discussed previously, animals have a calming influence on autists, so it’s possible that animals are responding to that calm- like a mutually shared vibe. In addition, studies have shown that some autists have an altered fear response wherein they show less fear than neurotypicals in a scary situation, so where many people might feel nervous around animals, an autist might not have that same fear.

Other explanations could be linked to our intuition and keen observational skills. Temple Grandin, one of the most famous autism advocates, is a leading livestock expert with particular expertise in the area of animal handling. Her observations on animal behaviour and their interactions with their environment have revolutionized humane animal treatment- the ultimate animal whisperer. With animals, there are no confusing social rules or games, so it’s easier for an autist to understand them.

Another wild explanation could be linked to body odour as different smells can control social behaviours. Studies have linked body odour to imitating behaviours in autists where an autist imitates the behaviour of their family in response to smell. If we were to apply this observation to animals, perhaps autists are becoming animal whisperer’s through imitation behaviours where we are subconsciously learning how to socially interact with animals through smell. In other words, the animals could be teaching us how to communicate with them!

However, some autists impaired perception of body odours causes them to misread social cues, so maybe this one is a long shot (or this group are not of the animal whisperer autism persuasion 🤷🏻‍♀️).

Maybe one day researchers will investigate this phenomenon properly. Who knows, maybe there’s a genetic mutation that makes us smell better to animals or some other random biological phenomenon that makes us irresistible to our feathered and furry friends? 🙃

Hope you enjoyed this post dear Earthlings!

Have a lovely weekend!

Aoife

1

Autism in ‘Elsbeth’

Greetings Earthlings! 🙂

This week I’d like to take a look at the neurodivergent character Elsbeth Tascioni, a character that I have been watching for years, first as a recurring guest on The Good Wife and it’s spin off The Good Fight, and now finally in her own show Elsbeth. Played by Carrie Preston, Elsbeth is a quirky, unconventional lawyer who has been assigned to oversee the NYPD as part of an anti-corruption decree, but quickly finds that she has a knack for solving murders! Unlike conventional crime solving dramas, we see the whodunnit portion at the start of each episode, refreshingly sitting back to watch how Elsbeth is going to catch her killer (spoiler alert- she always does🙃).

So to autism- how does this show fare?

Whilst this is another show that does not directly label their lead as autistic, Elsbeth certainly displays many traits of autism and ADHD, with many autistic fans praising the show for a positive female depiction of neurodivergence and executive dysfunction. She is an endearing, unique and highly eccentric character marching to her own beat at all times, never caring what anyone else thinks. Whilst Elsbeth doesn’t tend to display signs of sensory issues, she is often oblivious to social cues, overstepping boundaries, talking about unusual subjects and regularly making people uncomfortable (I mean she’s trying to catch killers- cages need to be rattled 🤣).

She get’s distracted very easily by shiny objects and other items of interest to her, going off on tangents mid conversation and explanations, floating around in her own little bubble without any notice of how the world perceives her. What I particularly like about Elsbeth is how she notices details that no one else does, a trait which makes her incredibly adept at crime solving. Too often we focus on disability, but this show really drives home the unique skills that neurodivergents can bring to the workplace. Elsbeth’s tendency to get distracted at first appears problematic, but it is this eye for detail that makes her an excellent detective. She’s constantly underestimated by her peers for her quirkiness, but always shows her worth by the end of each episode, proving there is method in her perceived “madness”.

Autistic or not, Elsbeth is a delightful and refreshing take on the crime solving drama genre, and I highly recommend it for anyone seeking a wholesome, easy watch- you will leave with a smile on your face for certain 😀

Hope you enjoyed this post dear Earthlings!

Have a lovely weekend! 🙂

Aoife

2

Autism and Meltdown-proof Makeup

Greetings Earthlings! 🙂

Following a recent messy meltdown whilst wearing a full face of makeup (a late night car clamping situation 🙈), this week I’d like to discuss some of my must have products if you want to meltdown proof your face 🙃

If you’re anything like me when a meltdown hits, your eyes unfortunately betray you, tears cascading down your face, often destroying the makeup you spent ages applying that day! On one particularly bad occasion, I had a minor meltdown from the frustration of my car failing it’s NCT, and within seconds my eyes formed pools of congealed black mascara…😂

As such, I now invest in higher quality makeup that can withstand a good cry! Here are some of my top products to meltdown-proof your makeup:

  • Smashbox Studio Skin- this is my go to foundation (on the few occasions I choose to wear it). It’s lightweight, but buildable and most importantly, durable. Once set, it will barely budge. You won’t find tear track marks down your cheeks from the slightest leak. I once wore this to a Green Day concert where it drizzled for the evening. While some did naturally come off in the rain, by 3am my makeup still looked intact 💪 If you want a day time foundation with SPF, I can also recommend Max Factor’s Facefinity (although I’m not the biggest fan of the smell)
  • Benefit’s Bo-oing concealer- this industrial strength concealer can hide a multitude of blemishes and truly lasts against the tide of tears. I also highly recommend YSL’s Touche Éclat concealer for touchups after a meltdown. I often carry this concealer pen in my handbag for nights out as its precision head is ideal to fix any dark smudges round your eyes if your makeup fails you
  • Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow range– These eyeshadow palettes are a must have. They have great pigment and longevity when paired with a decent eye-primer, and won’t run off your face during a meltdown
  • Victoria Beckham Satin Kajal liner- this eyeliner pencil has been going viral the last couple of years and for a good reason! It’s creamy, waterproof, smudge free and the pigment will last all day, even against an unexpected flood of tears
  • Charlotte Tilbury Exagger-Eyes Mascara– and now to the heaviest hitter. The new Exagger-Eyes Mascara has been going viral in recent months and I am here to tell you to believe the hype! It’s smudge proof, humidity proof, flakeproof and clump proof, that can last through sweat, tears and meltdowns! I have even worn this during a spin workout and it did not budge one bit. Word of caution though, if you are spraying a setting spray after applying, make sure that the mascara has dried or else you will find yourself with black rings under your eyes🙈 I also highly rate Benefit mascaras. I started wearing these shortly after my diagnosis and they have survived many a meltdown- there’s a very good reason that Benefit’s mascara range is one of the top sellers in the world. For an everyday option, I recommend their waterproof Badgal Bang- great volume, great pigment and takes industrial strength remover to scrub off 😂

Pro-tip– Avoid NYX Worth the Hype mascara. Worth the hype it may be in terms of look… but that’s exactly the brand I was wearing in the meltdown I described at the beginning 🙈 They have since brought out a waterproof formula though, so if you must wear that brand, make sure to get the waterproof one 🙃

Hope you enjoyed this post dear Earthlings! Never let a meltdown get in the way of looking fabulous 😎

Have a lovely weekend! 🙂

Aoife

0

Autism and Constructive Criticism

Greetings Earthlings! 🙂

Leading on from my previous posts about rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) and teaching students with autism, this week I’d like to focus in on the topic of constructive criticism.

Naturally, no one likes to be criticized, but with autists criticism can be quite devastating. As I’ve discussed many times, autists are black and white thinkers so when criticized, even constructively, we don’t tend to see the positives. Things are wrong and right, so if a mistake is made or an error pointed out, then it’s not just this one tiny thing that’s wrong, we perceive everything about us to be wrong. This can be particularly problematic in an educational setting where constructive criticism is essential to the learning process.

I found criticism particularly difficult in school. As a high achiever, it was a very bitter pill to swallow when I made a mistake. To this day I still cringe about the time I confused Lee Harvey Oswald and Mark David Chapman (I mean they were both high profile assassinations after all, it’s an easy mistake!) and had to embarrassingly hang my head after eagerly waving my hand around like an eejit to answer 🙈😂

In particular I struggled with constructive criticism when it came to art. It was one of my favourite subjects at school, but I was always butting heads with the teacher every time she tried to provide me with constructive feedback to the point that she felt she couldn’t give me any feedback at all based on my reactions. My parents had words with me, but while I adjusted my attitude as best I could, my teacher and I were at odds right up ’til the end of school as neither of us could seem to see the other’s perspective.

When it comes to education, this sort of relationship doesn’t help anyone. The teacher was frustrated with me, I was upset and frustrated with her, and my creative education was suffering as a result. While it is difficult for an autist to deal with constructive criticism, there are some ways to manage the situation.

  • Time and place– Be conscious of the situation and environment. Autists are often hyperaware of their differences, so you don’t want to make a scene in front of their peers that will only add to their distress. Moreover, you need to consider the timing and state the student might be in to avoid conflict. In one particularly memorable moment during my leaving cert (Irish state exams to get into university), my teacher attempted to question my approach and design for my piece DURING MY FINAL EXAM. Naturally in my stressed state, I had a moment and quite loudly gave out to her for disturbing me during my exam! Pick your moments carefully- and try not give feedback in a test setting 😛
  • Be specific– Don’t give vague feedback on areas for improvement. We need specific, concrete advice, otherwise we will catastrophize and drive ourselves demented wondering ‘What did they mean by X?’, or we may invest time working on the completely wrong thing. Don’t say ‘Your essay needs improvement’. Tell them they need to make it longer, include quotes, better spelling and punctuation, make a plan etc. When I worked in a lab and my experiments kept failing, each day for several weeks I was told ‘Not good enough‘, but no one took the time to sit with me and find out that I was missing one step every time (a step that they had failed to include in my instructions). All I knew was that I had failed and had to try and blindly figure it out on my own, which didn’t help anyone. I kept failing, they kept getting angry and my education suffered. Like any construction project, constructive criticism requires clear instructions
  • Focus on solutions, not problems– Similar to the previous point, focus on problem solving when giving constructive criticism. If the focus of feedback is all negative, this will likely overwhelm the student and trigger a meltdown (especially if they suffer from RSD) and they will learn nothing
  • Compliment sandwich– Lead with praise, deliver negative feedback, and close with praise. This can help to soften the blow for an autist making it clear that they didn’t exactly go wrong, but improvements can be made. This piece of advice is not just for those teaching an autist, but can also be useful for an autist who has to deliver constructive criticism to avoid complete bluntness and seeming lack of empathy . The TV show The Good Doctor used this technique to help autistic doctor Shaun Murphy educate his new autistic intern

Hope you enjoyed this post dear Earthlings!

Have a lovely weekend! 🙂

Aoife

1

Teaching a Student with Autism

Greetings Earthlings! 😀

This past week it’s been brought to my attention that I’ve written very little about autism and education/schooling (don’t know how I missed that 🫢), so for the next couple of posts I’d like to dive into this important topic. I’ve previously discussed the topic of learning and autism, so today I’m going to focus in on some pointers for teaching students with autism.

There are so many different pieces of advice for teaching an autist, but here are a couple of the stand out items based on my schooldays:

  • Find positive ways to keep them stimulated– I have a tendency to get bored pretty easily, which would happen a lot in school once I had completed my work. I’d often take out non-school books from my bag to read, or scraps of paper to write and doodle on to keep my mind and hands busy. Buuuuut some of my teachers didn’t like it, and confiscated my stuff 🙈. I understand it feels like an insult to the teacher and the lesson plan, but many autists have ADHD and need stimulation in these moments of downtime. If you notice that your student has a tendency to race ahead of the class, keep extra worksheets or puzzles around, encourage them to read a book (you could recommend a book on the class subject), do their homework or revise something for a test. If they’re already being productive as I used to be, leave them be- check in if you feel they’re not working, but if they aren’t causing trouble let sleeping dogs lie
  • Avoid routine disruption (if possible)- I know this can’t always be helped as schedules change from day to day, but try not to rock the boat where possible. In my experience, I was generally fine with changes to timetables, as long as I had advanced notice. Fire drill during Maths? Fine. A talk from a guest speaker during PE? Super. But drag me out of class when I was already settled in the middle of something… During my final year of secondary school, I had just settled down to my painting in double Art when a teacher pulled me out for a meeting about an upcoming debate (which I was already doing under duress). Well…I threw my paintbrushes down in frustration, I stormed into the meeting with my sleeves up and my apron on and I maaaaayyy have given out to him for interrupting me🙈 I get it, teachers have to try and organize extra curriculars around their free periods, but plucking an autist out of class without warning is best to be avoided (unless it’s something they hate, like if I’d been taken out of Business class😜). Try to catch them between classes and give advanced warning if you can
  • Try to understand their behaviours and perspectives- growing up undiagnosed, I was very lucky with the school that I was in. As a rule follower I didn’t generally have behavioural issues in class, buuuut as any autist will tell you, you’re not in a rational state during a meltdown. I had moments where I acted in ways that would have garnered a note home or detention for other students, but thankfully as I was a good student that was frequently bullied, my teachers put it down to stress and looked the other way. Now I know that we can’t look the other way for everything, autists have to be held accountable like everyone else, but take the time to try and understand the situation and assess why something might have happened. If they didn’t get homework done for example, it could be that they didn’t understand it, or were too overwhelmed. Giving out for non-completion won’t help anyone, but if you take a moment to talk to the student, the issue could be resolved calmly, and may help you to better support them in the future
  • Avoid sarcasm- autists can be so literal, it’s best not to use sarcasm to avoid any issues on clarity. When I was a teenager, we were discussing entering a drama competition in class. I can never remember the exact sequence of events and context, but my teacher seemingly asked me to write the play. I was so excited when I went home feeling privileged to have been asked. In the end however, I got busy, the teacher never circled back and so I never wrote anything. After years with this teacher I eventually realized that she was quite sarcastic. To this day, I still don’t know if the request was genuine or if it was a sarcastic comment to something stupid I said (and with my lack of filter that’s highly likely 😛 ). There were many other incidents with sarcasm and teachers which left their mark, so if you know/suspect that you have a spectrum student, just avoid it
  • Keep your cool, be kind, and don’t let them see you frustrated– this one’s a biggie. I know for a fact that I was difficult to teach at times, and you know how I knew? My teachers didn’t always hide their feelings. It made me feel awful, especially when I would be put down for being myself, never really understanding why they were mad. In one particular incident, I was struggling with a mathematical concept as a young teenager. I didn’t get it immediately and I had a crying meltdown. The teacher went over the concept a second time on the board, and when I still didn’t get it, she was annoyed and frustrated, and angrily moved on implying I was stupid for not getting it. Naturally I understood it perfectly after I had calmed down and my friend went over it slowly with kindness and patience. That incident stayed with me for many years. In Freya Harte is not a Puzzle by autistic author Méabh Collins, this book is full of similar moments like this, moments that can be devastating for a vulnerable student. I know how hard it can be to teach a ‘Me’, I have found myself equally irritated by autists like myself, but you can’t let them know. Patience and kindness are the biggest tools in your arsenal

This list of tips for teaching autists is also a really helpful resource, especially for teachers at the primary level: http://capacity-resource.middletownautism.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2017/04/21-Tips-for-Teaching-Students-with-Autism-Spectrum-Disorders.pdf

As I am high functioning who was largely educated undiagnosed, I can only speak to my own experience. No two autists are the same, what would have helped me may not work for someone else, but I hope you find this post helpful nonetheless 🙂

Hope you enjoyed this post dear Earthlings!

Have a lovely weekend! 🙂

Aoife

1

Autism 10 years on

Greetings Earthlings! 🙂

This week marks a bit of a milestone in my autism journey- the 10 year anniversary of my diagnosis. It’s mind boggling how fast these years have flown by, not to mention how much my life has changed in that time.

In September 2014, I was a complete wreck. I was suffering with social anxiety, my mental health was a mess, and I was struggling with work and the social dynamics of my workplace. I had never been so stressed in my entire life (which is saying something given that I was bullied in school) and was at breaking point. Out of nowhere, I found myself tricked into an autism assessment (kudos to my parents for that 😛 ) and my entire world flipped- but in the best possible way.

Admittedly, things were rough for the first year as I learned to adjust to this newfound knowledge, and it took an additional year to relax enough to not mention the diagnosis every 5 minutes, but my life has ultimately changed for the better. I spent my first 24 years on this earth feeling like I didn’t belong, like a wonky puzzle piece that couldn’t slot into society. Everyone misunderstood me, but I guess when I didn’t even understand myself, how could the rest of the world? Most twenty somethings will have a quarter life crisis on their journey of self discovery, but I had the ultimate one. One little word held the key that allowed me to fully embrace the person I was always meant to be.

10 years later, I barely recognize myself. I’m in a job that I enjoy, I have amazing, supportive friends, and a (very) busy social life. Looking back on my past through the lens of autism, I have become a lot kinder to my younger self, learning to laugh and channel my experiences to help others like me. I feel less self conscious of my differences, know my triggers and how to sidestep them. This has enabled me to grow in confidence to a point where I have never felt more comfortable in my own skin.

Before my diagnosis, I was always shy and introverted, but by fully understanding myself, I’ve been able to unleash my inner extrovert, comfortably smiling and chatting with strangers wherever I go. Having a name for my differences normalized my feelings and gave me ownership, allowing me to overcome my anxieties and manage my sensory issues. I have autism, but autism does not have me.

If you had told me ten years ago what this one little word would do to my life, I don’t think I would have believed you.

I find it quite hard to imagine what my life would look like now had I not received my diagnosis. I have previously discussed if parents should tell their child about their diagnosis, and while the decision depends on the individual, based on my experience I would highly recommend divulging. It was initially a tough pill to swallow, but my life is better for it.

There’s so many things I wished I knew about autism before I was diagnosed, even now I’m still learning every day, but I suppose the biggest thing was to know that I would still be me at the end of it all- just a shiny, happier model. As I’ve discussed on many occasions, while an autism diagnosis shouldn’t change anything in theory, knowledge changes everything for the autist. It’s a lot to process, and it can be hard to see beyond the label, but you will emerge from the chrysalis a fully fledged butterfly. Initially it seemed like autism weighed me down, but that was just my wings poking through ready for flight 🦋

So for those of you working through your diagnosis right now, cringey cliché that it is to say, it does get better. To quote ‘The Middle‘ by Jimmy Eat World:

“It just takes some time
Little girl, you’re in the middle of the ride
Everything, everything’ll be just fine
Everything, everything’ll be alright, alright.” ❤️

Hope you enjoyed this post dear Earthlings! 🙂

Have a lovely weekend!

Aoife

3

Autism and T-Rex Arms

Greetings Earthlings! 🙂

This week I’d like to talk about a somewhat unusual aspect of the spectrum that has been brought to my attention in recent months- T-Rex arms.

Yes- you read that correctly, and no I have not joined the spectrum dinosaur brigade (I don’t think I’ll ever understand the fascination 🙈).

So what on earth are T-Rex arms?🦖

Well, it’s pretty much what it says on the tin. T-Rex arms are when an autist holds their arms in a position reminiscent of the mighty T-Rex- arms shortened and tucked into chest, hands bent forward and curled in like claws.

Ok… but how does this behaviour relate to autism?

This unique posture is commonly observed in autism (and in some overlapping ADHD cases) with many autistic and ADHD content creators poking fun at the behaviour. Since I’ve been made aware of this phenomenon, I keep catching myself holding my hands in this position at random times- most notably when I’m in the middle of a busy task like baking or cleaning.

So why do we do it?

The reasons are quite varied. Some autists say it’s because it feels natural and comforting, some say it’s because they don’t know what to do with their hands. Others, like myself, see it as more of an accessibility issue, where you keep your hands close to your chest ready for action mid-task, or a spatial issue where you have greater control of your hands by clutching them close rather than at your sides.

@clairebowmanofficial

Mr Burns Hands 😭 💁🏻‍♀️ #adhshe #trexarms #adhd #adhdinwomen #audhd #adhdandasd

♬ Funny – Gold-Tiger

But is there a scientific reason?

Here’s where things get interesting. Scientists think that T-Rex arms are a form of stimming, so it’s likely to be a sensory related behaviour. They believe that autists keep their arms close to their chest as a natural coping mechanism to comfort and calm when experiencing sensory overload. In some cases T-Rex arms can be viewed as a sign of impending sensory overload, a form of non-verbal communication that experts advise parents to look out for so that they can anticipate a meltdown and take action as needed.

T-Rex arms have been particularly linked to sleep, with many autists adopting this position when they lay down at night. Experts believe that this helps neurodivergents to relax and sleep better, kind of like how weighted blankets work on the nervous system by applying deep pressure to release calming neurotransmitters. Maybe this explains why I often wake up with numb arms in the morning 🙈😂🦖.

@drjimcostello

Trex hands may mean your system is overloaded #adhd #neurodivergent #fyp #adhdtok

♬ original sound – Jim Costello

Hope you enjoyed this post dear Earthlings! 🙂

Have a lovely weekend!

Aoife

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