When you think of a confident person, what comes to mind? My guess is it is a neurotypical idea of what confidence looks like, such as bold body language, assertive eye contact, and quick responses. If you’re Autistic, this idea of confidence may not resonate with you, but that doesn’t mean that Autistics don’t have […]
What does Autistic confidence look like? Read More »
For adults who are identified as Autistic later in life, realizing they are Autistic can be both a revelation and a challenge. The experience often comes with a complex mix of emotions, including relief, grief, and a re-examination of one’s past. It provides a new lens through which to understand lifelong behaviours, struggles, and strengths,
The impact of being diagnosed Autistic later in life Read More »
Navigating life as an Autistic or AuDHDer (Autism + ADHD) involves a unique set of challenges in managing stress, energy levels, and emotional responses. One tool that can offer support is Dr. Stuart Shanker’s Self-Reg framework, a science-based approach to self-regulation. In this blog post, I’ll explore how this framework can be used by Autistics
Self-regulation for Autistics and AuDHDers: applying the Self-Reg framework Read More »
Emotions are a fundamental part of the human experience, guiding our actions, shaping our thoughts, and colouring our perception of the world. However, have you ever paused to consider what emotions actually are? At their core, emotions are body sensations that our minds interpret and give meaning to. The physical basis of emotions Emotions begin
Emotions: body sensations given meaning by our minds Read More »
I’ve been reflecting lately on how we learn as kids in the school system that there is one “right” path to follow in life. This path typically looks like: go to school, graduate high school, go to post-secondary, get a job, get married, have a family, retire, die (if you’re lucky you have many years
Supporting neurodivergent kids and teens to find their own path Read More »
Many neurodivergent people have symptoms of IBS – Irritable Bowel Syndrome. There may be lots of reasons for this, but a common reason that you may not know is the gut-mind connection. What is the gut-mind connection? When our bodies enter a sympathetic autonomic nervous system response (also known as fight-or-flight), blood is diverted away
An AuDHD review of the Nerva gut-directed hypnotherapy program for IBS Read More »
This post is the last in a six-part series on empathy from Autistic perspectives. In this post, we’ll explore the Double Empathy Problem. If you missed the previous five posts, you can find them here: Post 1: alexithymia, Post 2: cognitive empathy, Post 3: emotional empathy, Post 4: compassionate empathy, and Post 5: somatic empathy.
Empathy and autism: the Double Empathy Problem Read More »
This post is the fifth in a six-part series on empathy from Autistic perspectives. In this post, we’ll explore somatic empathy. If you missed the previous four posts, you can find them here: Post 1: alexithymia, Post 2: cognitive empathy, Post 3: emotional empathy, and Post 4: compassionate empathy. What is somatic empathy? Somatic empathy,
Empathy and autism: somatic empathy Read More »
This post is the fourth in a six-part series on empathy from Autistic perspectives. In this post, we’ll explore compassionate empathy. If you missed the previous three posts, you can find them here: Post 1: alexithymia, Post 2: cognitive empathy, and Post 3: emotional empathy. What is compassionate empathy? Compassionate empathy combines cognitive and emotional
Empathy and autism: compassionate empathy Read More »
This post is the third in a six-part series on empathy from Autistic perspectives. In this post, we’ll explore emotional empathy. If you missed the previous two posts, you can find them here: Post 1: alexithymia and Post 2: cognitive empathy. What is emotional empathy? Emotional empathy, sometimes referred to as affective empathy, involves experiencing
Empathy and autism: emotional empathy Read More »
