I just got my license a few days ago and went to the grocery store and bought my cats litter. I brought an emotional support critter. There isn’t any self checkouts so I also had to get in line to have someone else check me out feeling good today 🥹

I have an interest in fire alarms and their related components. Whenever I go to a new place, I love to take a picture of that building's fire alarms. I really wish to start my own collection of them someday.

The last picture I included because the gray cover on the red plate implied that there was a fire alarm there at some point.

I was thinking about this experience that happened while I was in CDL (commercial driver’s license) training about 5 years ago. We were in a 2018 Freighter Cascadia; my trainer had verified that I had good control of my speed so he kept drilling me on our follow distance. I could visually see we had a safe distance but I kinda suck at estimating the actual measurement. He kept asking me exactly how far ahead the next vehicle was, so I’d switch the digital part of our dash from “speedometer” mode to “front radar” mode to give him the actual measurement, then switching it back to speedometer. He asked why I kept switching back to speedometer mode when we have an analog speedometer dial right next to it, and not thinking much of it, I replied that it wasn’t accurate enough and took too long to read.

This was over five years ago, so I don’t remember exactly what he said, But it was something about being shocked that “kids these days (I was early to mid 20’s) can’t read a speedometer” and amazement that I’d even try to become a truck driver.

I explained that no, I could read it just fine, but that I preferred the digital speedometer because I could tell we were driving at (iirc) 66mph with a 1/4 to 1/2 second glance. If I was using the analog speedometer, it could take 1/2 to 1 second and I’d only have rough estimate of my speed being somewhere between 67mph and 65mph. He went a little quiet after that.

Fast forward to now, 5 years later, and I own my own truck and am constantly frustrated that sometimes my truck will let me set the autojake at 1mph over my cruse control and sometimes it won’t let me set it below 2mph over my cruse control, but that’s a story for another time.

hai everyone so im 20 and have been vaping since I was 15 and today I decided that id quit and go cold turkey. has anyone done something similar and got any advice? I feel like now, vaping has become almost a stim in some kind of way, like the process of bringing it to my lips, leaving it there for a few seconds etc if that makes sense? has anyone done anything similar and have any tips?

I'm a late diagnosed autistic, 25NB. I studied animation and my thesis project is a pitch bible for an animated short about an undiagnosed young autistic girl, along with an animation sample and an essay explaining the relevance of the project and the process that went into making it.

One of my thesis reviewers is a woman film teacher that specializes in film as a way to help children that belong to marginalized communities, and children in general as a way to express themselves. All other reviewers are animation teachers.

All my other reviewers have said the project is done, no feedback, but the film teacher did send feedback, some which I'm gladly taking into consideration, but she also told me that I should change "autistic person" to "person with autism" and "disabled people" into "people with disabilities". She claims that's what is correct when taking a "human rights" approach as these are only features of a person and not their escence, but I highly disagree.

I don't agree with person first language because I don't have autism, i am autistic and it is a part of my escence. I would be a completely diferent person if I wasn't autistic. I also don't think being disabled is a bad thing. It may not be a person's escence when it's not a neurodevelopmental issue like autism or adhd, but still, it's nothing to be ashamed of.

I don't know how to push back on this feedback since I'm a very non confrontational person, and I've gotten in trouble for correcting teachers plenty of times in the past. I'm worried that me not taking her feedback might make her take away points on my score, but I won't compromise my values for this and use person first language.

How should I go about this? We're in mexico so people are not as well educated on these topics as other places.

I always end comming along this experience, and it always makes me feel really bad.

"Just keep at therapy!"

"Keep working you communication!"

"You have to do it!"

Why is it so that Autism for me and so many others is treated as a quirky trait, when other people can have it and are not expected to burden some of societies flaws and habits?

Why is blame always placed on the individual if they have problems conforming and existing in this world?

it just makes me so sad, beause this is not just depression or a phase, i will have it for my entire life, but people always treat me like i'm always a good therapist away from being normal.

I’m a 29F, and I’ve been seeing a 35M for five months.

His profile: He’s extremely analytical, emotionally restrained, and socially awkward. He has a very distinct, flat, monotone voice with almost no variation in pitch, regardless of context. I assume it's atypical prosody, and in general, things he does (eg fixated with specific hobbies) make me think of the autistic spectrum, without of course diagnosing him). He also gets visibly self-conscious around me, even in relatively minor situations. From what I’ve observed, his relatives seem to already know how easily he freezes, stutters, or shuts down in social situations, and I’ve actually seen them speak to him almost like he’s a child to gently guide him through those moments. Regardless of these though, he is very capable of doing his work and has a high iQ (he is an architect and also scored very very high in the Greek college exams).

Recently, he decided to end things, saying he no longer felt what he thought he should. When we met to discuss it, I calmly expressed that I genuinely liked him and was sad about losing what we had. I didn't cry nor beg.

He then cried intensely for approximately 1,5-2 hours (in a public space), which was completely out of character for him. He hugged me tightly, asked to keep walking when I was ready to leave, and repeatedly stayed physically close to me, while I remained relatively calm.

He told me, through tears, “I’m at fault. You did nothing wrong. You do everything right.” After my monologue, he never mentioned the breakup again, despite having clearly communicated his decision beforehand.

When he brought me home, he was still crying. I gave him a drawing of a personal moment we’d shared, and he hugged me tightly and initiated repeated kisses on my lips. Less than an hour later, he texted to thank me, and we chatted normally. Over the following six days, we continued communicating occasionally, but he never brought up the breakup or that evening.

Until then, for 5 months, kisses on the lips were "strictly" done before intimate moments, he would never kiss me out of nowhere. So what he did that day, felt a lot weird to me.

Honestly, my reaction to all of this is just a giant "WTF?". I am completely bewildered and trying to make sense of what I just experienced. How do you guys read this entire situation? Can he be feeling embarrassed after crying in front of me?

i have seen multiple different logos for autism and i want to know which one you personally think is the best out of these examples or any other ones. not really for any particular reason im just curious :)

I'm F35 and have just been diagnosed with autism. I was also diagnosed with ADHD earlier this year.

I've gone my whole life not understanding why I felt different to other people, why I was bullied at school for being weird, still being called weird as an adult etc. always wanting everyone to like me.

For the first time in my life I feel like I can breathe in my own skin. I am finally happy being myself. Like I don't need to fake things to fit in with other people. I finally feel safe. I feel so much lighter.

I think I just needed to write this down somewhere and to be seen by people who actually get it. It feels very freeing.

Sorry small rant before I get ready for work cause I keep procrastinating making lunch to pack.

I'm so tired. When I'm in my room alone and not on my phone, I think everyone in the world is cool and interesting even if I don't know anyone outside of my family/coworkers. I think everyone in the world is beautiful in a sense (not in that way, I'm a celibate and a lesbian). When I actually have to be around these people, everyone in the world is so... Hateful? Idk. They use "r-tarded" like it's as common as the word "and", they claim words like "overstimulated" when they're just normal and overwhelmed.

The few coworkers I have treat me like how others did at school (including art kids, those bitches were fake at liberty mo) , so inhumanely. I can tell them anything and they look at me like I'm an idiot or brush me off. I'm so tired but I can't let these pathetic organics win.

At the end of the day I just want to dissapear.

me again

Ive been wondering how to get rid of my special interest (ive talked about it on here in the past) and someone told me "you cant get rid of RRBs", is that true

ive searched online before posting this and nothing has told me 💔

edit: i dont want special interests in its entirety

People: do you like cats?

ME be like:

Hello good folks, ive been struggling with an autistic burnout/deep depression brought on by workplace harrasement. I stopped working about 2 years ago now and can still barely function because of some intense skill regression.

One thing i just recently restarted doing is art and it can be soooo freeing! The one thing i can do without feeling like a prisoner of my mind.

I am curious. What hobby do you guys have that brings you peace?

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post im not sure where to post it

I'm 17 and have mild autism. I'm in a program meant to help me build a routine so I can get back into school or work, but I haven't been going because I've been struggling too much.

Lately everything feels worse. I feel useless and I avoid mirrors because I hate how I look. My suicidal thoughts are getting stronger, and I often think about how and where I'd do it. Today I held a knife against my thigh and was too scared to cut.

I can laugh and switch moods in a second while feeling awful inside, so I feel like I'm faking it. I've tried therapy with different people and formats, and nothing has

helped.

I keep telling myself it doesn't count because other people have it worse, but that doesn't make the feeling go away.

I'm also scared of losing my only close friend. He's 18 and from the program. We haven't talked in a while because we've both been struggling. Texting is hard for me and I always feel like I'm bothering people.

I don't know exactly what I'm hoping for. Maybe just to not be alone with it for a minute.

If you felt like this at my age and it got better, what changed things for you?

I hate myself

Does anyone else get unreasonably excited about things like a new laundry basket or cleaning supplies? I got my new laundry basket today and I am on cloud 9 whenever I think about it. I also love getting new cleaning supplies. I got a dust mop to use for the walls and ceiling and I am so excited to use it.

No one around me would ever be this excited about things like this.

I'm a high functioning autistic guy who, after a year of burnout and neurological issues, lost some cognitive abilities and started struggling more with social interactions. I used to compensate for my autistic traits through analysis and pattern recognition, but those strategies don't work as well anymore.

Here's my experience with meds:

• Lurasidone (low dose): Calming, but severe akathisia.
• Aripiprazole (low dose): No noticeable effects.
• Pregabalin/gabapentin: Anxiety relief, almost like benzos, but rebound issues and weight gain.
• Tianeptine: Mild euphoria, nothing special.
• SSRIs/SNRIs (sertraline, venlafaxine): Horrible side effects, severe headaches and flu-like symptoms.
• Bupropion 150 mg: More drive, little else.
• Lithium: Helped depression but made me feel cognitively slower.
• Memantine 10 mg: Improved social functioning, but I felt less intellectually sharp. Still taking 5 mg.
• Guanfacine 2 mg: Helps reduce overthinking.
• Lisdexamfetamine 50 mg: Incredible focus on day one, but later caused severe derealization and mood elevation that felt close to mania.
• Currently trying lamotrigine.

I'm looking for something that helps without sacrificing cognitive sharpness.

Any autistic people here, especially those in cognitively demanding fields like programming, who have experience with lamotrigine? Did it affect your processing speed, memory, creativity, or social cognition?

Whenever I watch these I get sick with envy that some people can do stuff knowing they have work later and not be panicking nervous for work. I know it's social media and it's not all real, but these people will be peacefully making their coffee at 4am before hitting the gym seeming completely unbothered by their upcoming work shift. Especially in this job market there's no way these people all have great jobs that aren't toxic. They just know they'll be accepted for who they are, so they can enjoy themselves outside of work. Jealous.

Hello im 13 and in a special kid class,i was talking with my teacher and she say autism is not a disability

I told her yes it is!

She say : i know but its not a disability still

I told her whats wrong with being disable

Then she stopped talking and went back to her desk

What wrong with being disable? Isint autism a disabilty

hello, I would just like to know if what I have been experiencing sounds like autistic burnout? so basically for a while now I keep experiencing rapid racing heart that happens constantly even when I’m not even thinking of anything anxious, I feel burning in my chest and throat a lot, I feel sick a lot, I feel dizzy and faint and my head heats a little and also my daydream thoughts are all over the bit, they go so fast and make zero sense and are all disconnected to the point it’s absolute hell. I shake quite often where my teeth are chattering though this happens less frequent and I feel like I’m gonna vomit fire. I also can’t enjoy movies when I try watching a movie I can’t get interested in it and it feels it’s going on so long and is so uninteresting any kind of movie at all and all I wanna do is doom scroll, when I try getting out of bed to stop feeling lazy and to actually do stuff with my life the sickness just feels so much worse. does this sound like autistic burnout? and if so what should I probably do? and for extra information I’m 19 years old and a guy and I live with my mom and dad who keeps saying it’s probably just panic since I have had severe panic attacks in the past that have not been treated. I have an appointment with the mental health team but it’s delayed by months. just extra information in case. but basically I would just like to know does it sound it could be autistic burnout?

I don’t enjoy water or juice nor soda, I like cows milk but I’m unsure how hydrating that is and I’m lactose intolerant. I’ve had previous health issues due to dehydration and I’m curious how some people work on being hydrated.

I have tried “forcing” myself to drink water but if I don’t like it It’ll just kind of sit there and if I do drink it I’ll feel too sick to finish it.

One thing I like to drink is occasionally seltzer water and Coke Zero mostly because the sugar in full sugar soda has a weird aftertaste and feeling on my tongue and any other sodas have unlikeable flavors.

I was lying on my stomach in bed, rubbing my feet together, and I noticed that when I wasn’t paying attention, my jaw would clench while I did that. I had my mouth guard in, so I thought, “What the hell, let’s see what my body wants to do.”
So I leaned into it.
As my jaw clenched tighter, my feet stretched out. Then the muscles in my legs tightened, followed by my stomach, chest, and arms. This all happened within a few minutes.
As my whole body tightened, my head felt like it was vibrating. Not literally, but that’s what it felt like inside my head.
It didn’t last long, and then my body just relaxed.
It felt amazing. It was bliss**.** I’m not sure I’ve ever felt that much at peace during my entire adult life.
Then I fell asleep. I didn’t wake up at all last night, and I usually get up 3–4 times a night.
Anyway, I just wanted to share that and see if anyone else has had a similar experience.

I'm alt, and I love the idea of having some color on my lips, I have multiple lip products that I've tried but I just wipe them off right after ...

I hate product transfer to my water bottle, I hate not being able to reapply my vaseline but the worst part is the STICKY FEELING! I can't handle it... I'm always focused on it, and on what I'm drinking, if people can tell it's transferring, just lots of anxiety over it.

I've tried lipsticks, lipstains, lip liner etc... It always claims to feel like nothing and it's never like that.

I don't wear foundation or complexion products because I hate the feel, but I love a bold eye and I feel stupid when the top of my face is all decorated and nothing on my lips, does anyone know of a product that actually doesn't feel like anything?? Or is it a lost case?

Hi everyone.

I was diagnosed at 57 after a lifetime of shite.

I am 62 now and spent the last 7 years in bed completely burnt out. No job. No ability to work so no house. Homeless in a caravan and dead poor.

I had enough a few weeks ago after my dog died. I had no ability to live a life or do anything. Everything was painful but I didn’t even realise. My senses were overloaded by the smallest noises or lights. There was too much pain and not enough in my life to cling to.

One night 2 weeks ago, i had a severe headache and out of focus eyes so I went to the ER. You don’t do that in NZ. It was the worst place in the world. Waited 20 hours. When I finally saw a doctor and had a CT scan, panic, thinking brain tumour. I was fine with that but had hoped my end would be less painful.

After a couple of nights in hospital just crying, the doctors came to see me the next day after an MRI from the depths of hell. They said the MRI was fine. They mentioned a new medication and sent me off.

I started taking pregabalin. Omg. I am a new woman. I have a better outlook on life. I have no more pain, I didn’t even realise I had. I got straight to work and overdid it. My body is frail.

My back started to hurt and I peed my pants. Not like Woops I need to and and didn’t quite make it. More like my waters broke. So emergency back to hospital. No waiting this time. They didn’t really take it seriously because I don’t communicate properly and when they ask me my symptoms, I have no idea. They did a CT scan, said it was nothing and sent me home. I felt ejected immediately. Taking up space. Useless breather.

Now I am home and still in a way better place mentally but I am sad for me. The me who was never diagnosed. Never got help. Never know the terrible effect of a life masking. Never know the pain it caused my nerves and how they were all basically zapped because of the life I have had to live in this body with this brain.

I still have back pain and it’s running down into my leg. I’m trying to do things that need doing. Hoping still to get some sort of life going again.