Baby Steps to Diagnosis: Part 3

Following my intake interview, I had some homework to complete before the in-person testing. These were the four questionnaires I was assigned: An online quiz made up of maybe 400 true/false statements. This was the most difficult, since so many of them were judgments or used vague wording or wording so absolute that I wasn't … Continue reading Baby Steps to Diagnosis: Part 3 →

Baby Steps to Diagnosis: Part 2

"I'm seeing a lot of anxiety here." Yeah, that's how you want to start an assessment. But it was true. After close to a year putting these pieces together for myself, it was finally time to present them to an authority on the subject in the hope of validation, which could then lead to some … Continue reading Baby Steps to Diagnosis: Part 2 →

Baby Steps to Diagnosis: Part 1

These are all rolling a little late, since it's been tough to write and edit and publish. Big happenings on the diagnosis front, along with the rest of life, so finding moments of calm has been a bit tricky. I have an appointment for my autism assessment! Two, actually, with a third one TBD. It … Continue reading Baby Steps to Diagnosis: Part 1 →

Autism Book Shelf: Autism in Heels, and Nerdy, Shy, and Socially Inappropriate

I've been building my spectrummy book collection, looking for some in-depth self-portraits from actually autistic people. The first two are both by autistic moms who were diagnosed as adults. I was worried about overlap at first, but as I devoured both of these books within a week, their experiences and styles support the adage: If … Continue reading Autism Book Shelf: Autism in Heels, and Nerdy, Shy, and Socially Inappropriate →

I Went to the Dentist & Now I Need a Nap

Let me begin by acknowledging the fact that I let myself become a cautionary tale. You can keep your judgment to yourself--I've got this one. The last time I went to the dentist, I was having a cavity filled and the Novocaine had worn off or wasn't enough, so I felt everything and they wouldn't … Continue reading I Went to the Dentist & Now I Need a Nap →

Re-examining My Suicide Through an Autism Lens

Oh, where to begin with the content/trigger warnings? Seriously, just an open, graphic recounting and examination of some pretty rough stuff ahead. The title should imply it all: talk of suicide, psychological issues, hospitalization... You can't read this sort of thing without having some feelings about it, so feel free to walk away now. Still … Continue reading Re-examining My Suicide Through an Autism Lens →