autistic health – Autism HWB

Scents and Scentsability

Image shows a spider plant and it's shadow on the wall behind

At home, neighbours not withstanding, I have far more control and I choose to create a haven from toxic or unpleasent smells.

Running for Mental Health

This experience changed my life. I’ve become much more confident with who I am and I’m now able to use running as a strength, its become more than an interest for me, its become a passion.

Wellbeing through Weightlifting

What I didn’t ever consider when I began the gym was how good weight lifting is for self regulation. When the barbell is on my shoulders, it almost has the effects of a weighted blanket – it feels really comforting and grounding.

Rhi and Flo's Lockdown Routines

Image shows a fence and wildflowers in the foreground, hillsides behind

We have decided to take a temporary break from publishing our usual posts in order to share how our contributors are handling current lockdown measures.

Problem Solving

Image shows chrysalises at various stages and an emerging butterfly.

There are few things I find more soothing and energising than creating a problem to tangle my brain in. Sometimes when I feel utterly sapped of energy, and completely exhausted, I will spot an issue that needs solving and slowly wrap my mind around it.

Cold Water

Encountering the extremes of cold drew us both into that most clichéd space, the Moment, forcibly pulling our minds away from ruminating on the past or future, or tilling over an endless to-do list.

Option D

Image is of an unmade bed under a window with slatted blinds

“If I don’t actively carve out time to be inactive, I fall apart.”

Mindfulness

For me, mindfulness has become one of my techniques that allows me to make sense of the world around me. It allows me to take control of my thoughts and bring into context how frequently they are overstimulated.

Dancing is Existing

Image is of two hands held in the air, it looks like their tattood owner is dancing.

Once I found out I was autistic my body started integrating more of these moves and so I started to realise that when I’m me, being my open self, it’s normal behaviour and this is a way to cope.

Creativity & Stimming

In 2019 I carried out a study to explore how late-diagnosed autistic women (like me) managed their health and wellbeing. This is the last of four blog posts describing the themes I identified when analysing the interviews