autistic wellbeing – Autism HWB

Space as Sanctuary

Image is a hand-drawn floorplan of a railroad style apartment on graph paper, with rooms labeled Transition, Eat, Rest, Work, and Play.

Having a safe-space to retreat to is essential for my wellbeing, and I have designed my entire home to be such a self-accommodating sanctuary. It is the one place in the world where I can feel at ease in my body without thinking about it

Outside

photo of a frost covered teasel with woodland in the background

My home is my haven: an ode to woollen blankets, beeswax candles, glossy plants, locally-roasted coffee and home-baked cake. But I often forget that drawing my comfort zone too close can be cloyingly claustrophobic.

Just Don’t Serve them Tea

photo looking out from a traditional Japanese house to a natural looking wooded garden

When I was in my teens and early 20s, I had a severe panic disorder. It peaked in my second year of University, when I was so anxious that I only attended a handful of lectures. As my world shrank, I realised that I had to do something.

Self-Care for Community

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” — Audre Lorde, A Burst of Light and Other Essays (1988)

Music as Escape

photo of piano keys strewn with out of focus fairy lights

I’m thinking about my brain as I play the piano. I’m not having to work hard every minute to ensure that the words make sense, but instead I’m translating the dots on the page (effortlessly now after more than thirty years) and turning them into a place of safety and joy, coupled with tantalising moments of visceral bodily feedback.

Give The Drummer Some

Image is a photo of a set of well used drums with somewhat battered looking sticks laid on the snare

At school I was that kid who was always playing with his hands, tapping on a desk, or a wall, or a lunchbox, or anything really.

Sleep Strategies

Image is a photo of a full moon in a dark starry sky

#AskingAutistics What are your top tips for getting to sleep and staying asleep?

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.

Creating a Mindful Morning Routine

Image shows a cat on a chair by the window. In the foreground is a table with a vase of flowers and two coffee mugs

This morning routine was not developed overnight but, instead, was crafted slowly over time, with lots of trial and error. It took realizing and accepting my morning reality, and then working with it intentionally. Eventually, a routine developed that created an excellent flow to my day and I knew I hit paydirt.