autistic – 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

A Meat Based Diet

I think so clearly, my mood is stable, digestion good, my stiffness has resolved and flexibility returned, chronic pain disappeared, and overall quality of life has improved greatly, despite the diet being quite restricted.

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?

Pilates for Autistic Bodies

Photo of flat pebbles balanced in a pile on the beach

I am an autistic woman, I have been working in the autism field as a mentor, adviser and advocate for many years but I trained as a Pilates teacher in 2016 with the aim of providing more autism friendly teaching and classes.

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.

Gardening and Recovery

Image shows a long strand of daisy-like flowers

I started to search for activities I could do outside that didn’t exert too much physical energy but kept me busy enough so I wouldn’t go stir crazy. We had one unused raised bed in the garden; I claimed it as my own.

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.

Making Time for Art

Image shows a group of people standing in front of paintings in an art gallery. The photo has been taken with slow shutter speed so that the people are blurred and the paintings are in focus.

Life as an autistic woman can be hard going sometimes, a balancing act between necessities that take energy from me in exchange for the means to survive and the pleasurable pursuits that replenish and restore

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.