DrSafariBoob

theautisticcoach, 8 months ago to actuallyautistic

I've been working on a definition for Autistic Burnout for the past couple of years.

To date, there are a number of definitions and understandings of this most dangerous phenomenon.

To me, Autistic Burnout is a profound and enduring state of exhaustion paired with a partial to total loss of particular abilities resulting from the chronic and relentless denial of our fundamental autistic needs by society and those around us and an overabundance of demands and stimuli without sufficient recovery time.

It is characterized by several interconnected factors, including a continual sense of emotional and sensory overwhelm, a persistent dysregulation of our nervous system, and a profound alienation stemming from both camouflaging, not being heard or understood, and at times, encountering disbelief or even hostile responses to one's autistic experiences.

We can continue to break this down into a bunch of various nuances and we should. There are levels (some say 4, some 5, some 6) and I think all can agree that not all burnouts are the same. I think we can also agree that more #ActuallyAutistic humans are in burnout than we may suspect.

@actuallyautistic

theautisticcoach, 8 months ago to actuallyautistic

How do my #ActuallyAutistic comrades know that a meltdown is coming on?

An emotion? A sensation? Both?

#AskingAutistics @actuallyautistic

thequirkybraincoach, 8 months ago to actuallyautistic

I had a powerful realisation about why I need to lean more into my authentic self this week.

Some of you will be aware that two of my deep interests in coaching psychology are the qualities of zest and self-regulation.

Zest relates to your motivation, energy, mojo, "vim and vigour", and a feeling of alive-ness.

Self-regulation is all about the structures, habits, principles and self-care practices you put into place in your life to feel more balanaced and settled in yourself.

A third interest is demonstrating in both theory and practice that the latter creates the former.

That is to say, if you regulate yourself, it can boost your zest.
It doesn't seem like rocket science when I put it like that, but I am the only coaching psychologist currently to say this explicitly and to be developing a theoretical framework on this - and one that can be useful and inclusive in coaching people like us.

But what I've been doing is hiding this.

I have been too scared that people won't be interested or won't find this information valuable.

As such, I've not been sharing my ideas with you - the very people they could help - to the fullest extent.

I've also had an emotional block around actually producing and publishing my research, and around writing a book - something I have always wanted to do but have not yet put into action.

Thanks to a powerful coaching conversation of my own at the weekend, I have decided to draw a line in the sand and stop hiding my autistic research interests for fear of what others will think.

I will be more authentic and, as a result, happier for being and expressing my true self more. On balance, as long as it is safe to do so, we feel better in our skin when our insides match our public outsides. Currently, this is not true for me - I am hiding parts of myself that are important to me, and it's holding me back as a researcher and a coach.

So what this all means for you lovely people on a practical level is that I'll be talking and writing much more about zest, self-regulation, and the connection between the two.

If you're low on energy and motivation, and feel this would be of interest to you, I'd love to hear below...it'll give me a sense that there are people who will benefit from more honest and open sharing of the research I do.

Over the coming months, you'll see me change my branding messages, newsletters, and blog posts to reflect more content on the topics of zest and self-regulation for neurodivergent people...and how we can foster these safely and accessibly in coaching work.

It starts today. I'm drawing the line in the sand.

Wish me luck and continued bravery on this journey! And let me know if this special focus might be of use to you!

Becci (The Neurodivergent Zest and Self-Regulation Coach...wow, I've actually said it!)

#ADHD #Autism #AuDHD #Neurodivergent #Coaching #CoachingPsychology #Zest #SelfRegulation @actuallyautistic

CynAq, 8 months ago to actuallyautistic

Freedom lovin' NT: Yeehaw freedom! Liberty! I'll do me and you do you in your own home, right? No step on snek, right?

PDA autistic: Nope, no. Not even close.

#ActuallyAutistic
@actuallyautistic

theautisticcoach, 8 months ago to actuallyautistic

What does the term "autistic shutdown" mean to you?

How does it differ from an autistic meltdown?

@actuallyautistic

Gtmlosangeles, 10 months ago to actuallyautistic

@actuallyautistic
#ActuallyAutsitic

Are you ticklish? If not, did you used to be ticklish?

As a child, I was ticklish until, at age 11, I decided that I would no longer be ticklish. Since then, I have not been ticklish at all.

I have yet to meet any others who experienced this "turning off" of being ticklish.