You read the title. I also feel very embarrassed that I cannot tie my own shoes. :(

Anecdotal info dump: I remember watching a person a while back that is autistic and TikTok would delete her comments at the time she used the word "autistic" or "autism" and this greatly upsets me like people staying not to use the word "disabled" and these are usually able-bodied and a reminder people not asking what WE find offensive. Although I find it odd that we replace offensive words with other things like the retarted, special, neurodivergent, neuro-spicy.

Could you imagine people removing ♿ access because It was deemed offensive or sorry sir your cane is offensive please use your hands to find your way around.

It's my birthday 🎂 today and it just really seems like no one cares about it no more. I'm sitting here celebrating it by myself. No one sang to me I bought my own cake and ice cream and I'm in here enjoying it while everyone else is in the living room. I see so many other people on their birthdays doing something special with their family and friends and I'm even the cheerful one wishing happy birthday to people ik and I'm close to but no one seems to care come my birthday... It just really sucks and it hurts a lot. My 11 year old sister even wanted to sing happy birthday to me but my mom said no. I just wanted one small birthday celebration.

My noise canceling headphones broke after about five years and I don't think I can fix them I'm legitimately so distraught :( I don't want to have to get new ones I want these ones and I'm so frustrated cause now I'm gonna have to adjust to new ones!!!! I'm so upset with myself for not being more careful. I hate change I hate having to get new items when they break or anything it's so hard to get used to a new item especially when it's something I've used daily for so many years.

I'm just so upset and I feel silly for being so upset over this but I am

RIP to my headphones, I guess 😭🎧

I sometimes see these memes and people talking about how they remember that time they gained consciousness when they were children. But I still feel like it happens to me on and off every now and then.

I remember seeing this conversation among autistic folks about how for us everything feels like the first time even when we've done the thing before, because it's still the first time you're doing the thing in this very moment which is a different moment from the other time you did the thing. And I was thinking maybe it also applies to simply existing?

So I was wondering if suddenly remembering you exist and feeling lost and confused as to what is happening and where you are, what you're doing, etc. is something common among autistic adults?

Not sure if the flair fits but I feel like it kinda does cuz it's really weird and disorienting when it happens in the middle of running errands for example lol

(I apologize if my grammar is incorrect, as English isn’t my first language. Or if the post is mislabeled or not allowed😅✨).

I (24F) has recently moved out from my parent’s house, and have been navigating living alone for the first time. It’s difficult for me to be in social settings for a specific event, let alone by myself. Especially since I also have an anxiety disorder…

But today I did something… I went out to a sushi restaurant near me, and so fair it’s going ok 👌

I’m proud for trying something new on my own, even though it’s hard.

My heart is slightly racing, but I’m enjoying the food 🍱✨

My boy was 1.8 years. Around January, I noticed his testicles were really swollen and I booked a vet appointment ASAP! It turned out his testicles weren’t swollen, he had two large hematomas (blood clots) behind his testicles. We were given steroids that were meant to make him clot properly again and reduce the blood clots. The side effect of the steroid was weight gain. But instead, he lost a LOT of weight and I could feel his spine sticking out which is so weird because he was eating very well and he was doing his normal ratty things. His blood clots were also growing.

We went back to the vet after 2 weeks and I could see the vet’s face. I just knew it wasn’t good. We discussed all options - even surgery but according to the vet, the chances of him coming out of surgery was 20%. The chance of him bleeding out on the operating table was 80%. There was absolutely no way in hell I would have put him through that. We decided the kindest option would be to euthanise him. I spent the weekend with him giving him loads of love and treats and everything he could ever want. I was a mess pretty much all weekend crying, picking up Opal, hugging him and he licked my tears and gave me kisses.

On Monday, we arrived to the vet. We were actually quite late - my vet was supposed to leave at 4:30pm to pick her kids up from school and that is the time we arrived. God bless her soul, she stayed back to comfort me and got someone else to pick her kids up. It meant a lot to me. Opal was in my shirt, eating some biscoff off my fingers. He was euthanised shortly after. Though, it was the only way to give him peace, I really hated that decision. I really wish there was something else we could have done. I would have literally spent thousands of dollars on him if it made him better.

People may see just a rat, but I see so much more. He was my literal soulmate. It felt like he knew me inside and out. If I was having a bad day, he always lifted me up. I have 7 other rats whom I love dearly but I have never loved anyone or anything as much as I did Opal. He was the leader of the group. He had a large presence. Without him, it feels like there is a large lonely silence echoing in my room. I miss him so much. He was the best boy. The first day I got him, (last pic shown) he was cuddled up to me. I bonded with him from day 1. I am attached to him immensely and it is so hard to accept the fact that he’s gone. He was perfect.

I hate the fact that I am attached to animals whom have such short life spans but they are my coping mechanism. Sometimes I want a break from owning rats but thats honestly not an option for me. They are a huge part of my life. If I didn’t have them, I think I would go back to being in my severe depressive state.

Sonic voiced by: Me lol

My baby girl Armani crossed the rainbow bridge yesterday.

Friday she wasn’t well when I got home and knew it was time for her to go. I called up my close friend and see if she wanted to come over because I said i was letting her go tomorrow. They came over and hung out for a while.

Armani got treated to a steak, pup cup, and other treats from everyone. Still wagging her tail, begging for scraps from our food, and just being herself.

I was calling off work that day anyway but I couldn’t even sleep. Though I slept for like hour and half and woke up to her wanting to go outside. I was out with her and she went down again and pretty sure she had a seizure.

I got her inside and she went to lay down on the bed and I couldn’t go back to sleep. I waited until 8 to call the vet and it was the hardest phone call I had to make. My mom said she was bringing my nephews over to say goodbye. My oldest who’s around 16 grew up with her since he was around 3.

We were soon heading to the vet and I held her close until we got there where we were meeting my close friend, her husband, and child. When we walked in she went down again and peed on the floor. I felt like it was a sign saying I’m making the right decision.

There about six of us in the room and the vet talked us through everything. Few minutes later she came back for the first shot they will take ten minutes until she falls asleep. She was giving few more treats before hand and given a chocolate Hershey kiss. No dog should go to heaven not knowing what it taste like.

Ten minutes later she’s sleeping and snoring in my arms. The vet came back in and proceeded for the last shot. I’m m still holding her kissing her head. The vet checked her heart and said “she’s at peace now”. And we all lost in the room crying as I held her hand tight.

My fiancé asked my friend if we can have a moment with me him, and our roommate. We held her, holding her paw and crying more. I soon asked my fiancé if I can have a moment alone with her and they did. I cried my eyes out holding her not wanting to let her go.

I’m going to miss you Armani. RIP 2012-2026

like i’ve never related more as an autistic person

i laughed at this scene and i loved it because i related so hard 😭 like when someone parks in the spot you always park in or sit in the seat you always sit in, it is a disruption in our routine, and it’s like “that’s my spot, you stole my spot” as if there are assigned parking and seats 💀

Hello. My hair is very special and important to me. I went to get a haircut and I asked for something specific (just mantaining the haircut I already had but fixing it since it's been a while since I had the original cut) and the person said they would do what I wanted but when they finished they said “I actually did something kinda different” and the reason was that THEY didn't like what I had. I was absolutely distraught and I masked how upset I was until I hit the streets and then I had a meltdown. I feel kinda stupid because “it's just hair” but my hair is absolutely important to me and now I have to bear with a change I didn't ask and I have to take it with me everywhere because it's ON me. People tell me it's common for hairstylists to do this kind of thing but I am flabbergasted. If the world was ruled by autistic people this kinda thing would never happen /hj we would never force change on another person or disrespect their requests. I am so so upset by this that I can't wait for it to grow so I will get it fixed as soon as I can by another person

EDIT: Thanks for your comments. Now that I'm calmer I think the person maybe just didn't know how to do what I wanted and tried their best, instead of just being honest (which is still not right, but yeah). That's sadly common, and I will tell them politely that I'm not satisfied with the result, because it's the right thing to do. Thank you for being kind ❤️ I know that me being upset is valid, even if this is a common situation in the neurotypical world. (Edit 2: better wording)

I get this so bad and it makes me put off things that come out even though I was so excited. I was so excited for omori the day the very first trailer came out and was obsessed and when the game finally came out years later? Still haven’t played because anxiety said not yet. Needy Streamer Overload the anime finally came out? Anxiety says not yet :( I am microdosing it in the form of clips tho. I DESPISE this part of myself and it makes me so pissed off and embarrassed and feel like a fake fan. I think it’s like the excitement is so overwhelming it makes me feel anxiety?? Idek. Does anyone experience this??

My bay girl hasn’t been doing well. I took her to the vet a month ago and the vet did an X-ray and said she has an enlarged heart. Before I took her the first time she has been collapsing and falling down. She will lay there for a few seconds and get up or I’ll help her up. Sometimes she’ll urinate.

They gave her meds for her heart and I know it wasn’t gonna be an easy fix. She will still have slips and go down breathing heavy and we’ll rush over to her comforting her.

One Tuesday my roommate texted me at work saying come home if you can Armani isn’t doing well. I called him and I can tell he was crying. He said he took her out and before she got in she went down and he believed she had a stroke.

I left work after telling my supervisor and rushed home crying my eyes out saying “that’s my baby. That’s my baby girl.”

I got home she walked up to me from getting up from her bed but soon went back to her bed. We took her to the vet and they said her heart wasn’t working well and gave me meds for a weeks worth to help with her breathing. Before they came in she did go down and peed in the room which we cleaned up.

They said at this point it maybe time to think of having her put to sleep. She walked out to get a quote for it and how much cremation would be. After she left I cried hard and my friend was there to comfort me.

I’ve had her since 2013. I rescued her and she rescued me. My family has lost 7 dogs and it never gets easy. I feel i have a date set for her to cross the rainbow bridge. Day before I’m gonna give her the best day she ever had.

I posted maybe 2 or 3 years ago about this. My writing skills being really shitty. Chicken scrap. Before it was legible and understandable to others but now, nothing. No one can understand my handwriting. I write literally everyday, I teach so I need to write on a smart board, although it automatically fixes the writing and makes it legible.

When I write on paper, horrible. No one can understand. It's just a bunch of loops and squiggles.

First one says "imagine you are a photographer," Seconds says "Is AI trust worthy" Third says "Are m___ d___" idk what it days tbh. Fouth says "Does my crush like me"

I've slowly given up grading my kids papers, I've gotten a number stamps, my signature stamps, words of encouragement stamps and if I really have to write, I use the smart board.

If not, I used a word document and type everything out. 😀 I feel, like I don't deserve to teach because of it but I've found work arounds.

So to those who said it gets better, no... it has gotten worse.

I just needed to get this off my chest. That I probably will never write legible again.

This is my best friend Daisy, unfortunately today she was put down as she was in pain.

I'm lost, she was my best friend and companion we spent so much time together and we understood each other. We loved communicating with each other, I would talk to her and she would chirp/meow back everytime. She was always excited to see me and would always want fuss or to sit with me we just loved being in each other's presence.

There's now a massive part of my life missing. I keep hoping she will appear somewhere out of one of her sleeping spots.

Not having her around is gonna be so fucking rough :(

I recently moved out of my parents’ place and I’ve discovered that I like being naked around the house. I never really had the chance to do that before, but now that I live on my own it feels so nice

Clothes always felt kind of annoying or uncomfortable to me, so not having to deal with them is super freeing. I guess I have become a nudist now!

Does anyone else here do the same thing or something similar?

Okay so my bf is an autistic eater, he only eats pasta with cheese and doesn’t add anything besides just cheese. He wants to add something but sauce’s n stuff make it worse for him, is there any way to improve his pasta game without making his sensory issues go brr?

Photo 1: my white board, where all appointments, scheduling, notes, or important papers go. I also keep track of days. It's a cheap Walmart board I customized with duct tape.

I also write everything in my phone, keeping reminders on my home screen.

Photo 2: I choose my clothes the night before, getting them ready to grab. Also all jewelry & my meds if I need them.

Photo 3: I also pack my purse the night before. I make sure to have fidgets, snacks, any important paperwork, my notebook, water, a phone charger- anything i may need.

Being prepared helps me stay organized. It prevents any surprises or last minute meltdowns. I know what to expect, when to expect it, & that I have everything I need.

Bonus points, I eat the same breakfast every day that's quick & easy. I bake turkey sausage egg bites I can warm up thru the week, with a yogurt cup & a cup of coffee.

This is Toby. My family adopted him as the family dog 13 years ago, close to the time I started to get suicidal. I have multiple mental health struggles including ASD, severe depression and anxiety, and CPTSD. Toby has kept me from killing myself more than anything else on this planet. He always could sense when I wasn't doing good emotionally and loved me through the worst of it. He's now 17 years old and has been declining for years, with a heart murmur and seizures. But his decline has sped up this week. Today, standing was difficult for him and his breathing was laboured. I'm not sure if he'll even make it through the night. My brother is also currently studying abroad and we were hoping he'd be able to tell Toby "goodbye" at least. Toby is a special dog, and a very good boy.