My autism and my anxiety are in a feedback loop with each other. Being on the spectrum makes it difficult for me to socialize; I generally fail to pick up on the "obvious" social cues. The result of this is an unshakeable anxiety that others are going to judge or misunderstand me, and has also…
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Echolalia
If you've ever been around a child with ASD, you may notice them repeating the words of those around them, or phrases from their favorite TV show or song. This is a language tool called echolalia and is frequently used by kids growing up on the spectrum as a stepping stone to more typical forms…
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Change
Some people are excited by change. I am not one of those people. I tend to feel very chaotic inside and have learned to rely on my external surroundings as a tether to reality. Routine and regularity give me the stability to function when my anxiety and sensory overload become too much to bear. When…
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