special interests
Special interests are deeply focused areas of engagement that autistic people experience with a level of emotional investment, sustained attention, and joy that goes well beyond …
Emotions & Regulation
Emotional regulation, identity, self-image, burnout
rigid thinking (cognitive inflexibility)
Cognitive inflexibility, also erroneously referred to as rigid thinking, is a diagnostic characteristic of autism that describes difficulty shifting between tasks, perspectives, or …
“Why do I watch the same show over and over?”
Because your nervous system is doing something smart, so good for you! :)
When you rewatch a familiar show, your brain isn't processing anything new — no plot twists to manage, no …
intolerance of uncertainty
Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) describes the degree to which a nervous system needs predictability in order to function — not as a preference, but as a genuine operational …
Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD)
Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) is an intense emotional and physical response to perceived rejection, criticism, or the fear of falling short — experienced by many …
fidgeting
Fidgeting involves small, often unconscious movements—bouncing your leg, tapping your fingers, clicking a pen, doodling, twirling your hair. These movements help regulate focus and …
“Why do people fidget when they are hyperactive?”
Fidgeting serves as an involuntary mechanism for self-regulating attention and enhancing alertness, especially during tasks perceived as cognitively demanding (hard to do) or …
How To Make Your Life Neurodivergent-friendly
You've tried all the ADHD tips online, but nothing seems to stick. That's because neurodivergent brains don't come with universal solutions—what helps one person might not work for …
“Does ADHD mean you’re always hyperactive?”
One aspect of ADHD is difficulties in the brain's impulse self-regulation systems, which in childhood can manifest as movement that's deemed excessive, but this is neither required …
“Is ADHD just about not being able to pay attention?”
Attention is only one possible component of ADHD. We now also understand attention to be variable in ADHD, with a difficulty for the brain to self-regulate attention.
justice sensitivity
Justice sensitivity is the heightened awareness of rule violations and inconsistencies, paired with an intense emotional and physiological response. For many neurodivergent people, …
How can I recognize when I’m about to make an impulsive decision?
Impulsive decisions can make us feel powerless. Even if we ignore the possible negative consequences of the decisions, simply feeling that we did something we couldn’t notice …
impulsivity
Impulsivity in ADHD is characterized by a shortened pause between impulse and action: a bright flash that leads immediately to behaviour before you can fully consider it. …
What’s actually happening when I go into verbal shutdown?
A verbal shutdown might appear to be “nothing” from the outside, but actually, a lot is going on beneath the surface. Language, speech, even just on the technical side, …
auditory stimming
Auditory stimming is a form of self-stimulatory behaviour that involves making sounds with your voice, whether through non-word vocalisations (vocal stimming) or speech-based …
internalised ableism
Internalised ableism is a psychological construct that refers to the internalisation of negative beliefs, stereotypes, and prejudices about disabilities that are prevalent in …
decompressing
Decompressing refers to engaging in activities or behaviours that allow a person to relax, unwind, and alleviate stress or sensory overload.
This term is particularly significant …
penguin pebbling
In a neurodivergent context, the expression is used to describe a common neurodivergent behaviour of people collecting and giving loved items to others - "this made me think of …
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