AutisticDoctorStruggles, 3 months ago

@sebwhatever @actuallyautistic comfort food, a good cry, music, silly little walk for my silly little brain, rest, watching cute or funny animal videos, engaging in special interest :)

VoxofGod, 3 months ago

@sebwhatever @actuallyautistic

I have a list of things I do in order to maintain myself in contentment

Sunlight, singing, artificially putting a spring in my step, lots of sleep

Those are a few things... I should do a list

As an opportunity that is slightly depressed, I have a bag of mitigations for less than content moods, because you can't sing if you're not happy

sebwhatever, 3 months ago

@VoxofGod @actuallyautistic sounds like an afternoon plan while cuddling with the dog.

VoxofGod, 3 months ago

@sebwhatever @actuallyautistic another thing to consider is the smile

A frown is mostly just a ratcheting of resting bitch face

I know I've told this at least once But an old teacher of mine long gone who was a fifth avenue trust fund Maven had great stories

Someone called him because #MarlenaDietrich wanted to go to the Opera.

To get in the cab sits back her face goes slack and she says Tell me when we're 5 minutes away

Does so, and her face brightens up she has a smile on it ready..

VoxofGod, 3 months ago

@sebwhatever @actuallyautistic They get into the show, sit in their box the lights go down shoot relaxes her face and says Tell me when it's 5 minutes from the end of the act

He does so

She brightens up and puts on a performance for the whole intermission

And so on

Gravity pulls our face down

Just to get to smile requires reaction to gravity & a paralyzed face, two reasons our smiles can be forced.

when it's in our best interest to be happy but we are being thwarted, it's permission..

VoxofGod, 3 months ago

@sebwhatever @actuallyautistic In my opinion it's permission to defensively mask

And what I mean is also prophylactic defense

If you're all the way down into RBF, or actual frowning which is a ratcheting of RBF You have all of these different nuts to untie

So being mindful enough to keep them untied is what to do when the happiness isn't there

So you don't have to work through them

The opening of the mouth should easily be above the bottom of upper teeth

Nostrils maximum flare, jaw open..

VoxofGod, 3 months ago

@sebwhatever @actuallyautistic If you look at yourself in the mirror with your teeth together, it's a very tense look

Lightly open is the way

A slight o with the lips everything relaxed so that gravity fills that area up with water instead of tension making it harsh lines that take time to undo

It's pure logistics for me because if I don't and I get cramped in an angry face, I can't sing sometimes for months

seanwithwords, 3 months ago

@sebwhatever @actuallyautistic passive: listen to uplifting music or a positive-vibe audiobook.

active: go for a walk, play with my dogs, clean some minor clutter

interactive: go to a poetry event, let my partner take me socializing with her, find a fun rabbit hole online

sebwhatever, 3 months ago

@seanwithwords @actuallyautistic Solid list of options. Thank you.

Elizabeth3, 3 months ago

@sebwhatever @actuallyautistic had this yesterday. Did as little as possible slept a lot. Feel a little better today

sebwhatever, 3 months ago

@Elizabeth3 @actuallyautistic Rest is essential. It's my backup option if i can't get my ass in gear.

alison, 3 months ago

@sebwhatever @actuallyautistic Was sunk in the past week. Yesterday I put on a couple of my favourite tracks impossibly loud and grooved along. Broke the cycle.

sebwhatever, 3 months ago

@alison @actuallyautistic Music is life.